A new pizza joint in Shockoe Bottom

From Richmond BizSense:

One of the founders of a beloved pizza joint in the Fan is branching out with a concept of his own in Shockoe Bottom.

Victor Guevara of Belmont Pizzeria and his wife, Melinda, have secured a lease to take over the former Halligan Bar and Grill space at 3 N. 17th St.

The lease coincides with the recent sale of the building, which was purchased April 16 for $525,000 by an entity tied to David Levine of Plus Properties, Ronnie Shriner and A.J. Shriar.

The pending pizza venture will not carry Belmont Pizzeria’s name or brand, Victor Guevara said, adding that they are still mulling names for the business.

“We’re just really excited to be doing this on our own,” he said. “This is a business that my wife is mostly going to handle, and she’s got some great plans for the restaurant.”

It will be a wood-fired pizza concept, Guevara said, with a menu he described as more rustic, while being careful not to label the pizza as Neapolitan.

“We’re having a custom-made wood-fired oven being made for the space, and it should be here in a couple of months,” Victor said. “It’s going to have a Neapolitan feel, but it’s going to be our own take.”