Bellytimber Tavern is no more, but fear not! Owner and operator Patrick Stamper says it will reopen as Beauvine in late August. He hasn’t divulged the new concept. “As our city changes, so do we,” he said in a news release. “Our building is in need of some love that demands us to close for a spell and we feel like the time is right to make some significant changes and explore some new ideas.”
South Side stalwart O’Tooles Restaurant & Pub is planning another location. “Owner John O’Toole said he’s looking on Midlothian Turnpike near Charter Colony Parkway (in the same center where Martin’s Super Markets is closing a store),” reports the Times-Dispatch,
“but he hasn’t signed a lease.” facebook.com/otoolesrva.
Sadly, the first Lidl stores won’t open in Richmond. That honor goes to Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads. Keep your eyes peeled, though — Lidl will unlock the doors of its three Richmond-area locations sometime this summer. Just not on June 15. lidl.com.
More Korean fried chicken is coming to the Fan. BonChon will open at 308 N. Laurel St. and will be the company’s fourth Richmond-area outpost. The concept isn’t new to the neighborhood — BB.Q Chicken, also a chain based in Korea, opened in the old Shoryuken Ramen at 900 W. Franklin St. earlier this year. bonchon.com.
Paul Keevil is at it again. The longtime owner of Millie’s Diner, Tio Pablo Taqueria and LuLu’s plans to open a coffee house, Café Clang, this summer at 29 N. 17th St. right in between his two other Shockoe Bottom restaurants. “Clang is somewhat of an extension of LuLu’s,” Keevil is quoted in Richmond BizSense. “The goal was to find a way to make all of our customers comfortable, because we get so busy on the weekends and we want to have another option for them to stay and dine.”
Yaki, a Japanese tavern, is the latest concept from Rogue Gentlemen owner John Maher, and will open Friday, June 3, at 6 p.m., with yakitori-style chicken skewers and Maher’s always creative cocktails. facebook.com/yakirichmond.
You have two festivals and one event to choose from this weekend, but it won’t be hard to hit all three. The Richmond Greek Festival starts Thursday, June 1, and runs until Sunday, June 4 at Sts. Helen and Constantine Greek Orthodox Church at 30 Malvern Ave. And you can get a look behind the scenes right here. greekfestival.com.
The delicious overload that is Broad Appetit actually starts the night before at Off-Broad Appetit. On Saturday, June 3, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., a plethora of chefs from all over the country will serve their best at Pasture, at 416 E. Grace St., to benefit FeedMore. broadappetit.com/off-broad-2017.html.
Broad Appetit takes over Broad Street between Henry and Adams streets on Sunday, June 4, and more than 70 chefs will be on hand with $3 tasting plates. These dishes are up for awards, so festival-goers will be the real beneficiaries of this annual competition. broadappetit.com.
