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Buz & Neds owner denies Facebook rumors regarding line cooks, pledges to keep “No Haters” banner outside restaurant

Employees say a Facebook post alleging African American line cooks were removed from duty last week at the request of a customer of the restaurant’s West End location is completely unfounded. The restaurant has yet to provide an official statement.

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A large banner affixed to the facade of Buz & Ned’s Real Barbecue’s West End location at W. Broad Street and Parham Road is drawing the attention of more than just passing drivers.

One customer who visited the establishment this week left a review–which has since been deleted–on Buz & Ned’s Facebook page, alleging the sign was placed after an incident in which line cooks were removed at the request of a patron who wanted “only whites” to prepare their meal:

Yesterday, we went to go eat at Buz & Ned’s on Broad & Parham. As we pulled into the parking lot, we saw this sign, and instantly all type of thoughts went through our minds. After we ate, one of the gentlemen who worked there told us why that sign was up there. Sometime last week, a party came in the restaurant to order some food. When they entered, they saw that the most of the cooks were black and requested to have only whites to cook their food. The two managers who were on duty at the time, removed all of the black cooks from out of the kitchen, and cooked the food for the complainers. The next day, they ordered this sign. My thing is, why didn’t the managers turn them away??? Was the customers right or were the managers wrong?? If they really have a “NO HATERS” atmosphere then why accommodate? That was my last time eating at their establishment!

Upon our visit to the restaurant Tuesday morning, which was not open for business at the time, the banner appeared to have been altered to remove the “no” above the word “haters” in the sign, which is surrounded by a large “no” symbol.

When calling the restaurant to request an official response to the rumor, an employee who answered informed RVAHub she would have management call back to provide an official comment later today.

UPDATE: While the restaurant didn’t return our phone call, restaurant owner Buz Grossberg told WTVR that the allegations are “hogwash” and that the sign was put up to tell “haters” such as racists and white supremacists, that they aren’t welcome at his establishment.

Still, after reporter Melissa Hipolit’s story went up, the person who claims he heard the alleged story from an employee, identified only as “Anthony,” doubled down on his comments:

After CBS 6’s story went online, reporter Melissa Hipolit was able to reach Anthony, who explained why he removed the Facebook page. He said he deleted the page because Buz and Ned’s employees got mad at him. He went on to say that an employee told him that story. He said he has witnesses and he’s happy to talk directly to Buz Grossberg about it.

A response to the social media rumors was briefly posted on, but later removed from, the official Buz & Ned’s Facebook page. A post with almost identical verbiage, posted by a Facebook user named Lorraine Lester, remains online (posted without edits to spelling or grammar):

First off I would like to address this viscous rumor going around about buz and ned’s restaurant . First and foremost I’m proud of all my guys on my line no matter the color of their skin….but thank god they are the people they are and will not react to this silly game on social media…so to whomever started this you loose (sic) because we will keep our no hate attitudes here and would hope you all do the same…much love to the people who know us and support us

Another possible employee, Sydney Marie, penned a similar post on Facebook Tuesday morning.

Both employees claim the story is completely false and say no workers were relieved from their duties at any time during their shifts. The restaurant has not yet released any comment addressing the rumor in an official capacity.

We are working to confirm the story behind the restaurant’s “no haters” banner and to learn more about the alleged incident referenced in the rumor and will update this story as it develops.

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Trevor Dickerson is the Editor and Co-Founder of RVAHub.

Business

New full-service commercial kitchen, fast casual food hall opens Wednesday

The new facility consists of 16 kitchen suites, each operating unique dining concepts. For the initial launch, ChefSuite has announced three restaurant concepts available for pick-up or delivery through their website, order.chefsuite.com, or through DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, and other delivery apps.

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ChefSuite, a full-service commercial cooking facility and fast-casual food hall, will open its flagship location in midtown at 4711 W. Broad Street this Wednesday. The brainchild of co-founders Jay Modi and Jarnail Tucker, and Chairman Andrew Kadish, ChefSuite provides ghost kitchens for both new restaurateurs and seasoned chefs, allowing them to open or expand their restaurant business at a fraction of the cost of a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant.

