Editor’s Note: This story was produced in partnership with Virginia Transit Company (VITCO).
There are few large-ish pieces of real estate in the city proper that have been more screaming for development than the fallow field bordered by Clay Street and Hermitage Road.
For years, it prodded me with an “if you build it, they will come” whisper. I’m on my meds now, so the voices have stopped. Even if they hadn’t, the choice has already been made for me and you. A little while ago, there was movement in the area. A trolley car just somehow showed up, like Victorian-era aliens just dumped it after a joyride. Or had it always been there? I don’t know. Primary-colored shipping containers standing on end like ill-joined Legos just popped into existence too. I was mad curious to find out who the new neighbors were.
Just as I was about to sleuth my way over, I got an email from the owners of the new venue/restaurant/bar establishing residence in that very spot. Virginia Transit Company, or VITCO for funsies, doesn’t yell “booze and mosh pits” as much as it sounds like the place you pay tickets for having indulged in too much of that. It’s counterintuitive, but what’s in a name anyway? It works if you squint.
Arturo Zaloga, who I’ve quickly made friends with (because he’s rad), invited me to stop by and check the place out. I wasn’t initially too surprised by what I was greeted with, considering the shipping container aesthetic visible from the road, but the details are the devilry.
First of all, it’s a venue with a fucking parking lot. Seriously, I do not need to describe to the average Richmond show-goer how refreshing it is to be able to park within a half-mile of the place you’re going to. Second, it exists with no neighbors, no “keep it down” Karens within a guitar amp’s reach of the stage. Thirdly, the shipping containers aren’t even in their final form. Expect murals and artwork from local and global legends to bring it to Super Saiyan-level pique.
That’s just the view from the parking lot. When I arrived this past week for my visit, the decking around the bar was being laid, covering the largely gravel and grass surface throughout the space. Large, vaulted canopies were being constructed to bridge the spaces between containers, for sun-blocking as well as inclement weather. The trolley sits there at the far end, looking lost, until you realize that’s where the DJ booth is. Inside the trolley. How very concept-y! Perched on the stack of containers in the corner is a humongous TV that usually shows surf videos when not blasting planned programming.
Arturo greeted me, just dripping San Diego sun with that smile, and led me about the space for the tour. He’s from Sandy Eggo, but made his professional mark in Washington, DC, as part of the metrobar team. He slides into Richmond with his two partners, Matt Weaver and John Groth, to extend their success in Fist City with this new venture.
It’s big. It’s wide open. Picnic tables are present but don’t plug up any natural avenues for crowd movement. The stage is under construction, but the plans are inspiring. The bathrooms are three shades fancier than anything else there. You will thank them for that when the time comes to get away from your friends for a minute and breathe.
That’s what it is, but what is it for? That’s what I wanted to know. Arturo had a really good answer for that. For one, his old skateboard hangs behind the bar to set the tone right. He is a SoCal punk, with all of the salt of the ocean in his hair and a tattooed fist in the air. He recalled his time as a student at William and Mary in the early 2000s, when he would drive to Richmond to see Strike Anywhere, still one of his favorites. He has a deep, abiding love for Richmond punk and finally has his own place to become part of our narrative.
He tells me his goal is to be the outdoor destination for mid-level touring punk and metal bands, DIY, locally grown festivals of any genre, and is already serving the EDM diaspora as a perfectly natural rave culture venue. As someone who’s been throwing events in Richmond for decades, this is the answer, in spirit as well as materially, to so many old anxieties of “where can I pull off this crazy idea?” I am actually excited to see what this space can become with the leadership and intent being expressed here. Note to Promoters: Call Arturo.
Oh, did I mention they serve food? Of course they do, because it’s fucking Virginia and they have to. The El Camino Kitchen is a concept piece led by head chef Carmen Nuñez and sous chef Malik Cox. They bring the Cali-Baja cuisine, a distinct cultural expression not to be confused with the vast majority of Mexican food you can find in town. They focus on burritos and tacos, all in handmade tortillas, including a Cali Burrito that tastes like it was flown in from Mission Beach. They have an extensive vegan and vegetarian menu, so feel free to bring that friend.
The bar is, of course, full service. The cocktail list leans heavy on the California roots, with a very mezcal- and tequila-focused menu. Fresh juices and a very thoughtful representation of distilleries make this a great place for margaritas, and they’ve got several takes on the theme.
All of this is making me hungry, so I’m off to enjoy a large portion of Reposado. Catch you at VITCO, sooner than later.
Main photo by R. Anthony Harris
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