Capriotti's and Cheba Hut Plan Second Locations in Area

TL;DR: Two national sandwich chains, Capriotti's and Cheba Hut, are expanding their second Virginia locations in the Chesterfield and Colonial Heights area following early success.

The story

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, the Delaware-based chain known for its roasted turkey sandwiches, is planning a second location at Cosby Village Square in Chesterfield's Moseley area, expected to open in early 2027. Franchisee James Kimball, a former sports industry executive who previously worked for UFC and WWE, said the new 1,600-square-foot location would operate on a 10-year lease. Tenant upfit was set to begin in fall 2026, with estimated costs between $600,000 and $700,000. The expansion follows the June opening of Capriotti's first Richmond-area store at 35 Le Gordon Drive in Midlothian, which Kimball said has performed as one of the chain's top locations nationwide.

Cheba Hut, a cannabis-branded sandwich chain, is also eyeing second-location growth in the region. The company expects to open a 2,400-square-foot location at 796 Southpark Blvd. in the Park South shopping center in Colonial Heights by March 2027, sharing an outparcel building with an upcoming Dave's Hot Chicken location in a space that previously housed a Panera. Company spokeswoman Maria Esquivel confirmed the timeline.

Capriotti's roasts whole turkeys nightly and serves them in its signature "Bobbie" sandwich, which combines turkey, stuffing, cranberry, and mayo. The chain, founded in 1976 in Wilmington, Delaware, is the world's largest buyer of Butterball turkeys. The openings reflect broader regional restaurant interest as the Chesterfield area continues to expand.

Key players

• James Kimball: Capriotti's franchisee and owner of Richmond-area locations
• Capriotti's Sandwich Shop: National sandwich chain known for roasted turkey sandwiches
• Cheba Hut: Cannabis-branded sandwich chain expanding into Virginia

Key dates

• 2026-06-01: Capriotti's first Richmond-area location opened at 35 Le Gordon Drive in Midlothian
• 2026-09-01: Cheba Hut Midlothian Depot location expected to open in late September
• 2027-03-01: Cheba Hut Colonial Heights location expected to open by March
• 2027-01-01: Capriotti's Cosby Village Square location expected to open early in the year

Why it matters: The expansion of national restaurant chains signals ongoing commercial growth and consumer demand in the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights corridor, potentially creating jobs and broadening dining options for county residents.

Places

• Cosby Village Square
• Midlothian
• Park South shopping center
• Southpark Mall area
• Midlothian Depot

Related links

• Richmond BizSense: Sandwich chains Capriotti's, Cheba Hut stacking up in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights
• Richmond BizSense: Former sports industry exec bringing sandwich shop Capriotti's to Chesterfield
• Richmond BizSense: Marijuana-themed sandwich chain planning Chesterfield location

Read the original at Richmond BizSense →

Sources

• Richmond BizSense: Sandwich chains Capriotti's, Cheba Hut stacking up in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights
• Richmond BizSense: Former sports industry exec bringing sandwich shop Capriotti's to Chesterfield
• Richmond BizSense: Sandwich shop chain Capriotti's to open first Richmond-area store
• Richmond BizSense: Marijuana-themed sandwich chain planning Chesterfield location
• The History of the Bobbie at Capriotti's