32 Responses to “Higher Ground still vacant, Sandra’s is gone”

1. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 8, 2008 6:53 pm :
   

   Is this the same Sandra’s as Sandra’s Soul Food off of Mosby and Fairmount? That location was fairly recently painted and had a large outdoor cookout so it seems to be going strong around the 4th. Has anyone eaten there?

   Eric

2. posted by Cadeho at July 8, 2008 11:03 pm :
   

   They need to demolish it and put some homes up on that block.

3. posted by Ramzi at July 9, 2008 8:16 am :
   

   I wouldn’t mind seeing it stay commercial, the area could use some local business and I’d rather see commercial activity on the more traveled streets than farther in. There’s a lot of residential development going on behind it and next to it but there are too many vacacnt lots nearby that might get used for business.

4. posted by Dave at July 9, 2008 9:32 am :
   

   I would guess that “Sandra’s” is the place next to what should be Church Hill Market.

5. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 9, 2008 9:36 am :
   

   Right… the one John mentioned that closed is on 29th behind the old Church Hill Market (what is the latest on that anyway???).

   Was just wondering if the two different “Sandra’s” businesses are owned by the same person?

   Eric

6. posted by Jason at July 9, 2008 10:12 am :
   

   it should be a Lee’s Chicken

7. posted by James at July 9, 2008 12:17 pm :
   

   I second the Lee’s Chicken. It would make a fortune. Ever been to Lee’s at lunchtime on Broad Street. Its the melting pot of Richmond. Good food is good food.

8. posted by Guilty Mom at July 9, 2008 12:33 pm :
   

   Eric, Sandra’s Soul Food at Mosby and Fairmont kicks butt! If you haven’t made the trip yet, please do. You have to call the order in and then go pick it up (no seating), but it’s totally worth it. My husband says it’s the best fried porkchop he’s ever had; I am a sucker for their yams!

9. posted by Bud Tugly at July 9, 2008 6:37 pm :
   

   any vegan stuff on their menu?

10. posted by Di at July 9, 2008 10:30 pm :
    

    Sandra’s on 29 St. left because the property owner would not fix the AC.

11. posted by mike at July 10, 2008 8:46 am :
    

    “any vegan stuff on their menu?”

    Is there anything without meat?
    Yes, possibly the meatloaf….

12. posted by Guilty Mom at July 10, 2008 9:36 am :
    

    Yeah…you’re not going to see any vegan items on a menu at Sandra’s Southern Soul food…did you expect to? It will however, be the very best fried in lard and sprinkled with bacon fat item you’ve ever had!
    Cruelty free? No.
    Tasty? Good God, yeah!

13. posted by gray at July 10, 2008 9:47 am :
    

    If you’re cooking at high temperatures, lard is the safest bet. Healthy oils, such as olive oil, release carcinogens at higher temperatures.

    I love a little lard or bacon fat grease in my greens.

14. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 10, 2008 11:01 am :
    

    Guilty Mom… Though I am white, I did grow up on Soul Food as my grandmother was Mulatto - she born in Georgia, lived in North Carolina and worked in the tobacco fields. My weekends at her house as a child was filled with these memories and the “flavor” is from the fat! Can’t be beat! Health food… NO. Good food… YES!

    Eric

15. posted by Jason at July 10, 2008 11:39 am :
    

    Eric, I thought you grew up in a bar? Was it a farm with good cooking or a bar.

16. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 10, 2008 12:23 pm :
    

    Re-read my post. I said my “grandmother” grew up working in the tobacco fields and came from Georgia/North Carolina. I didn’t say she stayed there. She moved to Newport News in 1946 and it was her house there that I stayed as a kid growing up on weekends. My “first” home was above a bar in the 1950s and my mother worked in them up until the 1970s so yes, I essentually grew up in one (in Newport News by the shipyard).

    Eric

17. posted by edg at July 10, 2008 12:45 pm :
    

    A love the additional insight into our most lovable curmudgeon on the site.

18. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 10, 2008 12:51 pm :
    

    edg… I wasn’t making an issue of anything so why antagonize me to do so? I was clarifying what Jason said as he was implying something - that I was a liar so I clarified myself.

    Eric

19. posted by edg at July 10, 2008 12:55 pm :
    

    I’m sorry. I truly did not mean that as an insult. Please accept my apology.

20. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 10, 2008 1:03 pm :
    

    Apologies accepted. Now… pass the collard greens (with hot sauce) please :-)

    I’ll have to stop in to Sandra’s Soul food and check them out.

    I have seen the church building before which obviously was built as a a fast food place. Not sure if another Chicken Shack will work but wonder if the resturant fixtures are still there for easy conversion into a food place again?

    Eric

21. posted by Jason at July 10, 2008 2:32 pm :
    

    I appologize. I missread it. seemed odd based on prior posts. Sorry about that. makes sense now.

22. posted by hillkid at July 10, 2008 3:19 pm :
    

    Would have been nice if people had been a little kinder to Eric BEFORE they found out that his grandmother was mixed-race, and he grew up on soul food..

23. posted by gray at July 10, 2008 3:21 pm :
    

    hillkid, you crack me up!

24. posted by Bill Hartsock at July 10, 2008 4:23 pm :
    

    The Higher Ground building has an interesting past. Back in the late 70’s, early 80’s it was a KFC restaurant and was always busy. That and the Church’s up Mechanicsville Turnpike had the best fried chicken on the east end.

25. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 10, 2008 5:02 pm :
    

    I can see the building design being a KFC. Unfortunately KFC is not as good as it use to be years ago - at least to me. The last time I ate Churches’ chicken was probably 20 years ago in Norfolk while I was working there. They gave a jalapeño pepper with your order, had great homemade biscuits and fried okra. Not sure what it is like now?

    My concern about another chicken place is noting the New York chicken / seafood that changed hands a couple of times close by.

    Eric

26. posted by Kristin at July 14, 2008 1:43 pm :
    

    hillkid,

    I don’t think people care about Eric’s race or diet. They care that he is disagreeable, judgmental and tends to voice opinions (repeatedly) that are often in contrast to what many think and feel. Maybe not in this thread, but in general. That’s probably why it’s so easy to jump on the lambaste Eric bandwagon when the chance presents itself. Just my opinion though.

27. posted by edg at July 14, 2008 2:18 pm :
    

    I am told the building occupied by Sandra’s Home Cooking on 29th is actually owned by someone in the Asbury Methodist Church on the corner and it only leases it to businesses owned by members of the church.

28. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at July 14, 2008 4:52 pm :
    

    Kristin

    And you know what they about opinions… they are like assholes - everyone has one.

    Eric

29. posted by LC at July 14, 2008 9:36 pm :
    

    Maybe some should stop sharing theirs so frequently.

30. posted by Ruth at July 15, 2008 6:35 pm :
    

    Chilli peppers from KFC? Maybe that was a local offering in VA Beach because I don’t remember getting them here in Richmond… or maybe I was just entirely too young to recall?

31. posted by Clay Street at July 16, 2008 6:45 am :
    

    Church’s had the jalapenos.

    Church’s chicken was a real treat when I was little– when my family visited my grandparents in the summer (25 years ago) we would often pick up something to take to their house–the corn came on a stick in a little bag…

32. posted by gray at July 16, 2008 12:11 pm :
    

    Subjects in posts #28-31: opinions, a-holes, hot peppers, and corn on a stick…gotta be a joke in there somewhere.

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