Topeka’s Steakhouse is now open at 1791 Richmond Rd., offering a restaurant and butcher shop. The latter is a concept unique to Topeka’s, and gives the option of full-service steak cutting so you can take home the same cut you ate at the table, “just like having your own personal butcher,” says the restaurant’s website.
Now open in Crozet: an ice cream and Mexican takeout stand from Marcia Garcia, who owns Las Cavañas, the Mexican grocery store and gas station across the street. She’s serving six flavors of ice cream with a choice of toppings, plus housemade tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and chips from the open-air stand. It’s painted sherbert green so you won’t miss it, with some picnic table seating available. It’s open 5am-8pm every day and only takes cash.
Looking for work? Pasture, opening soon in the Shops at Stonefield, is currently accepting resumes for staffing the front and back of the house. Contact pasturerva@gmail.com with serious inquiries only.
We love when food and design come together, like in the case of Karen Larrabee, who approached PVCC students to design a label for her upcoming business, Keswick Gourmet, which will offer authentic marinara and other gourmet items. “The student whose label that I picked now will be able to show prospective employers a real-world experience,” Larrabee said. Talk about a win-win.
Start your monthly First Fridays celebration early (on Thursdays!) with Vinegar Hill Café, which will host “Chill’n & Grill’n” the first Thursday of every month beginning June 6. Head to the Café at the Jefferson School City Center from 5-7pm for a straight-off-the-grill menu with barbeque ribs, barbeque chicken, or hamburgers, with a choice of collards, baked beans, coleslaw, or homemade cornbread—all for $10.
The Corner location of Baja Bean Co. will shut its doors May 31 after 21 years in business. Owner Ron Morse said he’s selling the space to another restaurant group, which will not use the Baja name for its new concept. The reason for his split? “Just a business decision,” Morse said. “Sad to see the old guard changing.” In the last year and a half, Jim Roland (of St. Maarten’s Cafe), Fotis Vavelidis (of Cafe Europa), and Will Deville (of Coupe Deville’s) all left the Corner scene, each with more than 20 years in business. As for Baja, the 29N, Richmond, and Staunton locations are sticking around, as well as the restaurant’s UVA-area catering and delivery service. No word yet on who might be taking over the space at 1327 W. Main St.