Updated 1/12/2021
Growing up in a restaurant family since I was 13 (Richmond Restaurant Group) I’ve had the pleasure to get to know many other restaurateurs in this city. Often times I’ll be having a conversation about a new restaurant that’s opening and someone will ask “who owns that?” I’ve put family-owned restaurants at the bottom since they are not one group, but many different family members.
If you know of any edits or additions that need to be made to this list please let me know in the comments below or send me an email.
17 Establishments
- Johnny & Katrina Giavos
- Sidewalk Cafe / Kitchen 64 – with Ernest von Ofenheim
- Kuba Kuba – with Manual Mendez
- Kuba Kuba Dos – with Manual Mendez & Hugo Jordan
- Galley / Galley Market / Little Nickel – with Manny Mendez & Chris DiLauro
- Perly’s Delicatessen — with Kevin Roberts & Scott Coleman
- The Continental: Grove Ave, Manchester — Independent
- Stella’s: Richmond, Charleston — Independent
- Stella’s Grocery: Lafayette St, Scott’s Addition, Grace St, Manchester, Forest Hill – Independent
14 Establishments
- EAT Restaurant Partners (Chris Tsui & Ren Mefford) – Osaka / Wild Ginger / Fat Dragon / Foo Dog / Boulevard Burger and Brew / Wong Gonzalez / Wong’s Tacos / Beijing on Grove / Red Salt / Pizza & Beer of Richmond: Fan, Hanover / Hot Chick / Fatty Smokes / Lucky AF
10 Establishments
- Travis Croxton
- Rappahannock Restaurant / Merroir / Rapp Session / Rappahannock Oyster Bar: Union Market (DC), Wharf (DC), Charleston, Los Angeles, Tyson’s Corner – with Ryan Croxton
- Rock Salt (NC) – Independent
- GWARbar – with Hilda Staples & GWAR
9 Establishments
- HOUSEpitality Family (Kevin Healy) – The Boathouse: Sunday Park, Rocketts Landing, Short Pump, City Point / Casa del Barco: Canal Walk, Short Pump Town Center, Chesterfield Town Center / Island Shrimp Co. (Chesterfield), Island Shrimp Co. (Rocketts Landing)
8 Establishments
- Richmond Restaurant Group (Michelle Williams, Jared Golden & Ted Wallof) – Barrio Taqueria + Tequila / The Daily Kitchen & Bar: Carytown, Short Pump / East Coast Provisions / West Coast Provisions / The Hard Shell: Downtown, Bellgrade / The Hill Cafe
- Ryan Croxton – Rappahannock Restaurant / Merroir / Rapp Session / Rappahannock Oyster Bar: Union Market (DC), Wharf (DC), Charleston, Los Angeles, Tyson’s Corner – with Travis Croxton
7 Establishments
- The Big Kitchen Hospitality (John Haggai, Jeff Grant, John Davenport & Susan Davenport) —Tazza Kitchen: Alverser Plaza, Short Pump, Scott’s Addition, Cameron Village (NC), Stone Creek Village (NC), Trenholm Plaza (SC) / Conejo (Coming Soon)
- R&L Hospitality Group (Rick Lyons & Herb Reuger) – Lunch / Supper / Brunch / The Grill / City Diner / The Village Cafe / Urban Roost Events and Catering
5 Establishments
- Matt Simmons & Chris Holder – Capital Ale House: Downtown, Midlothian, Innsbrook, Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg
- Angela Whitley & Dan Brantingham – Burger Bach: Carytown, Short Pump, Raleigh, Midlothian, Charlottesville
- Manny Mendez
- Kuba Kuba – with Johnny Giavos
- Kuba Kuba Dos – with Johnny Giavos & Hugo Jordan
- Galley / Galley Market / Little Nickel – with Johnny Giavos & Chris DiLauro
- Kevin McGrath & Steve Rogge
- Wood & Iron Game Day Restaurant: Midlothian, Scott’s Addition
- Asado Wing & Taco Company: VCU, Charlottesville / The Flyin’ Pig – with Ian Anderson
- Channing Miller — North End Juice Company: Museum District, Midlothian, Virginia Beach, Church Hill / North End Gelato
- Craig Brosius and Kevin Urbanowski — The Pit and The Peel: Westhampton (Coming Fall 2021), The Fan, Norfolk (Coming Soon), Carytown (closing for Westhampton location), James Center, Short Pump Town Center
4 Establishments
- Ed Vasaio – Edo’s Squid / 8½: The Fan, Church Hill / Dinamo
- Eddie & Sidney Padow – Padow’s Hams & Deli: Glen Allen (Corporate), Downtown Ironfronts (Franchise), Midlothian (Franchise), Brandermill (Franchise: Sue Park)
- RVA Hospitality (Frances Santerella & Liz Kincade)
- Tarrant’s / Tarrant’s West / Max’s on Broad / Bar Solita
- Rob Jones – Sportspage Bar & Grille: Midlothian, Mechanicsville, West End, Ashland
- Neverett Eggleston Jr.– Croaker’s Spot: Manchester, Petersburg, Norfolk / Sugar’s Crab Shack
- Chris DiLauro
- Bacchus — with Nancy Fisher
- Galley / Galley Market / Little Nickel – with Johnny Giavos & Manny Mendez
- Paul Keevil – Millie’s / LuLu’s / Tio Pablo / Cafe Clang
- Brittanny Anderson
- Metzger — with Nathan Conway & Brad Hemp
- Brenner Pass / Black Lodge – with Nathan Conway & Brad Hemp, James Kohler & Olivia Wilson
- Leni (D.C.)
