A local businessman has ventured out of the corporate restaurant world to launch his own taphouse concept in Midlothian.
In October, Dennis Barbaro plans to open the Sedona Taphouse, a craft beer house in Westchester Commons shopping center that will feature 550 craft beers, 60 of which will be on tap.
Barbaro, a managing partner of the Bonefish Grill in Williamsburg, went on the hunt in Richmond about a year ago for a location for his new business.
“I saw a definite niche, and I’m very into craft beer myself,” Barbaro said.
After searching Innsbrook and Short Pump, Barbaro decided in April to lease a 2,800-square-foot space in Westchester Commons.
Barbaro said that he has a couple of investors who are helping fund the concept and that he expects it to cost about $600,000 to get up and running.
He expects the construction to take about three months, and he’s shooting for a mid-October opening.
And if Barbaro’s plan goes as he’s drawn it up, Sedona’s beer might be flowing in other locations, too.
He said the Midlothian location will be the flagship store for the Sedona concept, but he plans to expand in Richmond and other areas in the future.
“Within the next three years, I want to open two more in Richmond and then Charlottesville, New York, New Jersey and Florida eventually,” he said.
Although beer is the focus, Sedona will also have a selection of Virginia and international wines.
There will also be some food to soak up all that alcohol. Barbaro said he’s still working on the menu, but he said it would include seafood, pizza, salads and other appetizer-like dishes ranging from $9 to $16.
Barbaro is no stranger to restaurants. The New York native’s 30-year career has included stints as a managing partner for OSI Restaurant Partners, the parent company of Bonefish Grill, Outback Steak House and Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
About five years ago, he moved to Richmond with his wife, who is from the area.
Sedona Taphouse is expected to seat 101 people inside and 32 outside and feature a wraparound patio and a fire pit, Barbaro said.
Despite not having done any advertising, Barbaro said a big sign on the building at Westchester Commons has brought a good amount of traffic to the restaurant’s website.
“There are so many positive signs that it is very much in demand,” he said.
A local businessman has ventured out of the corporate restaurant world to launch his own taphouse concept in Midlothian.
In October, Dennis Barbaro plans to open the Sedona Taphouse, a craft beer house in Westchester Commons shopping center that will feature 550 craft beers, 60 of which will be on tap.
Barbaro, a managing partner of the Bonefish Grill in Williamsburg, went on the hunt in Richmond about a year ago for a location for his new business.
“I saw a definite niche, and I’m very into craft beer myself,” Barbaro said.
After searching Innsbrook and Short Pump, Barbaro decided in April to lease a 2,800-square-foot space in Westchester Commons.
Barbaro said that he has a couple of investors who are helping fund the concept and that he expects it to cost about $600,000 to get up and running.
He expects the construction to take about three months, and he’s shooting for a mid-October opening.
And if Barbaro’s plan goes as he’s drawn it up, Sedona’s beer might be flowing in other locations, too.
He said the Midlothian location will be the flagship store for the Sedona concept, but he plans to expand in Richmond and other areas in the future.
“Within the next three years, I want to open two more in Richmond and then Charlottesville, New York, New Jersey and Florida eventually,” he said.
Although beer is the focus, Sedona will also have a selection of Virginia and international wines.
There will also be some food to soak up all that alcohol. Barbaro said he’s still working on the menu, but he said it would include seafood, pizza, salads and other appetizer-like dishes ranging from $9 to $16.
Barbaro is no stranger to restaurants. The New York native’s 30-year career has included stints as a managing partner for OSI Restaurant Partners, the parent company of Bonefish Grill, Outback Steak House and Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
About five years ago, he moved to Richmond with his wife, who is from the area.
Sedona Taphouse is expected to seat 101 people inside and 32 outside and feature a wraparound patio and a fire pit, Barbaro said.
Despite not having done any advertising, Barbaro said a big sign on the building at Westchester Commons has brought a good amount of traffic to the restaurant’s website.
“There are so many positive signs that it is very much in demand,” he said.
This is great news, however, when an owner starts talking about future locations, before the first one has made a dollar, that is usually the kiss of death.
It will be interesting to see how it plays out, being pretty close to the Midlothian Capital Ale House. The Sedona name is puzzling, given that there seems to be no Southwestern theme to the menu. I’m looking forward to trying it though!
Interesting site selection for a restaurant focusing on alcohol. I wonder how many residences there are within walking distance of the site? Let’s hope there are not 101 seats being filled nightly by people drinking and then getting on the highway, driving several miles back to their homes in suburbia.
What’s wrong with thinking big? It doesn’t sound like this is his first venture being a managing partner of such established chains. The location seems great right outside of the movie theater and right off the 288. Capital Ale in Midlo is so boring, no T.V.’s no sporting events to watch and now no pool tables. The food at Capital is so-so at best but2 $ burger night is a big draw. I went to Sedona’s website and looks like there going to have live music another plus! I can’t wait for this place to open.
This sounds great! Midlothian needs a place like this! Good food,and live music while having a great beer..count me in! Nothing against Capital Ale but as a women its just not for me…too `beer hall’.
I think the location will be an issue. “In between” populations isn’t always the best route, and it’s a LONG haul from the near west end and points east.
I’m all for another beer outlet, but their come-on–Richmond’s first sophisticated taphouse– off-putting st best. Raises images of shaved-head pinsipe-suited manly men waxing poetic over the perfect balance of 2010 vintage Cascades hopes and the nutty palate of Belgian Caravienne malt… Oh please no!
And why compete head to head on the same turf with Cap Ale House? And what, by the way is unsophisticated about Cap Ale, or Commercial, or Mekong, or….?
And why why why Sedona?
@ AL How many people do you know walk to bars from home? Date night at the movies then in for a bite and a cocktail or two never hurt anyone. Sounds like this is going to be an upscale establishment not a local dive or biker bar. @ Jen. It’s about time the South Side has a place to go! I don’t think they’re banking on people coming from the West End. Westchester Commons is filling in nicely. Plus the Bon Scours construction across the street is in full swing and the office space that opened up in that… Read more »
It’s about time we have something new and exciting on the South Side. CAH has zero feel, there is no pulse to that place. When I’m out with my wife or friends it’s pretty mundane but with lack of choices on this side of the river we go by default. The food is for a lack of a better word awful and half the time they don’t have like 1/4 of the beers that are on their menu. Add the lack of flat screens or any T.V.s for that matter you can’t even watch a sporting event there. My friends… Read more »
Who cares how many the guy wants to have? Take it as it comes and try it out and go from there. I think it is a great idea and I so hope the food is good and not being much of a drinker, it does not matter to me if he has 500, 25 or 15 kinds of beers. At least it is not the run of the mill beers we will usually see in local places. Good luck and best wishes I say.
Sedona? It’s equally arbitrary and absurd name summons forth images of seniors in the southwest. Is this the southside’s answer to another fake joint that plays off the vibe of a Tommy Bahama crowd pleasing place, namely “Kona”? Sophistication? Niche? Craft beer? There’s the untouchable Belle Vie down the road and Capital Ale right across the street!!! If anything it might make CAH finally improve its menu. If you want TVs stay home or go to TGI Cheesy’s. Outback = awful (for low class types who wouldn’t know a good steak if it melted in their mouths) Carrabbas = a… Read more »
Come see the Houston Scott Band
🙂