Ukrop’s food fans get ready: West End food hall approved

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Are you ready for Ukrop’s fried chicken?

It’s coming “late 2020” at a food hall after the company repurposes the Bon Air Baptist Church’s Village Campus at the corner of Horsepen and Patterson.

Henrico’s planning commission approved the rezoning plan in September and the Board of Supervisors gave it unanimous support Tuesday.

Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods posted to Facebook that “It will NOT be a grocery store, but rather a place where we can offer some of our food fans’ most requested Ukrop’s items, such as: our famous fried chicken, potato wedges, paninis, pizza, and other favorites.”

Bobby Ukrop, CEO of the Richmond-based company, said the new space will not only serve as a marketplace and dining space, but an opportunity to perhaps expand its product line.

“When you’re trying to get distribution of those products in the big chains, there’s a long time to get those products accepted. By having a retail space, albeit a small one, we will be able to test new items that we think might really work well,” Ukrop said.

But before they can start the build, Ukrop says they will have to rezone the area as there have been concerns raised by local neighbors over traffic a new business could bring, but add that their plans will "maintain the integrity of the area. It’s a residential-type area, and we think the neighbors will be pleased with the plans we have.”

If it all goes through, then the food hall should be set to open by late 2020.

“Its new cheese, so to speak," Ukrop said. "We’ve never operated a facility like we’re doing. And the opportunity to introduce new items into market - faster than we ever would- is especially good.”

Copyright 2019 WWBT. All rights reserved.

Submit a news tip.