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Pho Heritage cleared to open in former Heritage space

Pho Heritage cleared to open in former Heritage space

Money Moves Richmond, VA local

Tran family's Vietnamese restaurant to debut over Labor Day weekend in acclaimed Fan district spot

2 days ago: ABC license issued

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

A Vietnamese restaurant is set to open in one of Richmond's most-watched dining spaces. Pho Heritage received its Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license on September 2, clearing the restaurant to serve at 1627 W Main St, the former home of Heritage, the acclaimed farm-to-table spot that closed in October 2025.

The Tran family, which runs three other Vietnamese restaurants in the Richmond area, leased the space from Wei Tang, who bought the building for $1.1 million in 2025. Pho Heritage plans to open over Labor Day weekend with an upscale Vietnamese menu, a full bar, and live music nights, replacing a chef-driven institution with a family-run concept.

Why it matters

A beloved Fan district corner changes hands, trading acclaimed farm-to-table dining for family-run Vietnamese food.

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Key Indicators

$1.1M
Building sale price at 1627 W Main St
Wei Tang purchased the property from Joe Sparatta in 2025.
10+ years
Heritage's tenure in the space
The acclaimed restaurant operated at the corner of Main and Vine streets for over a decade.
4
Tran family restaurants in Richmond area
Pho Heritage joins Pho Thien Phat, Rice Field, and Pho Spot in the family portfolio.
30+ years
Pho Thien Phat's operating history
The family's flagship spot on Rigsby Road has been running since the 1990s.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

October 2025 September 2026

5 events Latest: 2 days ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. ABC license issued

    Latest Regulatory

    Virginia ABC clears Pho Heritage to operate as a restaurant with a liquor license.

  2. Times-Dispatch profiles opening

    News

    Dustin Tran discusses the upscale Vietnamese menu and Labor Day weekend opening target.

  3. Pho Heritage plans announced

    Announcement

    Helen and Trieu Tran plan to open Pho Heritage at 1627 W Main St in August.

  4. Building sells for $1.1 million

    Sale

    Wei Tang purchases 1627 W Main St from Joe Sparatta.

  5. Heritage closes its doors

    Closure

    Joe and Emilia Sparatta close their acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant after 10-plus years.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2015-2025

Heritage's decade in the Fan (2015-2025)

Joe and Emilia Sparatta opened Heritage in 2015, building a nationally praised farm-to-table restaurant at the corner of Main and Vine streets. Known for chef-driven seasonal menus and a celebrated bar, it was one of Richmond's most decorated restaurants of its era.

Then

Heritage closed in October 2025, leaving the corner space vacant for two months.

Now

Set a culinary standard that became the benchmark for the location.

Why this matters now

Pho Heritage is taking over the same spot, trading Southern farm-to-table for Vietnamese comfort food, a major shift in the space's character.

1990s-present

Pho Thien Phat's three-decade run (1990s-present)

Pho Thien Phat has operated on Rigsby Road in Richmond for over 30 years. The Tran family took ownership about a decade ago, maintaining it as a local favorite for quick, authentic Vietnamese dishes.

Then

Built a loyal neighborhood following among Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese diners alike.

Now

Established the family's credibility in the Richmond dining scene.

Why this matters now

The same family now applies that experience to a more upscale concept with a full bar, stepping into a space with a much higher public profile.

Sources

(4)