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Urban Farmhouse aiming for December opening

Seven months after coming onto the radar, Style Weekly has an update on the coming Urban Farmhouse

That’s the former Chimborazo School, a circa-1902 building converted into 50 apartments. The ground floor cafe and coffeehouse will have 60 seats, a patio and an expanded market section for local foods and natural products. […] The Church Hill location is expected to open in December with a series of eco-conscious events. theurbanfarmhouse.net.

PHOTO from the Special Collections at the Library of Virginia

50 comments

Bridget 10/08/2013 at 9:51 PM

I hope they move the damn bus stop that is right on the corner where the restaurant is going in. Why do we need to bus stops directly across from each other!!?!?!

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Karen 10/08/2013 at 11:45 PM

@ Bridget – just curious – why does it need to be moved?

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Lucky Canine 10/09/2013 at 8:11 AM

The bus stops take up parking spots. 3-4 cars could fit in the area that is segregated for that bus stop. It would be great to have some 10 minute spots for people who are stopping in for to go items.

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downtown-watch 10/09/2013 at 9:46 AM

“The bus stops take up parking spots.”

Clearly, you do not know the point of a bus stop.

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Clay Street 10/09/2013 at 11:18 AM

::facepalm::

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edg 10/09/2013 at 12:22 PM

One of the bonuses of living on Marshall Street is the accessibility of the bus. I really appreciate the bus stop on my corner and am so glad I dont have to walk several blocks with my purchases when I use the bus.

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John M 10/09/2013 at 2:46 PM

Got a press release about this today:

RICHMOND, VA – Capitalizing on the continued renewal of Richmond’s historic Church Hill neighborhood, The Urban Farmhouse Market and Café is set to open its third location by the end of the year in the Lava Lofts (310 North 33rd Street, Richmond, Va.), a restored mixed-use property originally home to Richmond’s Chimborazo Elementary School. The goal is to expand the company’s offerings of comfortable neighborhood cafes where locals and visitors can convene in a casual café, coffee and tea house featuring a simple menu of fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, and complimentary items for sale in the market.

For Kathleen Richardson, the founder of The Urban Farmhouse, choosing to expand into Church Hill was an easy decision after enjoying a warm reception and steady demand for more locations throughout Richmond. “Nothing brings me more joy than when I walk into one of our stores and witness the unique communities we are creating” she said. Sandwiches and salads are prepared with the freshest of produce, dairy and naturally raised meats delivered daily from local suppliers. Each store also features a robust assortment of retail items from fine chocolates, Virginia wines, condiments, and fresh baked goods; many of them from local food purveyors and farms throughout the state of Virginia.

The Urban Farmhouse Market and Café in Church Hill will be the first location to move into a mixed-use residential property. The building which houses Lava Lofts, has roots which date back to the early 1900s. The building originally opened in 1902 as Chimborazo School, and was named in honor of the neighboring park. It was annexed in 1911, and in use until 1968 when the new Chimborazo School opened elsewhere. It is now a fully restored property with 50 loft luxury apartment units. Over 3,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space has been allocated for use by The Urban Farmhouse. The new location is expected to seat over 60 patrons indoors, several more on the outdoor patio and have a substantial market component. With the added benefit of the historic neighborhood backdrop, the new location will likely blend the character of the Urban Farmhouse with a steady stream of locals and visitors eager to enjoy the seven rotating seasonal menus, a fine retail assortment of organic, sustainable, free trade, local products and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

[…]

Several grand opening events are in the works to provide a full assortment of opening day activities that highlight the company ideals of ideals of urban renewal, eco-friendly design, and healthy dining options including samplings, live entertainment and a long-distance bike ride between stores.

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Bill 3 10/09/2013 at 4:02 PM

Awesome news. Between this & the market/deli going in at the old Johnson’s spot, I see a lot of walking in my future!

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sandi 10/10/2013 at 12:06 AM

The two bus stops directly across from each other are for buses going in opposite directions. It would be a looooong wait to only have it going one way!

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Michelle 10/10/2013 at 2:52 AM

Sandi, it takes less than 15 minutes for the bus to circle back.

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Lucky Canine 10/10/2013 at 8:25 AM

#10: LOL! I do know the *point* of a bus stop, however, if your comment relates to ‘buses take cars off of the road and save the environment’ – you’re not going to sell me. RVA’s buses are gas guzzling, black carbon spewing, underutilized environmental disasters in wheels. Oh, and they are disgusting and dirty. But I digress – back to the point of my comment. I think this particular bus stop could/should be deleted or, at best, relocated. There’s another bus stop directly across the street from this one. There are no other bus stops that are located directly across the street from each other, right?? Isn’t that weird?? I think this new business – Urban Farmhouse – would greatly benefit from having a few designated parking spots at their front door.

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clay st resident 10/10/2013 at 9:37 AM

There are 2 bus stops out front of WPA and Dutch and Co and it hasn’t been a problem, to my knowledge.

I don’t see why people who use the bus daily should have to take another 15 minutes out of their day just so you can have a parking spot to run in and grab a coffee every once in a while.

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John M 10/10/2013 at 11:45 AM

Church Hill to get its own farmhouse
http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2013/10/10/church-hill-to-get-its-own-farmhouse/

“An expanded marketplace that sells prepared food will be an important feature of the new space, Richardson said. She is talking to local breweries about developing a special Farmhouse brew to have on tap in the Church Hill location.”

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Lucky Canine 10/10/2013 at 1:05 PM

“developing a special Farmhouse brew” – OMG!

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Lucky Canine 10/10/2013 at 1:09 PM

And I still don’t get the bus stop – so you’re getting on the bus on the south side of E Marshall so you can ride back by the bus stop on the north side of E Marshall approximately 15 minutes later???? Why??? Seriously, I’m asking.

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Clay Street 10/10/2013 at 1:50 PM

Maybe you’re getting ::off:: the bus there.

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voice of reason 12/09/2013 at 12:19 PM

Lucky Canine is really going to have his/her mind blown when they go to the big city and see all the subway stops across the tracks from each other.

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