Stump’s Pig & Pint owners Jimmy and Terry Stump. (Photos by J. Elias O’Neal)
The owner of a Richmond barbecue restaurant is seeking a new location elsewhere in the region after shutting down his Jackson Ward eatery.
Stump’s Pig & Pint ended a nearly year-long stint at 119 E. Leigh St. in early August.
Owner Jimmy Stump said the closure was prompted partly by customers being turned off by the fallout in the neighborhood from protests this spring and summer, many of which took place nearby. Stump said he also had a rent dispute with the restaurant’s landlord.
Stump said he liked the location, but the protests, in his mind, had dealt a blow to the ongoing revitalization of downtown. Some storefronts in the neighborhood remain boarded up after earlier protests led to property damage in the neighborhood.
“All that work just went down the toilet,” he said.
Stump’s former storefront in Jackson Ward.
Stump didn’t comment further on his rent dispute with the landlord, Manchester-based Full Occupancy LLC. Requests for comment to the company weren’t answered.
Stump and his wife, Terry, started the business in its former Jackson Ward digs in August 2019. Before Stump’s, the 3,400-square-foot space was home to Jackson’s Beer Garden and Smokehouse.
Now without a restaurant space, Stump has focused on the food trailer side of his business while he seeks a new location outside city limits.
Stump’s recently moved into a kitchen space at 11609 Old Washington Highway in Glen Allen. The kitchen exists primarily to support the food trailer, though at some point Stump wants to offer takeout and delivery through third-parties like UberEats from that location.
Stump’s trailer has made appearances at local events and also sets up outside businesses like Reid Super Save Market in Buckingham County, Goochland Pharmacy in Goochland County and its Glen Allen kitchen space. He hopes the trailer will sow the seeds for a larger customer base once he settles on a restaurant location.
“It’s a great way to get our name out there,” he said.
Stump is shopping around for a location for the future restaurant, weighing Ashland and Goochland but open to other locations. He said he wants a smaller space than he had in the city.
As the barbecue restaurant exits the neighborhood, a grilled cheese operation called Cheddar Jackson has moved in. A couple clothiers have also recently opened in Jackson Ward.
The city launched a relief fund for businesses affected by vandalism that occurred during the protests, which were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Stump’s Pig & Pint owners Jimmy and Terry Stump. (Photos by J. Elias O’Neal)
The owner of a Richmond barbecue restaurant is seeking a new location elsewhere in the region after shutting down his Jackson Ward eatery.
Stump’s Pig & Pint ended a nearly year-long stint at 119 E. Leigh St. in early August.
Owner Jimmy Stump said the closure was prompted partly by customers being turned off by the fallout in the neighborhood from protests this spring and summer, many of which took place nearby. Stump said he also had a rent dispute with the restaurant’s landlord.
Stump said he liked the location, but the protests, in his mind, had dealt a blow to the ongoing revitalization of downtown. Some storefronts in the neighborhood remain boarded up after earlier protests led to property damage in the neighborhood.
“All that work just went down the toilet,” he said.
Stump’s former storefront in Jackson Ward.
Stump didn’t comment further on his rent dispute with the landlord, Manchester-based Full Occupancy LLC. Requests for comment to the company weren’t answered.
Stump and his wife, Terry, started the business in its former Jackson Ward digs in August 2019. Before Stump’s, the 3,400-square-foot space was home to Jackson’s Beer Garden and Smokehouse.
Now without a restaurant space, Stump has focused on the food trailer side of his business while he seeks a new location outside city limits.
Stump’s recently moved into a kitchen space at 11609 Old Washington Highway in Glen Allen. The kitchen exists primarily to support the food trailer, though at some point Stump wants to offer takeout and delivery through third-parties like UberEats from that location.
Stump’s trailer has made appearances at local events and also sets up outside businesses like Reid Super Save Market in Buckingham County, Goochland Pharmacy in Goochland County and its Glen Allen kitchen space. He hopes the trailer will sow the seeds for a larger customer base once he settles on a restaurant location.
“It’s a great way to get our name out there,” he said.
Stump is shopping around for a location for the future restaurant, weighing Ashland and Goochland but open to other locations. He said he wants a smaller space than he had in the city.
As the barbecue restaurant exits the neighborhood, a grilled cheese operation called Cheddar Jackson has moved in. A couple clothiers have also recently opened in Jackson Ward.
The city launched a relief fund for businesses affected by vandalism that occurred during the protests, which were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Way to go BLM, keep on destroying minority neighborhoods!
That is what they do best. VCU should also be sued as well…
VCU should be sued for what exactly?
Not eating this guys BBQ?
Please explain.
Thomas, I actually understood it was not BLM, but far right Bugaloo and far left taking advantage and the cover offered by the crowd, enabling them to avoid blame.
Regardless of the specific activists, the Mayor is to blame for the continued tolerance of these violent acts. As I’ve said before in this forum, Stoney’s lack of action is costing the city’s small businesses their hard earned business and for many, their life’s savings. This is but one example.
Good luck to Mr. Stump.
