Community

Richmond Main Street Campaigns to Bring Restaurant and Retail to Downtown Richmond

Published

10 years ago

April 16, 2015

The Richmond Main Street Initiative (RMSI) recently launched an Indiegogo fundraiser campaign to create a retail and restaurant space at the Richmond Transit Retail space, located at 1600 MacDonald Ave. (adjacent to the BART parking garage). If successful, the campaign will transform the 10,000 square foot space into a restaurant, café and coffee shop.

A portion of campaign proceeds will fund the first phase of capital improvements for what will soon become Downtown Richmond’s newest restaurant, Home of Chicken and Waffles, which currently has locations in Oakland and Walnut Creek.

Derrick Johnson, owner of Home of Chicken and Waffles, partnered with RMSI – a driver of revitalization efforts in Downtown Richmond. RMSI has been instrumental in helping Johnson leverage resources to bring a family-style, sit-down restaurant to the community.

Johnson says he looks forward to bringing not only good food and a great dining experience to Richmond, but also jobs.

Amanda Elliott, executive director of Richmond Main Street Initiative. Photo by Joe Fisher, BAPAC.

“It’s exciting to me that I can provide jobs. We will hire the vast majority of our employees from the community,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to provide a place where residents can come, sit down and eat, and even watch a game. I hope other establishments will follow.”

“No more will residents of Central Richmond have to travel outside their community and spend their dollars elsewhere. Our historic district has had little to no investment to support the development projects vital to revitalizing this community,” said Amanda Elliott, executive director of RMSI.

Elliott says RMSI will donate a portion of campaign proceeds to demonstrate community buy-in for the project. Elliott is encouraging community members to make a tax-deductible gift between now and April 29 by logging on to www.richmondmainstreet.org.

Supporters can also purchase tickets at the RMSI website for the Home of Chicken and Waffles launch party taking place Thursday, April 30 at the 1600 Macdonald Ave. location from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m.