Restaurants

Southside café tees up expansion

benspencer

With a new brand in the bag, a local coffee shop is eyeing the green with its new location in Midlothian. Café Zata, formerly Taza Coffee n Crème, is opening a kiosk between the ninth and tenth holes at Independence Golf Club. Owners Ben Spencer and partner John Cherenzia are leasing the space out of… Read more »

New Short Pump taphouse has Carolina on its mind

carolinaaleext

A North Carolina-based restaurant chain has opened its first Virginia location in West Broad Village. Carolina Ale House opened Feb. 29 at 11275 W. Broad St. The 7,400-square-foot space was formerly home to Mimi’s Café, which closed in late 2014. The Raleigh-based chain, which has said it spent years searching for the right Virginia locations,… Read more »

Co-working space’s latest lure: beer and hot dogs

Three Notchd 2930 w broad st

With its brewery tenant already locked in, a new co-working space in Scott’s Addition is bringing in some hot dogs to soak up the suds. Robert Stout, owner of The Dog Wagon food truck, plans to open a brick-and-mortar location at 2930 W. Broad St. in the forthcoming Gather co-working building. Stout has leased a… Read more »

Innsbrook bar behind the eight ball

sharkys

A pool hall in Innsbrook has shut down as it faces charges from Virginia ABC. Sharky’s Bar and Billiards closed its doors last week at 4032 Cox Rd. in the Innsbrook Shoppes. Sidney Gunst, who owns the shopping center, and broker Kevin South of CBRE who handles leasing, both confirmed that Sharky’s had closed, at least… Read more »

Wong Gonzalez on deck for East Grace Street

wonggonzalez

One of Richmond’s busiest restaurant groups has unwrapped its plans for a downtown eatery. Chris Tsui of Eat Restaurant Partners said he and his partners plan to open Wong Gonzalez in July at 412 E. Grace St. downtown. Plans call for a “bar-focused” restaurant with a menu that combines Asian and Mexican fare. “I thought… Read more »

Pizza chain warming up for move into Richmond

FP location pic

Two sibling veterans of the pizza industry are looking to deliver a fresh batch of locations to the Richmond market. Brothers Garry and John Fitchett signed an agreement in December to open or develop 25 Firenza Pizza locations in Virginia and North Carolina over 10 years. While no locations have been finalized, Richmond could see… Read more »

Asian chicken chain spreading its wings

Bonchon edit ftd

A Korean restaurant chain on an expansion tear through Virginia has two locations in the works in Mechanicsville and Midlothian.

Familiar burger brand pulls into Ashland

fuddruckers ftd

A national burger chain is making its return to the Richmond market after exiting the area five years ago. A Fuddruckers franchise of is set to open March 30 inside the TA TravelCenter truck stop at 100 N. Carter Road in Ashland. TravelCenters of America spokesperson Tom Liutkus said it’s the second Fuddruckers the company… Read more »