Stony Point Fashion Park is introducing two new restaurants to its space.
Southern Kitchen, a Black-woman-owned and family-operated Southern-inspired joint, is relocating from Jackson Ward to Stony Point. Southern Kitchen will be taking over the empty Brio Italian Grille space, which closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
Owner and chef Shane Roberts-Thomas was inspired to cook up traditional Southern foods passed down through her family. This includes some of the restaurant’s classics like Southern-style egg rolls, shrimp and grits, and blackened catfish.
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“Southern Kitchen is a celebration of Southern hospitality, and we look forward to welcoming the community to experience my family’s recipes and heartfelt hospitality that make Southern dining truly special,” Roberts-Thomas said about moving to Stony Point.
Roberts-Thomas has been widely recognized and honored for her good work with Southern Kitchen. She was featured on Gordon Ramsay’s “24 Hours to Hell and Back,” in which she worked with Ramsay to revamp the restaurant in February 2020. Roberts-Thomas was also a contestant on the Food Network’s “Chopped” the same year.
Southern Kitchen has also won local accolades; it was listed as one of Richmond’s best overall restaurants, best valued restaurants and restaurants with the best ambiance on OpenTable.
“We are thrilled to welcome Southern Kitchen to Stony Point Fashion Park,” said Camilo Varela, co-founder and managing partner of Second Horizon Capital, the firm that represents the center. “Our new partnership with Shane Roberts-Thomas furthers the center’s goal to make Stony Point Fashion Park a premiere destination for exceptional dining experiences. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact Southern Kitchen will bring to our center and surrounding community.”
RVA Food Co-Lab grand opening
Stony Point Fashion Park is also welcoming RVA Food Co-Lab to the center. RVA Food Co-Lab brings together four food and beverage companies: Owl Spoon Water Kefir, The Green Kitchen, MOTHER Shrub and PastryBase. These companies focus on products centered around wellness, dietary inclusivity and allergen-free products.
RVA Food Co-Lab is planning to use the space for community events as well. It hopes to host cooking classes and parties for customers along with becoming a culinary hub.
RVA Food Co-Lab is hosting a grand opening event to “celebrate women entrepreneurs in their collaborative workspace.” The event will include mocktails and hor d’oeuvres, a tour of the new space and a raffle with prizes. They also promise a “swag bag” for the first 50 guests to arrive. The event will take place at 5-8 p.m. Thursday.