RICHMOND, Va. — Having built a following with his taco-centric food trucks, Patrick Harris is trying his hand at a more upscale venture in a long vacant property at the crossroads of Broad Street’s ongoing downtown evolution.
Harris, who owns a fleet of Boka Tako trucks, as well as Boka Tako Bar in the Fan and Southside’s Boka Grill, plans to open Antler and Fin at 506 W. Broad St. near the intersection of West Broad and North Belvidere streets.
Harris said he has leased the 1,500-square-foot space that has been vacant since the restaurant Belvidere at Broad shut down in 2012.
“I’ve actually finally got to a spot where I can finance my own full-service, center-of-the-plate more upscale restaurant,” Harris said. “This is my life’s work coming together in this space.”
Harris launched the Boka brand in 2010 with a food truck. After adding more trucks and carts, he turned Boka’s commissary at 1412 Starling Drive into a brick-and-mortar eatery in 2013.
The West End storefront eventually closed as Harris opened restaurants at 304 N. Robinson St. in 2014 and 2557 Sheila Lane in 2015.
Harris said in addition to the storefronts the Boka operation now consists of three trailers, three trucks and an expanded catering service.
