The space came available over the summer. (Mike Platania photos)
After six years of slinging vegan food, a VCU-area restaurant space has turned carnivorous.
Fast-casual chain District Chicken & Gyro opened in recent weeks at 417 W. Grace St., where NuVegan Cafe had operated since 2018 before closing this summer.
DCG first opened in Washington, D.C., in 2018 and has been growing in recent years, adding locations in Texas, Florida and now, Richmond.
Its main offering is its gyros, and chicken and rice platters, which go for $10 and $12 at the Richmond location.
Partner Manat Singh said the Richmond DCG’s menu also includes other protein options beyond chicken, like falafel and fish as well as sides like loaded fries.
DCG has four other locations throughout the country.
“(But) definitely our go-to is the chicken and gyro-over-rice platter,” Singh said. “That’s the staple of the brand.”
Singh said the chain was dead-set on landing near the college crowd of VCU for its entrance into the Richmond market. Part of its model is to cater to the late-night scene, as it’s open until midnight on weeknights and until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
DCG’s 2,500-square-foot space was once owned by infamous local developer Justin French and has housed a handful of restaurants in the last decade, including Alero Mexican Restaurant and Kanoa Latin Cuisine, in addition to NuVegan.
A block to the north at 418 W. Broad St. is where Charlottesville-based coffee roaster Mudhouse recently opened a local coffee shop.