Tran family's Vietnamese restaurant to debut over Labor Day weekend in acclaimed Fan district spot
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Overview
Updated 1 hour agoA 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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People Involved
Organizations Involved
Family-run Vietnamese restaurant at 1627 W Main St in Richmond's Fan district.
Acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant by Joe and Emilia Sparatta that operated for over a decade.
Virginia's liquor authority; its approval clears restaurants to serve alcohol and operate.
Timeline
October 2025 September 2026
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ABC license issued
Latest RegulatoryVirginia ABC clears Pho Heritage to operate as a restaurant with a liquor license.
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Times-Dispatch profiles opening
NewsDustin Tran discusses the upscale Vietnamese menu and Labor Day weekend opening target.
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Pho Heritage plans announced
AnnouncementHelen and Trieu Tran plan to open Pho Heritage at 1627 W Main St in August.
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Building sells for $1.1 million
SaleWei Tang purchases 1627 W Main St from Joe Sparatta.
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Heritage closes its doors
ClosureJoe 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.
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.
Heritage closed in October 2025, leaving the corner space vacant for two months.
Set a culinary standard that became the benchmark for the location.
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.
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.
Built a loyal neighborhood following among Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese diners alike.
Established the family's credibility in the Richmond dining scene.
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.