Matt;
Stoney’s police force uses tear gas, clubs, riot shields, “Non-leathal” projectiles, helicopters, and many many arrestes and beating of protestors and reporters,
What exactyl do you expect the police to do?
@Ed, I didn’t call out the police. I’m fine with what they’re doing. If the mayor hadn’t forced them to stand-by and watch for so long much of this rioting would have moved on. I haven’t seen clubs being used, but there’s nothing wrong with the other tools. Many times, the police have been beaten first. As far as I know, not one single dump truck assaulted anyone, yet a few were burned. There should have been hundreds more arrests.
And they should have continued publishing names and addresses. I know most that I saw were from elsewhere.
nice attempt at gaslighting, I’ve seen the videos, and read the twitter feeds… There are 2 groups out there – legitimate BLM protesters, who are willing to have the world see their face, and protest in daylight, and the anarcho-communist LARPers, who are doing the damage.
Thanks for giving Jackson Ward a try. Best of success as you continue to serve delicious food and follow your passion.
My heart goes out to Mr. Stump and all of the other business owners trying to make a go of it in the city. The businesses and livelihoods destroyed by this lawless violence and destruction are the result of an incompetent city council and most of all- a lawless thug of a mayor. They are clearly responsible for allowing this madness to persist without coming out early to denounce the destruction and terrorism night after night. November 3rd is quickly approaching- every current council member and the mayor should not be rewarded for another term of incompetence. Twenty-five years of… Read more »
What about Mayor Stoney makes you say he is a “ a lawless thug “?
And I am really curious if you live in Richmond or ever go into Richmond?
Stoney is absolutely a lawless THUG in a suit… The most obvious and lawless act was to remove the statues without the consent of council (and against the advice of the city attorney). Furthermore, he spent an unauthorized $1.8 million of taxpayer funds (circumventing the customary bid process) and paid a campaign donor to do the work….starting to smell yet? Is this enough for you??? If not, your head is in a bucket!
I live in Richmond, operate a business in Richmond and have for 25 years.
Stoney is a disaster and will be held accountable.
The City Council (including Gray) voted unanimously for their removal. Stoney just expedited the process as otherwise the protesters would have torn them down. Not only did he likely prevent injury, but his move allowed for the statues to be taken down intact rather than destroyed.
Yes, there are plenty of things to fault him for but this is not one of them. Based on your language (which has racial connotations) and your public history, you just hate Stoney and have since he has been in office.
The company truck onsite for the first removal was from New England. That had to be scheduled long before the July 1 date. It also explains the $800,000 mobilization cost (out of $1.800,000 total – allegedly) which screams there was something fishy was going on.
If the mayor planned this in advance, why did he keep it to himself if it was such a noble cause? It sure looked like an inside job.
The fact that the company was out of Connecticut definitely threw some red flags to me when they were working but I think that is a different discussion that does need to happen (and not just for political motivations by an opponent). At the time I chalked it up to local crane companies not wanting to get involved out of fear of retaliation, which I do think would have been a legitimate concern.
It was such and emergency they took the July 4th weekend off, then resumed the “emergency” removal in the interest of public safety.
“Lawless thug” is a documented dog whistle. It is never used referring to white people and always used by white people referring to black people. Clearly your language indicates more than a policy difference with the Mayor.
It has always been used in relation to any sort of “mob” activity where you are threatened to comply with their lawlessness or suffer the consequences. Guess you’ve never seen a movie about any white criminal activities?
As for a specific white politician who has been referred to many times as a “lawless thug” was Clinton’s enforcer, turned Governor (who discovered, groomed and mentored Stoney) Terry McAuliffe.
Ah, it was used in a movie so that overrides the documented and repeated use by white racists. Got it.
So here’s the fact: in today’s America, not in your fantasy movieland, “thug” is coded language. Period. Here, educate yourself: https://www.vox.com/2016/2/1/10889138/coded-language-thug-bossy
You’re big on racist language and partisanism, small on substance and character.
“Coded Language” is a construct by the woke to provide triggers for every word or phrase, to catch all of us “racists” (as you call me without knowing the first thing about me) in the act. And of course, as in the Salem Witch Trials, if we claim we’re not racists, “that is what a racist would say”. You oh-so-woke have constructed a brilliant corner to back into anyone/everyone who will not capitulate your thought laws. Congratulations on your Orwellian turn of language.
Actually the VERY first thing I learned about you is that you use and defend racist language. And thanks for the congrats.
…from Vox – ha, I’m good.
Laughable drivel
Spare us from your liberal trope garbage…
Let’s break this down. Liberal: absolutely! Thanks! Trope: means you’ve heard it at least once before and can’t claim ignorance. Garbage: means you completely dismiss documented fact, which is absolutely prototypical of the cult of Trump. Congratulations, Kay! You hit the trifecta! Oh, and the cowardice to not mention your business yet again. We’ll count that as extra credit.
Hey Kay,
What’s the name of your business? Don’t hide. I want to make sure I don’t visit you.
