The 2,000-square-foot building at 401 S. Stafford Ave. (Mike Platania photo)
A proposed cafe in Byrd Park came one step closer to taking flight this week.
The city’s Planning Commission voted Tuesday to approve a special-use permit for 401 S. Stafford Ave., where New York Deli owners Demetrios Tsiptsis, Rodion Tsiptsis and David Zemlan are planning to open a sandwich shop.
The project needs city approval because the building is currently zoned residential, but a grill did once operate in the space, in the 1990s. Zemlan and his partners bought the building in 2016 and first presented their plans to the commission last fall.
The commission’s vote on the matter had since been delayed six times, and in that time the restaurateurs and their representative, Mark Baker of Baker Development Resources, received feedback from the neighborhood and added conditions to the permit that would impact how the restaurant would operate.
Those conditions include prohibitions on live music, serving liquor and seating more than 24 people on its outdoor patio. The restaurant’s hours of operation would also be limited to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A rendering of the outdoor patio at the planned restaurant. (City documents)
On Tuesday the Planning Commission voted to recommend approving the SUP, with six members voting in favor of it and Rebecca Rowe voting against it. Zemlan declined to comment after Tuesday’s meeting.
Included in the SUP application is a conceptual menu for the cafe, listing breakfast sandwiches like gravlax salmon on an English muffin, and a bacon, egg and cheese with braised kale and aioli. Its menu for lunch and dinner includes a Serrano ham, confit tomato, Burrata cheese and basil sandwich, as well as sandwich staples like an Italian, club and burger. The menu also lists coffee, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverage options.
The SUP request is now on the City Council’s agenda for its Feb. 27 meeting.
The New York Deli crew has another project in the works a few blocks north of the Downtown Expressway, as they recently bought the former Lady N’awlin’s building in the Fan and are renovating it for a pair of Deli employees who are planning to open another Louisianan restaurant in the space.
The 2,000-square-foot building at 401 S. Stafford Ave. (Mike Platania photo)
A proposed cafe in Byrd Park came one step closer to taking flight this week.
The city’s Planning Commission voted Tuesday to approve a special-use permit for 401 S. Stafford Ave., where New York Deli owners Demetrios Tsiptsis, Rodion Tsiptsis and David Zemlan are planning to open a sandwich shop.
The project needs city approval because the building is currently zoned residential, but a grill did once operate in the space, in the 1990s. Zemlan and his partners bought the building in 2016 and first presented their plans to the commission last fall.
The commission’s vote on the matter had since been delayed six times, and in that time the restaurateurs and their representative, Mark Baker of Baker Development Resources, received feedback from the neighborhood and added conditions to the permit that would impact how the restaurant would operate.
Those conditions include prohibitions on live music, serving liquor and seating more than 24 people on its outdoor patio. The restaurant’s hours of operation would also be limited to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A rendering of the outdoor patio at the planned restaurant. (City documents)
On Tuesday the Planning Commission voted to recommend approving the SUP, with six members voting in favor of it and Rebecca Rowe voting against it. Zemlan declined to comment after Tuesday’s meeting.
Included in the SUP application is a conceptual menu for the cafe, listing breakfast sandwiches like gravlax salmon on an English muffin, and a bacon, egg and cheese with braised kale and aioli. Its menu for lunch and dinner includes a Serrano ham, confit tomato, Burrata cheese and basil sandwich, as well as sandwich staples like an Italian, club and burger. The menu also lists coffee, wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverage options.
The SUP request is now on the City Council’s agenda for its Feb. 27 meeting.
The New York Deli crew has another project in the works a few blocks north of the Downtown Expressway, as they recently bought the former Lady N’awlin’s building in the Fan and are renovating it for a pair of Deli employees who are planning to open another Louisianan restaurant in the space.
Looks like a nice project. Sounds like a win for the neighborhood. Good luck to the restauranteurs. It’s too bad about the alcohol, though. What’s brunch with no bloody marys…. ;(
Excited to see this come to life for the neighborhood and community members. Keep going Richmond restauranteurs! Great job to all!
Please name it “Dogwood Deli”!!
I am assuming wine and beer are being allowed just no hard drinks?? I get we did not want another Stafford Grill and Bar. Big Kudos to Mark and gang that worked with the neighborhood!
Stafford Bar and Grill? What happened?
Yes, it says in the article wine and beer are on a sample menu provided.
Excited, welcome to the neighborhood.
Opposition to this was just nuts