More ‘parklets’ placed as pilot program rolls out with assist from LaDiff
Jonathan Spiers photo)
Weeks after the first of the steel-structured platforms started showing up in front of city restaurants that requested them, Richmond’s pilot parklet program continues to roll out with more of the pop-up patios popping up around town.
The remaining three of five parklets that the city recently acquired have been placed, adding to two that kicked off its “Picnic in a Parklet” program with placements in front of Church Hill restaurant Nile and in front of Joe’s Inn in the Fan.
The three newest parklets are in front of Stir Crazy, a coffee shop on MacArthur Avenue in Bellevue; Hot for Pizza, on Leigh Street in Carver; and ice cream shop Scoop, on Strawberry Street in the Fan. The latter two were placed late last week.
Richmond restaurant roundup for 2020: Pandemic pivots and new eateries
BizSense file)
While the pandemic was the defining event of the year for Richmond’s restaurant industry, resulting in the closing of dozens of local spots, plenty of local operators also continued with expansion plans.
Here’s a recap of local food news from a year that many in the industry would rather forget:
Pandemic pivot
The pandemic pivot became a go-to for almost every restaurant in town this year. The government-mandated shutdown combined with patrons’ lingering fears left proprietors scrambling to find new revenue streams, shifting into a to-go-focused model and finding ways to squeeze enough tables and seats into their spaces while still maintaining social distancing.
December 10, 2020 3
Pancho’s Cantina & Grill’s front of house is nearly ready, and renovation work continues on its back of house. (
Mike Platania photo)
Armed with two dozen flavors of margaritas, Mary Escamilla hopes to pump new life into a Fan storefront.
Her new restaurant, Pancho’s Cantina & Grill, is preparing to open at 1919 W. Main St.
For the last year or so the space on West Main had been home to The Annex, a Tex-Mex restaurant from the owners of the neighboring District 5. Escamilla said earlier this year the owners approached her and her father about taking it over.