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Virginia issues ABC license to Tribeca Kitchen in former Criterion Cinemas

Virginia issues ABC license to Tribeca Kitchen in former Criterion Cinemas

Built World Richmond, VA local

Inflight Provisions' deli concept moves closer to opening at 1331 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.

Yesterday: ABC license issued to Tribeca Kitchen

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The former Criterion Cinemas building has been vacant since 2020, when pandemic closures hit small theaters. On September 23, Virginia's ABC Authority issued a restaurant license to Tribeca Kitchen and Hospitality, a step toward reopening the 5,300-square-foot space as a deli and market.

Tribeca Kitchen is a new concept from Inflight Provisions, a Richmond caterer that prepares meals for private aviation clients. The market would offer made-to-order sandwiches, soups, salads, and chef-prepared takeaway meals. If it opens, it would fill a prominent vacancy next to Movieland and give the Museum District a new dining option.

Why it matters

A new deli could fill a long-vacant storefront and add a casual dining choice for nearby residents and moviegoers.

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Key Indicators

5,300 sq ft
Building size
The former theater space being converted into the deli.
6 years
Years vacant
Time from pandemic closure in 2020 to license issuance in 2026.
1 license
ABC license issued
Virginia's restaurant license granted to Tribeca Kitchen and Hospitality.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

March 2020 September 2026

2 events Latest: Yesterday
  1. ABC license issued to Tribeca Kitchen

    Latest Regulatory

    Virginia's ABC Authority grants a restaurant license to Tribeca Kitchen and Hospitality, a key step toward opening the deli.

  2. Criterion Cinemas closes

    Closure

    Bow Tie Cinemas shuts down the small theater at 1331 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. as COVID-19 hits.

Scenarios

1

Tribeca Kitchen opens by spring 2027

Likely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Richmond BizSense and local business observers

With the ABC license in hand, construction continues and the deli opens within six months. The market would bring new dining options to the Museum District and fill a vacancy that has lingered since 2020.

2

Opening delayed beyond spring 2027

Possible Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: Commenters on Richmond BizSense article

Construction or permitting delays push the opening past six months, extending the vacancy. The space could remain empty through the rest of 2027, depending on how quickly crews finish.

Historical Context

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

1900-2020

Criterion Cinemas Building's Adaptive Reuse (1900-2020)

Built as a brass foundry in 1900, the building was converted into a small theater in the early 2010s. It showed independent and art-house films for about eight years before closing in 2020 during the pandemic.

Then

The building sat vacant for years after the closure.

Now

It is now being repurposed again, this time as a deli and market.

Why this matters now

The building's history shows a pattern of adapting to new uses, from industrial to cultural to culinary, illustrating how older structures can gain new life.

1997-present

Alamo Drafthouse's Dine-In Cinema Model (1997)

Founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, Alamo Drafthouse combined movie screenings with full food and drink service, turning theaters into dining destinations.

Then

The format became popular and expanded to multiple states.

Now

It highlighted how cinemas could evolve to include food service and remains a model for repurposing theater spaces.

Why this matters now

Tribeca Kitchen's decision to place a deli in a former theater continues the trend of merging food and entertainment spaces, even as this project drops the movie component.

Sources

(3)

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