“ChefSuite’s mission is to provide a seamless experience for restaurateurs to focus on their dream,” Kadish said in a news release. “ChefSuite features a fool-proof system that supports our chef tenants with every opportunity to succeed.”

The new facility consists of 16 kitchen suites, each operating unique dining concepts. For the initial launch, ChefSuite has announced three restaurant concepts available for pick-up or delivery through their website, order.chefsuite.com, or through DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, and other delivery apps.

Restaurants at launch include On A Roll Italian Subs; Latin Quarter Kitchen, specializing in smashed plantain sandwiches; and A Pinch of Sugar, offering comfort food. Additional restaurant concepts will be added to ChefSuite’s offerings in the coming months, owners say.

For chef tenants, each suite is equipped with a CaptiveAire exhaust hood, commercial use sinks, gas/fire safety systems, grease traps, hot/cold water lines, industrial water heater, shelving, tablet, and order printer. ChefSuite also provides cold storage, a cooking oil removal system, third party app onboarding, consulting services, financial reporting, and substantial vendor discounts. ChefSuite offers tenants flexible lease terms with options to include cooking equipment.

Will you help support independent, local journalism?

We need your help. RVAHub is a small, independent publication, and we depend on our readers to help us provide a vital community service. If you enjoy our content, would you consider a donation as small as $5? We would be immensely grateful! Interested in advertising your business, organization, or event? Get the details here.

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Business

Richmond Flying Squirrels hosting series of job fairs ahead of 2023 season

Positions are available in food & beverage, ticketing and operations for the team’s home games from April through September.

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The Richmond Flying Squirrels are looking to hire part-time, game-day positions for the upcoming baseball season. The team has three upcoming job fairs for interested candidates to fill out applications and find out information about available positions.

Positions are available in food & beverage, ticketing and operations for the team’s home games from April through September. Information on the Flying Squirrels’ upcoming job fairs can be found here. The 2023 game schedule can be found here.

The job fairs will take place at The Diamond (3001 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23230) on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, March 8, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 30, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Available positions include:

FOOD & BEVERAGE

TICKETING

OPERATIONS

Questions regarding game-day positions with the Flying Squirrels can be directed to [email protected].

The Flying Squirrels open the 2023 on Friday, April 7 against the Reading Fightin Phils. Individual-game tickets, including tickets for Opening Night, are available now online at SquirrelsBaseball.com/Tickets, by phone at 804-359-FUNN (3866) or in person at the Flying Squirrels ticket office.

Will you help support independent, local journalism?

We need your help. RVAHub is a small, independent publication, and we depend on our readers to help us provide a vital community service. If you enjoy our content, would you consider a donation as small as $5? We would be immensely grateful! Interested in advertising your business, organization, or event? Get the details here.

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Business

Feed More relocating food bank and other operations to new $40 million facility north of city

The local nonprofit confirmed to BizSense that it’s behind Project Nourish, the development plan recently filed with Henrico County for a wooded site at 8020 Villa Park Drive.

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From Richmond BizSense:

A code-named industrial project in the works near St. Joseph’s Villa has turned out to be the planned new home for regional food bank Feed More, setting the stage for a move that would free up some prime real estate near Richmond’s Diamond District.

The local nonprofit confirmed to BizSense that it’s behind Project Nourish, the development plan recently filed with Henrico County for a wooded site at 8020 Villa Park Drive.

The project name is a reference to Feed More’s slogan of “nourishing communities and empowering lives.”

Continue reading here.

Will you help support independent, local journalism?

We need your help. RVAHub is a small, independent publication, and we depend on our readers to help us provide a vital community service. If you enjoy our content, would you consider a donation as small as $5? We would be immensely grateful! Interested in advertising your business, organization, or event? Get the details here.

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