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Acclaimed Richmond chefs Lee Gregory, Joe Sparatta to open new restaurant

Posted at 8:34 AM, Jun 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-10 09:15:16-04

RICHMOND, Va. – Remember growing up how cool it was when characters from one of your favorite television shows crossed over into an episode of another favorite program (think Mork meeting the Fonz or Law & Order detectives working with Homicide: Life on the Streets)?

Well, something along those lines is happening in the Richmond dining scene. Two of Richmond’s most celebrated chefs have announced plans to join forces and open a new Richmond restaurant — Southbound.

Southbound will be a collaboration of The Roosevelt chef/owner Lee Gregory and Heritage chef/owner Joe Sparatta. The award-winning chefs are teaming up with Beechwood Farms owner Matt Gottwald to open the restaurant this fall in the Stony Point Shopping Center (not the mall) near Huguenot Road and Forest Hill Avenue.

“The [restaurant’s] format will feature seasonal, upscale casual fare at a moderate price point, with the menu showcasing housemade pastas, traditional entrees, crudo, sandwiches, as well as a children’s menu,” Heritage owner Emilia Sparatta said. “The restaurant will have a 30 seat patio, 20 seat bar and a 30 person private dining room.”

The chefs told Richmond.com the restaurant will be family friendly and set-up in such a way as to allow them to continue with their own restaurants.

"Heritage will still be my main focus," Joe Sparatta told Richmond.com. "We’ll have someone overseeing the kitchen. Lee and I will be there to create menus, but we can split our time."

A restaurant website, sure to be filled with more details, is expected to go live sometime next month.