Many of our favorite Richmond area restaurants have closed due to pandemic difficulties.

Nine months into the global pandemic, local businesses and restaurants have taken a financial hit. Unfortunately, several favorite Richmond area restaurants have permanently closed.

While restaurants can remain open with proper social distancing and enhanced sanitation, seating is at limited capacity and recent regulations have restricted the hours that restaurants can be open. Takeout and delivery-type restaurants like pizza places, coffee shops, and delis have fared much better than sandwich shops and burger places, which are among the hardest hit.

“The food service industry was the nation’s second-largest private sector employer and pumped more than $2 trillion into the economy right up until our sudden shutdown,” National Restaurant Association spokesman Sean Kennedy wrote in a statement.

While there have been some programs put in place to help local businesses, such as the city’s meals tax amnesty program, its Small Business Disaster Loan Program, and Henrico’s meal program for first responders, restaurants have still suffered. According to Yelp, Virginia ranks 12th in permanent closures nationwide and 13th in terms of population.

A few of the Richmond area local and chain restaurants that have closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Amici di Enzo
  • Awful Arthur’s (Midlothian)
  • Bistro 27
  • Brio Tuscan Grille (Stoney Point Fashion Park)
  • Caturra on Grove
  • Crab Louie’s Seafood Tavern
  • Dutch & Co.
  • Jimmy John’s (Carytown)
  • FW Sullivan’s
  • Lamplighter Coffee (VCU location)
  • McAllister’s (Gayton Crossing)
  • Metro Grill (Robinson Street in the Fan)
  • Mojo’s Restaurant
  • Morton’s Steakhouse (Shockoe Slip)
  • Nota Bene
  • Panera Bread (Carytown and Stony Point Fashion Park)
  • Ponies & Pints
  • Shockoe Espresso and Roastery
  • The Angry Mussels
  • Urban Farmhouse (Scott’s Addition)

Check out Richmond.com for a complete list of Richmond-area restaurant closures.

Has your favorite restaurant closed? Let us know in the comments.