Second Casa del Barco restaurant coming to Short Pump Town Center

Kevin Healy, owner of the Boathouse Group family of local restaurants, continues to grow his brand in Richmond with the announcement of a second Casa del Barco restaurant. Healy said Wednesday that he plans to open a second location this summer at Short Pump Town Center.

The Mexican restaurant will join a sister restaurant, The Boathouse at Short Pump Town Center, as one of a few locally owned restaurants available at the regional shopping center.

“We wanted to find the right fit for our second Casa del Barco location and when the opportunity to open at Short Pump Town Center was available, we knew we couldn’t pass it up,” Healy said in a statement.

Casa del Barco, which literally translates to “boat house”, is part of The Boathouse Group that includes the original Casa del Barco location in downtown Richmond and three locations of The Boathouse, including The Boathouse at Sunday Park, The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing and The Boathouse at Short Pump Town Center. The Boathouse at City Point in Hopewell is also set to open in 2017. Healy also owns Dinner in the Field.

The new Casa del Barco will begin hiring for what is expected to be about 85 new jobs in June. “We’ve been a part of the Richmond dining community for almost 30 years, and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon,” Healy said. “Our continued growth is a really a testament to our guests and employees who have allowed us to expand, and we’re so thankful for their commitment to all of our restaurants.”

The 8,400-square-foot space will include an open-air rooftop tequileria with a menu of 200 tequilas or mezcals. The restaurant will offer private dining for large groups and will be open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 

The menu will be similar to the original Casa del Barco location. Guests can expect Mexican cuisine and cocktails inspired by travel to Mexico. In November, the company said it sent Casa del Barco chefs to the Oaxaca region of Mexico to study the authentic cuisine of the region to add to the flavor and uniqueness of the menu.

“We’re excited to add another local restaurant to our list of dining options here at Short Pump Town Center,” Kem Blue, general manager at Short Pump Town Center, said in a statement.