Another food and beverage venue fashioned from shipping containers is taking shape in Richmond, this time near the Sauer Center courtesy of a D.C. restaurant group.
The Virginia Transit Co., or Vitco as its founders John Groth, Arturo Zaloga and Matt Weaver refer to it, will be a bar, restaurant and event space constructed mostly out of a dozen shipping containers on a vacant parcel at 1010 N. Meadow St.
Vitco is the second concept for Groth, Zaloga and Weaver, who in 2021 opened Metrobar, a similar concept in D.C. that’s anchored by a 75-foot-long former Washington Metro car that they repurposed into a restaurant and bar. For their Richmond venture, they’re incorporating a decommissioned streetcar.
“We wanted to tie into the history of Richmond public transit, having one of the original electric rail systems. It’s more symbolic. Obviously, it’s not the same style (as the metro car), but it kind of ties the idea together,” Zaloga said, noting that the streetcar will be the backdrop for Vitco’s live music stage.
Groth said their intent is to have Vitco bring to life underutilized space in an adaptable way. Its 17,000 usable square feet will occupy unused land owned by Sauer Properties, which owns the surrounding Sauer Center development.
“Similar to Metrobar, the plan is to make the space be able to expand and contract with the seasons and with the needs of the events or the group coming in,” Groth said.
Added Zaloga: “The modularity of the containers is something that I’ve come to really appreciate, and what you can do with the space. It’s essentially playing with Legos.”
Vitco will offer upfitted containers as kitchens for restaurant users and others for bars. They’ll likely be occupied by a mix of concepts operated by the venue’s owners, and concepts from local operators.
“We’re trying to fill a little bit of the void that was left by Hatch Local,” Zaloga said, referencing the former food hall that closed last year after about two years operating in Manchester.
“We’re specing out what the area might need and what we think will be the biggest draw. We will have food concepts, and then the plan will be to incorporate people who maybe have a food truck and they’re looking for a second, satellite location,” Groth said.
Groth said his group was approached by Sauer Properties, which is planning a massive redevelopment of the nearly 40 acres surrounding Vitco.
“We had been talking about expansion of our concept. Not making another Metrobar, but our concept of activating an underutilized space, and trying to highlight the culture of the area we’re moving to,” Groth said. “Richmond, after looking at some other cities we had already been discussing, seemed like a great opportunity.”
Virginia Transit Co. is aiming to open in early 2026. It’ll be the second container bar and event venue to open in the city, as a few weeks ago Conex RVA, a similar concept, opened just to the east at 900 Axtell St. in Carver.
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