- Mark Herndon
- Buckhead’s Chophouse
- Sugar Shack Donuts — with Ian Kelley
- The Roosevelt — with Kendra Feather
- Square Burger (TX) — with Craig Brundege and Brandon Horrocks
- Eduardo “Lalo” Macias
- The Patron / Lalo’s Cocina Bar & Grill / Chicanos Cocina Bar & Grill
- Two Compadre’s Taqueria Bar & Grill — with Jose De La Rosa
- LX Group
- Kabana / Switch Pop-Up Bar / NAMA / Sonora Cantina
- Trey Owens
- Soul Taco: Jackson Ward, Shockoe Slip, Kabana Rooftop
- JewFro Pop-Up
- DJB Hospitality Holding Co (Dennis Barbaro)
- Sedona Taphouse: Westchester Commons, Glen Allen, and Fredericksburg
- Napa Kitchen and Wine
3 Establishments
- Josh & Jessica Bufford
- Toast: Henrico, Powhatan
- Shouk — with Ran Nussbächer
- Historical Restaurant Concepts (Ryan Koontz, Jeb White, Ron Morse, & Paul Kostandin) — Station 2 / Postbellum / Oak & Apple
- Kendra Feather
- Laura Lee’s / Garnett’s
- The Roosevelt – with Mark Herndon
- Jay Bayer
- Saison / Saison Market
- Bingo — with Jason Alley & Michelle Jones
- William McCormack – McCormack’s Irish Pub / McCormack’s Whisky Grill / McCormack’s Big Whisky Grill
- Karen Verdisco – Pie Hole Pizza: Ashland, Midlothian (Coming Soon) / Brew
- Nathan Conway & Brad Hemp
- Metzger — with Brittanny Anderson
- Brenner Pass / Black Lodge — with James Kohler & Olivia Wilson
- Carlos Londoño — Margarita’s Cantina / Mijas / La Bodega (Coming Soon)
- Michael Cohen & Justin McDonald — Riverbound Cafe / Marty’s Grill / Crafted
- Salvatore “Sal” Anthony Nuara & Krystina Nuara
- Bel Cibo Pizzeria / Capital Burger and Dogs (Coming Soon)
- Belmont Pizzeria — with Melinda and Victor Guevara
- Jay Ko
- J Kogi: Jackson Ward — with Michael Ng
- Fighting Fish: Jackson Ward, Scott’s Addition
- Kevin Liu
- The Jasper — with Mattias Hagglund, Thomas Leggett, and Brandon Peck
- Carytown Cupcakes / The Tin Pan
- Nader Hagez
- The Four Brothers Bistro: Glen Allen, VCU
- Bistro 804 — with Virginia Hagez
- David Blanchard — Blanchard’s Coffee Roasting Co: Broad St., Morris St., Forst Hill (Coming Soon)
- Steven Gooch — The Franklin Inn / The Stable’s at Belmont / The Stable’s Market at Libbie Mill
- Ibo and Ashley Pinar — Bell Greek: Village Chopping Center, Iron Bridge Rd, Polo Place
2 Establishments
- Brandon Pearson
- Sabai / The Jungle Room
- Randy O’Dell & Patrick Stamper — En Su Boca / Beauvine Burger Concept
- Joe & Whitney Kiatsuranon
- My Noodle Bar / YaYa’s Cookbook
- Hani Atallah
- District 5 — with Gary Wenzel and Roland West
- Southern Railway Taphouse — with Chris Farag
- Carter Snipes & Bobby Kruger — The Hof / Brambly Park
- Zach Archibald, Noelle Archibald, and Jennifer Rawlings – Lamplighter Roasting Co: Summit Ave, Addison St
- Chris Farag
- Southern Railway Taphouse — with Hani Atallah
- Great American Ranch — with a partner
- Jimmy Tsamouras — Dot’s Back Inn / Demi’s Mediterranean Kitchen
- Chris Davis
- Alamo BBQ — with Paul Hubbard
- Frontier by Alamo — with Juliette Highland (wife)
- James Kohler & Olivia Wilson — Brenner Pass / Black Lodge with Brittanny Anderson, Nathan Conway & Brad Hemp
- Mike Barber – Carytown Burgers & Fries: Carytown, Lakeside
- Carena Ives — Jamaica House / Carena’s Jamaican Grille
- Kathleen Richardson — Urban Farmhouse: Shockoe Slip, Midlothian
- Ian Kelly — Sugar Shack Donuts: The Fan, North Chesterfield
- Wendell Sprouse
- Lady N’awlins with Jake Crocker & Hayden Fisher
- Izzy’s Kitchen with Joe & Sharron Carter
- Rabia Kamara — Ruby Scoops / Suzy Sno
1 Establishment
- Amy Foxworthy, Chip Zimmerman & Josh Carlton — The Mill on MacArthur
- Joe Carter, Sharron Carter & Wendell Sprouse — Izzy’s Kitchen
