Evidently I’m last to know Richmond’s most begrudging sandwich shop, the Stuffy’s below Edo’s, has closed. But have no fear, a new Chipotle-like Japanese food place is hoping to thrive in it’s absence.
Evidently I’m last to know Richmond’s most begrudging sandwich shop, the Stuffy’s below Edo’s, has closed. But have no fear, a new Chipotle-like Japanese food place is hoping to thrive in it’s absence.
“We were always toying with the idea of doing fast-casual,” Paulo Benavides told RichmondBizSense earlier this week.
Benavides is one of two brothers set to open Hibachi Box in February. Paulo and Nelson also own Pepe’s at 9550 Midlothian Turnpike, a Mexican-style restaurant. They plan to bring in Ian Newill of Goatocado to help with some of the recipes as well.
But BizSense doesn’t give the restauranteurs any favors – they warned of the fierce struggle for restaurant-superiority near VCU’s dorms:
In addition to Chipotle and other chain restaurants in the surrounding area, Hibachi Box will be competing with Harrison Street Café, Christian’s Pizza, and Village Café, each of which are on the same stretch of North Harrison Street.
“The whole area is booming,” Paulo Benavides said. “The VCU boom is pretty obvious.”
Hibachi Box is replacing a sub shop in the space below Edo’s Squid. Their confidence to dive into the sea of restaurants clamoring for Ram dollars comes from the success of their Pepe’s restaurant that Benavides said is profitable after three years in business.
Check out the entire story on the Hibachi Box here.
