Organic Krush recently opened a location in Charlottesville, adding to the restaurant chain’s outposts in Short Pump and on the University of Richmond campus. (Photo courtesy of Organic Krush)
Spurred in part by a steady stream of out-of-towners passing through its Short Pump location, an organic-focused chain of eateries is branching out with another location in Central Virginia.
Organic Krush, founded by University of Richmond alumnae Michelle Walrath, recently opened a new restaurant in Charlottesville, giving the company its third outpost in Virginia.
Walrath said the chain’s Short Pump location has had a notable number of customers who come from Charlottesville, so it seemed a natural place to expand.
“We noticed in the two and a half years we’ve been in Short Pump we have clients that come from Charlottesville to load up,” said Walrath.
Organic Krush serves acai bowls, smoothies, baked goods, cold-pressed juices and wraps among other offerings with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. It also serves all-day breakfast.
The Charlottesville restaurant had its grand opening July 11 in its 2,500-square-foot space at 2050 Bond St. in The Shops at Stonefield shopping center. The restaurant has seating for 75 people.
“It’s a little bit bigger than what we’ve done but we loved the space and shopping center so much,” Walrath said, noting the new restaurant is amid several hotels and not far from the University of Virginia campus.
The Charlottesville spot is the 10th location for Organic Krush. The company plans to expand with a new location in the D.C. area, though it is still scouting spaces, Walrath said.
In addition to the local outpost at Short Pump Crossing Shopping Center, which opened in October 2019, Organic Krush also has a cafe on the University of Richmond campus.
Most of the company’s locations are in New York, where it is also based, though it recently expanded to Connecticut. Walrath founded the company with Fran Paniccia in 2015.
The Charlottesville location features an open kitchen, a newer feature for Organic Krush restaurants developed to create a more elevated feel. Two of the most recent restaurants that preceded the Charlottesville location also have open kitchens.
“It’s become part of the design now that guests can see their food customized and cooked to order,” Walrath said. “I think it brings a connection of food being homemade and home cooked in front of the guests. It’s not meant to be a fast-food experience in all the ways that denotes.”
The Charlottesville location also has a special menu aimed at college students, featuring items $14 and under like chicken street tacos. The student menu was also introduced at the Short Pump location in September.
Organic Krush recently opened a location in Charlottesville, adding to the restaurant chain’s outposts in Short Pump and on the University of Richmond campus. (Photo courtesy of Organic Krush)
Spurred in part by a steady stream of out-of-towners passing through its Short Pump location, an organic-focused chain of eateries is branching out with another location in Central Virginia.
Organic Krush, founded by University of Richmond alumnae Michelle Walrath, recently opened a new restaurant in Charlottesville, giving the company its third outpost in Virginia.
Walrath said the chain’s Short Pump location has had a notable number of customers who come from Charlottesville, so it seemed a natural place to expand.
“We noticed in the two and a half years we’ve been in Short Pump we have clients that come from Charlottesville to load up,” said Walrath.
Organic Krush serves acai bowls, smoothies, baked goods, cold-pressed juices and wraps among other offerings with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options. It also serves all-day breakfast.
The Charlottesville restaurant had its grand opening July 11 in its 2,500-square-foot space at 2050 Bond St. in The Shops at Stonefield shopping center. The restaurant has seating for 75 people.
“It’s a little bit bigger than what we’ve done but we loved the space and shopping center so much,” Walrath said, noting the new restaurant is amid several hotels and not far from the University of Virginia campus.
The Charlottesville spot is the 10th location for Organic Krush. The company plans to expand with a new location in the D.C. area, though it is still scouting spaces, Walrath said.
In addition to the local outpost at Short Pump Crossing Shopping Center, which opened in October 2019, Organic Krush also has a cafe on the University of Richmond campus.
Most of the company’s locations are in New York, where it is also based, though it recently expanded to Connecticut. Walrath founded the company with Fran Paniccia in 2015.
The Charlottesville location features an open kitchen, a newer feature for Organic Krush restaurants developed to create a more elevated feel. Two of the most recent restaurants that preceded the Charlottesville location also have open kitchens.
“It’s become part of the design now that guests can see their food customized and cooked to order,” Walrath said. “I think it brings a connection of food being homemade and home cooked in front of the guests. It’s not meant to be a fast-food experience in all the ways that denotes.”
The Charlottesville location also has a special menu aimed at college students, featuring items $14 and under like chicken street tacos. The student menu was also introduced at the Short Pump location in September.