The restaurant space at the intersection of West Main Street and South Stafford Avenue has been vacant since March 2020. (Mike Platania photo)
At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, longtime Fan bar F.W. Sullivan’s closed its doors for what was supposed to be a temporary closure. But as the pandemic dragged out, the closure became permanent.
The St. Patrick’s Day decorations remaining in F.W. Sullivan’s windows throughout 2020 acted almost like symbols of routines and events planned before COVID arrived.
Now, two years later, a new operator has taken over the space and is looking to open its doors in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
Neil Kaisani is preparing to open a bar called Cure at 2401 W. Main St. in F.W. Sullivan’s old home. It will be the second spot for Kaisani, joining Therapy, which he opened in 2020 in the former Cha Cha’s space in Shockoe Slip.
Kaisani, who’s also currently enrolled in medical school, said calling the new spot Cure continues a medicinal theme for his concepts’ names. The plan is for Cure to be akin to its predecessor, which had a 10-year-run in the Fan.
Neil Kaisani, who is bringing a bar called Cure to F.W. Sullivan’s old spot, opened a bar called Therapy in the former Cha Cha’s space in Shockoe Slip. (BizSense file)
“It’ll be the same concept, kind of like the neighborhood bar that Sullivan’s was because we want to stick with that in the Fan,” Kaisani said. “It was a great bar, it had a lot of clients and a lot of history for a lot of people.”
Cure’s menu will include bar fare like loaded nachos, but have a focus on one type of sandwich in particular.
“I really want to focus on different kinds of grilled cheese, like gourmet grilled cheese,” Kaisaini said.
He’s leasing the entirety of the 4,400-square-foot building. The upstairs was once an apartment, but Kaisani said they’re converting it into themed event spaces.
“There’s five separate rooms, and we’re going to keep it like that. But each will have its own TV and speaker system,” he said. “Each room will have its own theme, like one might have zebra print and we’ll call it the safari room. Then we’ll try to get fish tanks in another and have it be like an aquatic room.”
Cure will also retain the Main Street-facing patio and Kaisani said the downstairs is being renovated.
“We’ve completely gutted the inside — new floors, new bathrooms, new lighting fixtures, new kitchen,” he said.
Kaisani’s father Tony was also a restaurateur. In the 1980s, he opened Tony’s Barbecue downtown and ran it until its closing in 2013. Neil said despite having a lot to juggle with medical school, he’s enjoying following in his dad’s footsteps.
“I’m taking a break from (clinical) residency right now. We’ll see how that goes and if I end up matching in March,” Kaisani said. “(But) I am loving the entrepreneur life.”
The restaurant space at the intersection of West Main Street and South Stafford Avenue has been vacant since March 2020. (Mike Platania photo)
At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, longtime Fan bar F.W. Sullivan’s closed its doors for what was supposed to be a temporary closure. But as the pandemic dragged out, the closure became permanent.
The St. Patrick’s Day decorations remaining in F.W. Sullivan’s windows throughout 2020 acted almost like symbols of routines and events planned before COVID arrived.
Now, two years later, a new operator has taken over the space and is looking to open its doors in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
Neil Kaisani is preparing to open a bar called Cure at 2401 W. Main St. in F.W. Sullivan’s old home. It will be the second spot for Kaisani, joining Therapy, which he opened in 2020 in the former Cha Cha’s space in Shockoe Slip.
Kaisani, who’s also currently enrolled in medical school, said calling the new spot Cure continues a medicinal theme for his concepts’ names. The plan is for Cure to be akin to its predecessor, which had a 10-year-run in the Fan.
Neil Kaisani, who is bringing a bar called Cure to F.W. Sullivan’s old spot, opened a bar called Therapy in the former Cha Cha’s space in Shockoe Slip. (BizSense file)
“It’ll be the same concept, kind of like the neighborhood bar that Sullivan’s was because we want to stick with that in the Fan,” Kaisani said. “It was a great bar, it had a lot of clients and a lot of history for a lot of people.”
Cure’s menu will include bar fare like loaded nachos, but have a focus on one type of sandwich in particular.
“I really want to focus on different kinds of grilled cheese, like gourmet grilled cheese,” Kaisaini said.
He’s leasing the entirety of the 4,400-square-foot building. The upstairs was once an apartment, but Kaisani said they’re converting it into themed event spaces.
“There’s five separate rooms, and we’re going to keep it like that. But each will have its own TV and speaker system,” he said. “Each room will have its own theme, like one might have zebra print and we’ll call it the safari room. Then we’ll try to get fish tanks in another and have it be like an aquatic room.”
Cure will also retain the Main Street-facing patio and Kaisani said the downstairs is being renovated.
“We’ve completely gutted the inside — new floors, new bathrooms, new lighting fixtures, new kitchen,” he said.
Kaisani’s father Tony was also a restaurateur. In the 1980s, he opened Tony’s Barbecue downtown and ran it until its closing in 2013. Neil said despite having a lot to juggle with medical school, he’s enjoying following in his dad’s footsteps.
“I’m taking a break from (clinical) residency right now. We’ll see how that goes and if I end up matching in March,” Kaisani said. “(But) I am loving the entrepreneur life.”
Another nacho/sandwich joint in an area no one goes anymore outside of those who live in the area part-time when going to school, that is destined to fail as long as authoritarians who allow riots and the defacing of property, along with increased crime metastasizing all throughout that area, control this city like the incompetent affirmative action placed imbeciles they have proved themselves to be.
The fan is dead
I think you might be a little confused and misinformed
Technically this is not in the fan (south border is main st)
Well, this is on the south side of Main Street, so technically it really is in the Fan. You and Lars should grab lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings in Shortpump sometime.
The “technically this isn’t The Fan” commenters are some of my favorites.
Meh, according to Google maps the border is the alley between Main and Cary. Six of one, half dozen of another.
Literally everyone else: Fan is still as cool and happening as ever. Good to have another option.
Yet you seem OBSESSED with the city. I live in the city and can assure you that businesses are open and people still want to visit bars and restaurants that are not chains.