Stella’s Grocery stores sell prepared foods, baked goods, wine and other items. (Photo courtesy of Stella’s Grocery)
A local restaurant family’s brand of neighborhood markets is taking over a former Starbucks in the West End.
Stella’s Grocery is planning to open a new location at 5001 Huguenot Road in the River Road Shopping Center II this winter. The market chain is owned by the Giavos family and sells prepared foods, wines and snacks, among other items.
Dean Giavos, son of founders Johnny and Katrina Giavos, said the expansion to the River Road Shopping Center is aimed at broadening its customer base south of the James River.
“The opportunity came up and we already loved that location over there,” Giavos said. “You’ve got people coming over the Huguenot Bridge and we liked that access south so we can expand our footprint.”
Plans for the new Stella’s Grocery come about a year after it opened a south-of-the-river location in the Hill Standard mixed-use development at 4930 Forest Hill Ave.
“It’s an organic kind of growth. People are really into the prepared foods and love the coffee bar. I think it’s accessible for everybody because there are so many things there,” Giavos said.
The new store would be the seventh Stella’s Grocery location of the chain in the region. The first opened in 2014 at 1007 Lafayette St. across from the family’s Stella’s restaurant. Its other stores are at 3351 W. Moore St. in Scott’s Addition, 109 E. Grace St. in downtown Richmond, 5802 Grove Ave. in Westhampton and 609 Hull St. in Manchester.
The Giavos family also owns Kuba Kuba, Continental Westhampton, Continental Manchester, Sidewalk Cafe and Stella’s restaurant among other eateries.
Earlier this year the family bought the former Lafayette Pharmacy building at 1011 Lafayette St. Demolition is underway on the space, though Giavos said they haven’t finalized plans there yet.
Stella’s Grocery was among a trio of leases at River Road Shopping Center announced Wednesday by Thalhimer, which handles leasing at the center. A med spa called Serotonin is also coming to the center with plans to open in the former Beecroft & Bull space at 5029 Huguenot Road. The menswear store relocated to the Libbie and Grove area.
Women’s clothing store Chico’s has signed a new five-year lease on its space at the center on Huguenot.
5001 Huguenot Road in the River Road Shopping Center II. The 1,800-square-foot space was previously occupied by Starbucks. (Jack Jacobs photo)
Jim Ashby of Thalhimer, who handles leasing at the center along with colleague Danielle Beckstoffer, said the center is hitting a new stride and is on the cusp of filling out completely.
“We have active interest in the remaining two vacancies,” he said. “It’s a great asset. It’s coming back.”
Other tenants include Blue Mercury Cosmetics & Spa, women’s clothing store Quinn and Osaka Restaurant.
Meanwhile, Starbucks has moved across the street and opened a location at 6201 River Road, in the former BB&T bank branch building.
Stella’s Grocery stores sell prepared foods, baked goods, wine and other items. (Photo courtesy of Stella’s Grocery)
A local restaurant family’s brand of neighborhood markets is taking over a former Starbucks in the West End.
Stella’s Grocery is planning to open a new location at 5001 Huguenot Road in the River Road Shopping Center II this winter. The market chain is owned by the Giavos family and sells prepared foods, wines and snacks, among other items.
Dean Giavos, son of founders Johnny and Katrina Giavos, said the expansion to the River Road Shopping Center is aimed at broadening its customer base south of the James River.
“The opportunity came up and we already loved that location over there,” Giavos said. “You’ve got people coming over the Huguenot Bridge and we liked that access south so we can expand our footprint.”
Plans for the new Stella’s Grocery come about a year after it opened a south-of-the-river location in the Hill Standard mixed-use development at 4930 Forest Hill Ave.
“It’s an organic kind of growth. People are really into the prepared foods and love the coffee bar. I think it’s accessible for everybody because there are so many things there,” Giavos said.
The new store would be the seventh Stella’s Grocery location of the chain in the region. The first opened in 2014 at 1007 Lafayette St. across from the family’s Stella’s restaurant. Its other stores are at 3351 W. Moore St. in Scott’s Addition, 109 E. Grace St. in downtown Richmond, 5802 Grove Ave. in Westhampton and 609 Hull St. in Manchester.
The Giavos family also owns Kuba Kuba, Continental Westhampton, Continental Manchester, Sidewalk Cafe and Stella’s restaurant among other eateries.
Earlier this year the family bought the former Lafayette Pharmacy building at 1011 Lafayette St. Demolition is underway on the space, though Giavos said they haven’t finalized plans there yet.
Stella’s Grocery was among a trio of leases at River Road Shopping Center announced Wednesday by Thalhimer, which handles leasing at the center. A med spa called Serotonin is also coming to the center with plans to open in the former Beecroft & Bull space at 5029 Huguenot Road. The menswear store relocated to the Libbie and Grove area.
Women’s clothing store Chico’s has signed a new five-year lease on its space at the center on Huguenot.
5001 Huguenot Road in the River Road Shopping Center II. The 1,800-square-foot space was previously occupied by Starbucks. (Jack Jacobs photo)
Jim Ashby of Thalhimer, who handles leasing at the center along with colleague Danielle Beckstoffer, said the center is hitting a new stride and is on the cusp of filling out completely.
“We have active interest in the remaining two vacancies,” he said. “It’s a great asset. It’s coming back.”
Other tenants include Blue Mercury Cosmetics & Spa, women’s clothing store Quinn and Osaka Restaurant.
Meanwhile, Starbucks has moved across the street and opened a location at 6201 River Road, in the former BB&T bank branch building.
I was wondering what would happen in the space after Starbucks moved across the road. This is a great resource to have there, good luck!
Their food is great. We need one of these at Winterfield Crossing in Midlothian. There are plenty of places serving ready made meals in the West End (Supper Club, Yellow Umbrella, Libbie Market). They should come to Midlothian where there is little competition and tons of neighborhoods to support it.
I think the old Starbucks is a great location because they will have parking (unlike the Grove location) but I wonder about logistics for people headed home across the river. The best part about the Stella’s markets are grabbing dinner to-go on the way home from work. This will be on the opposite side at an inopportune time. I always thought they should have snagged that place near Orvis where some sport shop used to be. It had good space, lots of parking and would have had easy access for anyone headed South, West or East. Either way, it’ll be… Read more »