Here’s a recap of the top stories for the week of December 12, 2025:
Mystery restaurants planned for CoStar’s new riverfront headquarters
Reported by BizSense’s Mike Platania
CoStar Group is securing four restaurant tenants for Foundry Park, the commercial portion of its new riverfront development in Richmond. The mixed-use building will sit at the base of CoStar’s prominent office tower on the James River and is expected to bring diverse dining options to the area.
CEO Andy Florance confirmed discussions with the prospective restaurateurs, including one that would be a sushi concept. CoStar is offering generous tenant improvement packages to attract quality operators and enhance the riverfront experience for workers, residents and visitors alike.
The project reflects ongoing efforts to activate the waterfront with more public-oriented uses including the ongoing Browns Island renovation. CoStar’s expanding office space and secondary building will include dining and other amenities along the city’s riverfront
Former Heritage restaurant building in the Fan sold for $1 million
Reported by BizSense’s Mike Platania
The two-story building at the corner of Main and Vine streets was sold for $1.1 million last week, as a pair of restaurateurs plan to transform the acclaimed restaurant into a new concept.
Heritage, a restaurant from Emilia and Joe Sparatta garnered local and national acclaim during its 10-year run before its October 2025 closure.
Vivian Zheng and Jianwei Tang bought the building from the Sparattas last week. The pair also own Nami Restaurant & Bar, a sushi restaurant that the couple opened a few years ago in the old 3rd Street Diner space downtown.
Zheng and Tang want to bring new life to the vacant space as Niku, a Japanese barbecue restaurant. Zheng said they’re hoping to have Niku opened in January or February, noting that Heritage’s old space doesn’t need much work.
Other new arrivals to the Fan’s dining scene include Thai Boat, a restaurant from the owners of Mom’s Siam, and Cahoots, a restaurant and bar that opened recently in the former Mike’s Jazz Cafe space.
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