Restaurants

The longtime Bellevue pizzeria’s new owners are brothers Mohammed and Ahmed Alhasani, who previously owned Shawarma Bistro in Short Pump and food truck 2nd Alarm Grill.

“The Blue Heron has been a constant in mine and my family’s life for 20-plus years. Lots of celebrations there, I’ve had a number of first dates there,” Whisk owner Billy Bryan said of his desire to take over the riverfront restaurant.

“When the weather’s nice, I think [Solaire] can offer something that no other brunch in Richmond could offer, 20 stories above the city,” said Solaire co-owner Neal Patel. 

A dispute over the sale of the Dixie Restaurant in Old Towne Petersburg seems to hinge on a typo.

After planting its flag in Short Pump last year, an out-of-town coffee shop chain has set its sights on Midlothian for its second local outpost.

The 1,100-square-foot storefront will be the first brick-and-mortar location for Scharolyn Hall, who started Scharolina’s Custom Cakes & Confections in 2017. 

Akoya Kitchen already took over Kokonut’s Innsbrook spot two years ago, and now it’s making a similar play on Main Street near VCU.

“The vision is a nice, adult, classy, upscale environment for professionals,” said owner Jay Day. “Dark and moody, one of those places you may find yourself in a big city like Chicago or New York.”

The sandwich chain has shuttered the doors on what had been its last two remaining Richmond-area locations, at Westchester Commons and Willow Lawn.

Jake’s Bullpen will take over a walk-up space that sits a bit north of The Diamond and most recently  housed Ellie’s Hot Dogs & Ice Cream. “You’re going to know it’s Jake when you pull up,” said co-owner Wendy Yohman.