The spot adjacent to The Lombardy Market has housed five restaurants in the last 15 years. (Mike Platania photo)
After a year in Shockoe Slip, an Italian eatery is heading west to a longtime Fan restaurant space.
Sprezza is preparing to relocate to 203 N. Lombardy St., according to plans filed recently with the city.
Initially founded as a pop-up in 2021, Sprezza opened in the former Morton’s The Steakhouse space late last year at the corner of East Canal and Virginia streets. Last week the restaurant announced on social media that it was closing in Shockoe Slip and heading to an undisclosed location in the Fan.
A few days after the announcement, owner Angela Petruzzelli filed for an ABC license and certificate of occupancy for Sprezza for the Lombardy Street address.
Sprezza’s signage has already been removed from the Turning Basin building.
Petruzzelli wasn’t available for comment by press time. Sprezza’s signage has already come down off the Shockoe Slip building.
Sprezza’s new 3,200-square-foot Fan storefront was the longtime home of Bogart’s before its closure in 2008 after three decades. The building has since housed restaurants Balliceaux, Flora and Poor Boys of RVA. Its most recent tenant was Brun, a cigar lounge that closed in early 2023 after about a year in business. The landlord is now suing Brun for unpaid rent and damages to the building.
Sprezza’s menu includes Southern Italian-inspired pasta dishes, fish specials and more, as well as a full bar. Many of its entrees are priced between $17 and $24.
It’d be the second new Italian restaurant in the Fan in the last 12 months, joining Uliveto, which opened in the former Secco Wine Bar space on North Robinson Street late last year.
The spot adjacent to The Lombardy Market has housed five restaurants in the last 15 years. (Mike Platania photo)
After a year in Shockoe Slip, an Italian eatery is heading west to a longtime Fan restaurant space.
Sprezza is preparing to relocate to 203 N. Lombardy St., according to plans filed recently with the city.
Initially founded as a pop-up in 2021, Sprezza opened in the former Morton’s The Steakhouse space late last year at the corner of East Canal and Virginia streets. Last week the restaurant announced on social media that it was closing in Shockoe Slip and heading to an undisclosed location in the Fan.
A few days after the announcement, owner Angela Petruzzelli filed for an ABC license and certificate of occupancy for Sprezza for the Lombardy Street address.
Sprezza’s signage has already been removed from the Turning Basin building.
Petruzzelli wasn’t available for comment by press time. Sprezza’s signage has already come down off the Shockoe Slip building.
Sprezza’s new 3,200-square-foot Fan storefront was the longtime home of Bogart’s before its closure in 2008 after three decades. The building has since housed restaurants Balliceaux, Flora and Poor Boys of RVA. Its most recent tenant was Brun, a cigar lounge that closed in early 2023 after about a year in business. The landlord is now suing Brun for unpaid rent and damages to the building.
Sprezza’s menu includes Southern Italian-inspired pasta dishes, fish specials and more, as well as a full bar. Many of its entrees are priced between $17 and $24.
It’d be the second new Italian restaurant in the Fan in the last 12 months, joining Uliveto, which opened in the former Secco Wine Bar space on North Robinson Street late last year.
Having lived in that exact area I’m wondering if the best use of this space would be a fast casual concept with some (not a lot of) seating, a bit like Goatocado if you will? I’ve watched multiple restaurants come and go and nothing seems to stick. $17-$24 might be just outside the financial range for a lot of the VCU students that live in that immediate area. Then again, I suppose the owner could target the wealthier demographic living on Hanover. I wish the new spot nothing but the best of course.
A viable model might be the old Avenue 805. Pretty nice menu, prices on the upside of casual, but a regular Monday “Cheap Date Night” bought you two entrees and a nice bottle of wine.
Sprezza’s sounds great & I can’t wait to try it. I’m glad it moved to the Fan! I’m not sure why, but I tend to gravitate to the Fan for food. When Uliveto opened, I thought the exact same thing – yikes! – entrees $17-25. But Uliveto is always packed. You are correct about students, I think they will go east toward Pupatella. Inflation is a funny thing – it has desensitized us to believe $20 is cheap.
I wonder what will happen with the back room. It has been a music venue for decades and a very meaningful one for the community. I wonder if the back space can be used for events still?
I’ve seen some stellar acts in the Back Room (Snarky Puppy putting like 10 guys in the corner?!?!). The largest issue is accessibility. For dinner & a show, you have to navigate the stairs and that tiny passageway. If you’re just going for a show, do you loiter your way through the dining room or skulk through the alley? And god forbid you have a wheelchair or mobility issues…
Will have to try them out. As for as Italian restaurants in the city/fan area, my ❤️ and appetite belong to Gersi!