Makers Union is coming to the Diamond District, its first location outside the DC area

The Diamond District just picked up its third tenant, and this one comes with brunch. Thompson Restaurants is leasing roughly 4,000 square feet in the Gateway Retail Building along Encore Avenue, where it plans to open Makers Union, the neighborhood pub concept it has built out across the DC metro region.

This will be the seventh Makers Union and the first one outside the DC area. The brand pitches itself as an all-purpose gathering spot: after-work drinks, weekend brunch, family dinners, or a seat at the bar by yourself. At the Diamond District, developers expect it to draw from residents, office workers, and the baseball crowd, with the goal of keeping the place busy year-round rather than just on game nights.

Thompson joins two other tenants who have signed on with Diamond District Partners in 2026. EAT Restaurant Partners committed to more than 5,200 square feet in the same Gateway Retail building back in May for a sports bar. Before that, in March, the law firm Hirschler signed for approximately 50,000 square feet to anchor DDP’s office building.

Thompson Hospitality Corporation, the parent company, has been around since 1992. It runs 15 restaurant brands across more than 70 locations in Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Ohio, plus campus dining at 18 colleges and universities.

“We are thrilled to welcome Thompson Hospitality to the Diamond District family,” said Jason Guillot, Principal at Thalhimer Realty Partners and General Manager of DDP. “The quality of the food and service at Thompson’s restaurants is top notch and the inclusive environment they create is exactly what we want to see at the Diamond District.”

Alex Berentzen, COO of Thompson Restaurants, framed the move as a bet on the city as much as the project. “Richmond is a city on the move, and we believe the Diamond District will be at the center of that momentum,” Berentzen said. “We’re thrilled to bring Makers Union to this exciting project and see tremendous opportunity for continued growth in the Richmond market for years to come.”

Connie Jordan Nielsen and Reilly Marchant of Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer represented the landlord in the negotiations. Simms Henschel, Andy Corno, and Thomas Jackman of JLL represented Thompson.

With a sports bar, a law firm, and now a pub on the books, the Gateway Retail building is starting to take shape as the front door to the Diamond District. No opening date has been announced yet for Makers Union, so watch for that as construction moves along.