The space was previously Growlers To Go’s downtown location. (Mike Platania photo)
After a two-year run, a restaurant along Arthur Ashe Boulevard has boiled its last noodle.
BigWife’s Mac n’ Cheese ceased operations in recent weeks at 1017 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
BigWife’s was owned by John and Jayme Taxin, the local couple that owns Shockoe Bottom dining institution Bookbinder’s Seafood & Steakhouse.
They started BigWife’s as a pandemic-era pop-up, with a stripped-down menu highlighted by macaroni and cheese dishes like its Mac Lorraine, a play on the famous quiche dish made with bacon, Gruyere cheese and scallions. The restaurant’s name came from a family nickname for Jayme.
BigWife’s graduated from a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar in early 2023 when the Taxins took over the spot on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Their hope was to open multiple BigWife’s locations, but John said the concept never caught on and the restaurant just wasn’t making money.
“Business was never gangbusters. If I had to do it over again, I would not have gone to the boulevard,” Taxin said. “The goal was to open a million of these places. (But) we never generated enough business for the proof of concept.”
BigWife’s also had a food trailer that the Taxins would bring to events throughout the state. They’re now looking to sell the trailer.
Its 1,200-square-foot building is owned by local businessman and developer Charlie Diradour and was where bottle shop Growlers To Go operated from 2015 to 2020.
Taxin said he’s not bitter about the restaurant closing and that he’s holding onto BigWife’s recipes. Bookbinder’s remains open for business as usual.
“It’s a bummer. It was certainly fun and something kind of neat,” he said. “Maybe we’ll run it as a pop-up at Bookbinder’s. I really enjoyed the whole process.”
Meanwhile, a few blocks north, a Japanese barbecue from a mystery operator has signed on to open in The Ace, the eight-story mixed-use building that’s under construction at 1201 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
The space was previously Growlers To Go’s downtown location. (Mike Platania photo)
After a two-year run, a restaurant along Arthur Ashe Boulevard has boiled its last noodle.
BigWife’s Mac n’ Cheese ceased operations in recent weeks at 1017 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
BigWife’s was owned by John and Jayme Taxin, the local couple that owns Shockoe Bottom dining institution Bookbinder’s Seafood & Steakhouse.
They started BigWife’s as a pandemic-era pop-up, with a stripped-down menu highlighted by macaroni and cheese dishes like its Mac Lorraine, a play on the famous quiche dish made with bacon, Gruyere cheese and scallions. The restaurant’s name came from a family nickname for Jayme.
BigWife’s graduated from a pop-up to a brick-and-mortar in early 2023 when the Taxins took over the spot on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. Their hope was to open multiple BigWife’s locations, but John said the concept never caught on and the restaurant just wasn’t making money.
“Business was never gangbusters. If I had to do it over again, I would not have gone to the boulevard,” Taxin said. “The goal was to open a million of these places. (But) we never generated enough business for the proof of concept.”
BigWife’s also had a food trailer that the Taxins would bring to events throughout the state. They’re now looking to sell the trailer.
Its 1,200-square-foot building is owned by local businessman and developer Charlie Diradour and was where bottle shop Growlers To Go operated from 2015 to 2020.
Taxin said he’s not bitter about the restaurant closing and that he’s holding onto BigWife’s recipes. Bookbinder’s remains open for business as usual.
“It’s a bummer. It was certainly fun and something kind of neat,” he said. “Maybe we’ll run it as a pop-up at Bookbinder’s. I really enjoyed the whole process.”
Meanwhile, a few blocks north, a Japanese barbecue from a mystery operator has signed on to open in The Ace, the eight-story mixed-use building that’s under construction at 1201 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.
It failed as a concept in NYC and Toronto (along with grilled cheese places) before the pandemic. They idea that no matter how good the recipe (and its was good) that people would in volumes buy $10-$20 mac bowls and drinks for meals on regular basis is one I never got either. But it was good mac!
The Grilled Cheese Bistro in Norfolk always has a line waiting for it to open on the weekends.It has been open and successful for nearly a decade.
I wouldn’t write off grilled cheese places.
It sure does! It’s a great little spot.
Well regional grilled cheese chains in Dallas, Boston, Chicago have all closed. NYC / New York Grilled Cheese closed both NYC locations and only has two locations left in South Florida but if you want they are still offering franchises.
Never ate there. Weird location, no parking to speak of, and odd concept. I love M&C, but a little is fine, not the basis for a meal.
My Wife tried their food truck somewhere and loved it… But every time we tried to go to their brick and morter over the last year or so, it would be closed, with messages like “Catch our food truck at random festival in NOVA”.
Good for them to try something new.
I have to admit the exterior is not appealing to me. this is not a place I would have visited just by the appearance. Sorry, though, that they are closing.