Posted by admin on September 8, 2015
Henrico Co., Va. - Award-winning chef Walter Bundy announced plans to open a restaurant in spring 2016 at Libbie Mill-Midtown, a new 80-acre, mixed-use community being developed by Gumenick Properties.
The restaurant will occupy 5,872 square feet of space at 4901 Libbie Mill East Boulevard located near Libbie Mill-Midtown’s entrance on Staples Mill Road. Bundy’s concept includes a private dining room, extended bar and outdoor patio – all providing dinner service. Two organizations, Gumenick Properties and Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, currently occupy office space on the second floor.
Bundy, who has headed the Lemaire kitchen at The Jefferson Hotel since 2001, received high marks from food writers across the United States who praised his dishes and new interpretations of Southern cuisine. His accolades include a “Best New Restaurant” Award from Esquire magazine and features in such national publications as Garden & Gun; Wine Spectator; The Local Palate; Southwest Spirit; and USA Today.
Bundy appeared on the Food Network’s “FoodNation with Bobby Flay” and the Cooking Channel’s “Road Trip.” He is a member and strong supporter of the Southern Foodways Alliance. The Virginia native, a graduate of St. Christopher's School and Hampden-Sydney College, furthered his passion for cooking by later enrolling in culinary school at the New England Culinary Institute. After graduation, he worked for American culinary icons chef Thomas Keller at the French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., and chef Mark Miller at Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, N.M., before coming home to Richmond.
“I am very excited about all aspects of creating a new restaurant, especially continuing my love for local and seasonal ingredients,” said Bundy. “Libbie Mill-Midtown is a great location and their team has been so supportive.”
Bundy’s restaurant will join a growing list of organizations that have decided to locate at Libbie Mill-Midtown. These groups include: Rutherfoord, a Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC Company; Richmond Memorial Health Foundation; Libbie Mill Library; Gumenick Properties; and Southern Season of Chapel Hill, N.C., which operates a 53,000-square-foot gourmet food store there.
The library, which will have approximately 60,000 square feet of floor space, is slated to open in November 2015. Gumenick Properties donated the land for the library.
Libbie Mill-Midtown will be unique, existing as both a thriving local community and a regional destination. Its Midtown location is convenient to downtown Richmond, western Henrico County and major roadways, including I-64 and I-95. The Community is approved for up to 994 homes for sale and 1,096 apartments. Libbie Mill-Midtown also will have a total of approximately 160,000 square feet of retail space. The neighborhood is estimated to take approximately 10 years to complete.
Earlier this year, Libbie Mill-Midtown received the Impact Award from the Richmond Real Estate Group and was named Project of the Year by the Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate.
CBRE|Richmond represents Gumenick Properties for leasing of the retail and office portions of Libbie Mill--Midtown. The community has a variety of office and retail spaces available. Interested parties should contact CBRE|Richmond for details. Barry Hofheimer and Robby Brownfield handle retail leasing for the property, and Scott Durham and Malcolm Randolph oversee leasing for the office component. CBRE|Richmond can be reached at 804-320-5500.