- Jake Crocker, Hayden Fisher & Wendell Sprouse — Lady N’awlins
- Gary Wenzel and Roland West — District 5
- Melinda and Victor Guevara, Salvatore “Sal” Anthony Nuara & Krystina Nuara — Belmont Pizzeria
Restaurant Families
These restaurants are owned by different family members of the same last name.
- Garcia Family (8) – Mexico Restaurant – Ashland, Woodlake, Short Pump, Mechanicsville, Forest Hill, Innsbrook, Sandston and Little Mexico
- Lo Presti Family (7)
- Mario Lo Presti – Mary Angela’s
- Rick Lo Presti – Piccola’s
- Francesco Lo Presti – Maldini’s
- Joe Lo Presti – Mediterraneo
- Joe’s Wife & Son – Pronto
- Joe’s Son-in-Law – Arianna’s Fan and Arianna’s Lakeside
- Kiatsuranon Family (5)
- Sukanya Pala-art (Mother) – Mom’s Siam and Mom’s Siam 2
- Joe (Son) and Whitney Kiatsuranon – My Noodle Bar, YaYa’s Cookbook
- Lorna Bedford (Daughter) — Native Plate
Dood! This is perfect! I get asked that question as well. I over hear people attaching random restaurants to the wrong restauranteurs all the time. I’ve stopped correcting them.
Sugar Shacks 🙂 2 open in Richmond with a third on the way plus several outside of Richmond.
You’re not a restaurant, Sugar Shack.
If I’m not mistaken, Chris DiLauro still owns half of Bacchus (with Nancy Fisher). Does he get bumped up to the 4-slot?
Yeah for sure. Can you confirm?
Should also include Brittanny Anderson, Nathan Conway, and Brad Hemp who all own Metzger as well as Brenner Pass/Chairlift(with James Kohler and Olivia Wilson) which are both opening in the next two months.
Thanks for sharing James. I’ve added it to the list.
Chad, I have dined at a few of the many fine restaurants you have compiled without knowing the interconnections. I found your list today looking for just this type of information. It is more important now as I start a new service business that will be calling on the food service industry.
Do you have any recommendations on the best way to approach these decision makers?
Thank you.
HI Mark – As a restaurateur, I would suggest that you dine or at least patronize the establishment before approaching the decision-maker. AND, determine who that decision-maker is (without calling and asking “who is the decision maker in your business”) – in many of these cases, there is a Director of Ops that primarily handles operational matters. After determining the correct person to contact AND pre-qualifying your match for the targeted business, you may have an insight as to how your service would be of benefit. Doing your homework and being a CUSTOMER first is a sure way to flatter the operator and get the meeting. FWIW – I don’t do business with anyone who doesn’t do business with me – it’s simple and a telling bit of loyalty that we should owe eachother.
Casa Del Barco Short Pump is now open – thanks so much for a great list!
Chad,
Thank you, this is nicely done. I visited Chicago recently and noticed how many of the best of the best big restaurants were interconnected and it’s well published. In case you’re looking for a challenge, you could layer in investors (silent and angle), developers, and landlords. Some provide the property, some the money, and some the advice.
For example, Johnny owns other restaurant properties as solely the landlord. I also found this recently: Howard and Karen Kellman, Feather’s landlords, are key to the development of Church Hill’s food scene. They own the buildings that house not only the Roosevelt but also Dutch & Co., WPA Bakery and another retail space on 27th Street. In Scott’s Addition, they own Rick Lyons’ Lunch and Supper properties. (Alewife too?)