Southern Kitchen Restaurant is planning to exit its space in Jackson Ward, where it has operated since 2019, to relocate to the former Brio space at Stony Point Fashion Park. (Jack Jacobs photos)
A decade-old local restaurant is leaving its home in Jackson Ward to reopen at Stony Point Fashion Park.
Southern Kitchen Restaurant is planning to relocate to the South Richmond mall in August or September. It has inked a lease on the space formerly occupied by Brio Tuscan Grill across from P.F. Chang’s at one of the mall’s entrances.
Established by owner Shane Roberts-Thomas more than a decade ago, Southern Kitchen has a menu that features entrees of shrimp and grits, blackened catfish and fried pork chops in addition to sandwiches and salads.
Chelsea Sailor, Southern Kitchen’s general manager and daughter of Roberts-Thomas, said business has been good in Jackson Ward but the restaurant seems to have outgrown its spot there. It’s moving into the larger 8,400-square-foot space at Stony Point to meet demand from customers, Sailor said.
Southern Kitchen originally opened in 2013 in Shockoe Bottom, and moved into its current location at 541 N. Second St. in 2019.
In 2022, Roberts-Thomas opened a second restaurant called The Deuce across the street from Southern Kitchen at 119 E. Leigh St., though that concept has since closed. The East Leigh storefront is now home to Curry’s Caribbean Restaurant & Bar.
Roberts-Thomas competed on Food Network’s cooking competition series “Chopped” in an episode that aired in late 2020. The restaurant also was featured on Gordon Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back” TV series earlier that year.
In a prepared statement, Stony Point Fashion Park owner Second Horizon Capital welcomed the arrival of Southern Kitchen. Second Horizon co-founder Camilo Varela said, “Our new partnership with Shane Roberts-Thomas furthers the center’s goal to make Stony Point Fashion Park a premiere destination for exceptional dining experiences. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact Southern Kitchen will bring to our center and surrounding community.”
The space formerly occupied by Brio at Stony Point Fashion Park. The Italian restaurant closed in 2020.
Southern Kitchen is moving into a Stony Point space that’s been vacant since Brio shuttered in 2020. The Italian restaurant was one of the original tenants at the mall when it opened in 2003.
Florida-based Second Horizon bought Stony Point in 2022. Last year, the company introduced an open-container policy at the mall to allow shoppers to drink alcoholic beverages while they’re at the mall.
Other restaurant tenants at Stony Point include Latitude Seafood Co., Lyra’s Natural Kitchen, Verseau Bistro and Fleming’s steakhouse, the latter of which recently leased space for a new location in Short Pump.
Second Horizon declined to comment on whether Fleming’s might leave Stony Point in favor of the new Short Pump spot, which is under construction.
Southern Kitchen Restaurant is planning to exit its space in Jackson Ward, where it has operated since 2019, to relocate to the former Brio space at Stony Point Fashion Park. (Jack Jacobs photos)
A decade-old local restaurant is leaving its home in Jackson Ward to reopen at Stony Point Fashion Park.
Southern Kitchen Restaurant is planning to relocate to the South Richmond mall in August or September. It has inked a lease on the space formerly occupied by Brio Tuscan Grill across from P.F. Chang’s at one of the mall’s entrances.
Established by owner Shane Roberts-Thomas more than a decade ago, Southern Kitchen has a menu that features entrees of shrimp and grits, blackened catfish and fried pork chops in addition to sandwiches and salads.
Chelsea Sailor, Southern Kitchen’s general manager and daughter of Roberts-Thomas, said business has been good in Jackson Ward but the restaurant seems to have outgrown its spot there. It’s moving into the larger 8,400-square-foot space at Stony Point to meet demand from customers, Sailor said.
Southern Kitchen originally opened in 2013 in Shockoe Bottom, and moved into its current location at 541 N. Second St. in 2019.
In 2022, Roberts-Thomas opened a second restaurant called The Deuce across the street from Southern Kitchen at 119 E. Leigh St., though that concept has since closed. The East Leigh storefront is now home to Curry’s Caribbean Restaurant & Bar.
Roberts-Thomas competed on Food Network’s cooking competition series “Chopped” in an episode that aired in late 2020. The restaurant also was featured on Gordon Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back” TV series earlier that year.
In a prepared statement, Stony Point Fashion Park owner Second Horizon Capital welcomed the arrival of Southern Kitchen. Second Horizon co-founder Camilo Varela said, “Our new partnership with Shane Roberts-Thomas furthers the center’s goal to make Stony Point Fashion Park a premiere destination for exceptional dining experiences. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact Southern Kitchen will bring to our center and surrounding community.”
The space formerly occupied by Brio at Stony Point Fashion Park. The Italian restaurant closed in 2020.
Southern Kitchen is moving into a Stony Point space that’s been vacant since Brio shuttered in 2020. The Italian restaurant was one of the original tenants at the mall when it opened in 2003.
Florida-based Second Horizon bought Stony Point in 2022. Last year, the company introduced an open-container policy at the mall to allow shoppers to drink alcoholic beverages while they’re at the mall.
Other restaurant tenants at Stony Point include Latitude Seafood Co., Lyra’s Natural Kitchen, Verseau Bistro and Fleming’s steakhouse, the latter of which recently leased space for a new location in Short Pump.
Second Horizon declined to comment on whether Fleming’s might leave Stony Point in favor of the new Short Pump spot, which is under construction.
That’s a bad move
Should’ve moved to Hull St Manchester area or somewhere else downtown to keep the feeling of the name authentic. But I hope the best
Can’t argue with that. Would love to have seen them move over to Manchester, given how quickly that part of the city is growing. The Hull Street corridor needs good places like Southern Kitchen. Sorry they’re leaving Jackson Ward.
Heartfelt wishes to them for success!
Anywhere that Southern Kitchen relocates to will do well and flourish. The community is behind Shane and we will follow and patronize. Southern Kitchen will bring a lot more business to the mall. Congratulations Shane and keep rising to the top …God’s got you and we are standing behind you ten toes down. Southern Kitchen will be able to take more reservations and host birthday dinners in the new space.
Like moving from ICU to hospice.
?
A little positive energy would be a better choice than an insensitive and poorly informed comment. I can assure you, that we of the Stoney Point/Fashion Place neighborhood are excited to have them and will be very supportive!
Will pick up some seasonal business from Spirit Halloween Store.
They’re not moving to South Park….
I wonder if any of the people poo-pooing the move have ever been or will ever go to Southern Kitchen?
Good luck to the business owner and she’s one of the restaurants featured on Gordon Ramsey that’s actually still open.
In my opinion, unless he got a deal that “he couldn’t refuse,” it’s a bad move. Stony Point is a very troubled Mall.
I wouldn’t not be surprised if they got a year of free rent
I SO loved that episode of “24 Hours to Hell and Back”. So awesome that Chef Ramsay was in town. Needless to say, this was my favorite episode of that series (for obvious reasons).
From the fire to the frying pan…I suspect this will not end well.
I “suspect” you’ve never patronized the place at any of its locations.
I’m so excited to read this. I loved Southern Kitchen when they were in Shockoe Bottom & was sad to see them move from there. We Southsiders will be very happy to visit Southern Kitchen at Stony Point.
Moving to stony point is a bad move for the patrons without a vehicle that had access via foot traffic or a short bus ride. Stony point isn’t a viable mall and can’t be seen from the road way. Good luck to the business just the same.