The Florida-based chain has six locations throughout Richmond, including one near Willow Lawn. (Mike Platania photo)
With the revitalization of Virginia Center Commons underway up the road and another major development planned in the vicinity, a fast-growing restaurant chain is getting in on the action in Central Henrico.
Breakfast and lunch spot First Watch is planning to build a new location in the Stuart’s Crossing shopping center at 1091 Virginia Center Parkway.
Earlier this month, the Florida-based chain filed plans to build the new restaurant on an undeveloped, 1.2-acre plot adjacent to the intersection with Brook Road.
First Watch first arrived in Richmond in 2018, serving breakfast classics like eggs benedict, omelets, pancakes and waffles, along with salads, bowls and sandwiches for lunch. It calls itself a “daytime cafe,” with most of its locations closing in the early afternoon.
The company was founded in the 1980s near Tampa, Florida, and has been on a growth kick in recent years, now operating 520 restaurants in 29 states. Locally it has six locations in areas like Willow Lawn, Short Pump, Midlothian and Chester.
A spokesperson for First Watch said the company is “exploring further growth in the Greater Richmond area and has several leases in various stages of negotiation.”
Plans show the First Watch on Virginia Center Parkway would total around 4,200 square feet and include an outdoor dining area. First Watch is listed as the project developer and E.D. Lewis & Associates is the engineer.
It’s unclear whether First Watch would look to acquire the land ahead of the development. The parcel is currently owned by Sauer Properties, which is planning a major multi-use development with up to 780 homes on the nearly 100 wooded acres it owns to the east. Sauer Properties director Marshall French declined to comment about First Watch’s plans.
More new restaurants are likely to join First Watch as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the former Virginia Center Commons mall. Last week Shamin Hotels broke ground on a pair of restaurant outparcels and hotels that’ll take shape next to the new Henrico Sports & Events Center.
Was a big fan of the one in Knoxville. But the one in Short Pump is way to noisy for me to have a nice meal there. I hope they solve that problem at this location.
VCC is about to rapidly become Short Pump, Part Deux.
Jersey Diners are unassailable at the pinnacle of proletarian breakfast offerings. First Watch is a solid second place. It’s always nice to have more options in the area.
The VCC area is in desperate need for this type of restaurant. I anticipate this will be a big hit with the local residents of the area.