Meanwhile restaurants closer to the protests remain open, as do his neighbors. Is Lucy’s closing? Is Salt and Forge closing? Garnett’s and Kuba Kuba are near the Lee Monument. I don’t even think they ever had a window broken. They remain open. This is the equivalent of Bill’s BBQ blaming Obama for their lack of business. Do not let this guy feed into the hysteria so that people in the suburbs who have no idea what is going on avoid the city in fear. I live near Monroe Park. I walk every night. I pick up food from restaurants every… Read more »
This! Stump’s is several blocks away from from any of the destruction that occurred in the May riot and nothing has occurred any where nearby since. Meanwhile, restaurants in the immediate area such as Tarrant’s Cafe, Max’s and Saison have remained open with no issues, however, some of the chain restaurants further West of Broad may be closed. This sounds like an excuse for their business not doing well in a location where a prior BBQ joint had already recently failed. COVID on the other hand is certainly a factor, especially with the lack of foot traffic from the convention… Read more »
https://richmond.com/entertainment/dining/sandston-smokehouse-closes-for-good-amid-pandemic-mojos-restaurant-announces-its-next/article_01bfdf7c-d9d6-5710-998f-54ae10036a68.html
Wow, I didn’t know BLM was shutting down BBQ joints in Sandston as well.
I believe the southern soul food restaurant directly across the street from this guy’s establishment is still in business, along with adjacent restaurants. As his restaurant was in a largely “black” area, most black “Black Lives Matters” protesters would not have touched his business…and they didn’t, because Jackson Ward remains largely unscathed except for the businesses lining Broad Street (where most of the destruction happened). If his customer base was largely out of the city, it was ill-advised for him to locate his business in an area his customers did not want to go to. Good luck to him, and… Read more »
Why would anyone in that area not want to go to neighborhood establishment to eat? What’s more universal than barbecue? Based on what I see online, the reviews were good and the place looked great.
Was this place being singled out for some reason? Why would a restaurant owner care what area his customers came from?
COVID killed his business, not the protests (especially if adjacent restaurants are still in business). Restaurants were pretty much shut down to dine-in traffic for months, everyone was in lockdown and with people working from home more, there’s less foot traffic. The protests were mainly up and down Broad Street, not in Jackson Ward. While the city does need to shut down the violent protesters (most of whom were NOT “Black Lives Matter,” but Bugaloo, out of towners and anarchists), protests aren’t why this guy’s restaurant died, COVID & the incompatibility of his customer base with the neighborhood demographics did.… Read more »
Can you please explain what you mean by “incompatibility of his customer base” and “neighborhoods demographics”?
“the protests, in his mind, had dealt a blow to the ongoing revitalization of downtown” what a cop out!! blaming protests?!?!…seeing as how other restaurants there are doing just fine despite the protests, I think this restaurant just couldn’t compete with other BBQ joints and the fact that COVID is having a massive impact on recently started businesses. I feel for them, but blaming this on protests is just false and flies in the face of facts.
He makes zero mention of having a 3,400 sqft BBQ restaurant during COVID as his reason—that’s an insane amount of indoor space to carry given capacity restrictions. I highly doubt protests multiple blocks away have anything to do with this closure. Instead he had a business plan and footprint that couldn’t survive a pandemic. He needs to take full responsibility for not changing up his business model, because that’s the point of being your own boss, right? Look at The Jasper, who completely changed their business to survive.
I think you’ve diagnosed this correctly. I live in Jackson Ward on Marshall. My son lives at 1st and Leigh, a block away.
I can confirm that the BLM protests did not affect the neighborhood in the manner described. I wish him well but I’m disappointed that he would disparage the neighborhood instead of admitting his business model was simply unsustainable in the pandemic environment. Jackson Ward is a great place to live and is burgeoning once again. Come check us out.
hello mr stump. Midlothian would love to have your bbq resturant. please come. its nice here. we are republican and dont need no backbone stoney. mission bbq is not that great.
We are republican… Good grief… 12 years on this website and that is the silliest comment I ever saw..
Thankful for all the great restaurants in Jackson Ward and also wishing those much success who had to pivot. Really want to stress that we shouldn’t use the unfortunate murder of George Floyd and many others that led to civil unrest as a hot button for failure as the demonstrations were needed to wake up America to the brutality African Americans are facing, Also, COVID has made a tremendous impact, the period of the protests were considerably shorter and sporadic in comparison to the quarantine and safer at home orders.
Nothing to say about COVID or rent dispute but quite chatty about BLM…. OK.
The stunning thing to me reading these comments (because the blatant racism doesn’t surprise me in the least) is that the Republican party used to stand for personal responsibility and accountability. Still does when it comes to institutionally oppressed people of color. “It’s their fault they don’t work for it.” But with a significant wing of the GOP, embodied here, when it comes to white people, it’s everyone else’s fault. The Black Mayor, BLM, VCU, the City Council, the “Chinese flu,” aliens, El Niño, solar winds, Hispanics, leap year, “my dog ate it,” Hillary’s emails, gremlins, liberals, high humidity… The… Read more »
More laughable drivel