Biz Buzz: From porn shop to upscale eatery

The difficult task of converting the former home of a pornographic bookstore into a dining establishment has fallen to restaurateur Patrick Stamper.

Stamper, who also co-owns Bellytimber Tavern in Richmond, is renovating the former Triangle bookstore — which sold adult movies, toys and was equipped with private viewing booths — on the Boulevard.

"It was gross," he said about cleaning and tearing up the building's interior.

The new restaurant, which is expected to open this spring, will be called En Su Boca, an upscale San Francisco-style taqueria. He's bringing in San Francisco chef Eric Stangarone to help develop the menu.

The process of converting the eyesore began several weeks ago.

Stamper said he decided to tackle the space because it was a good location for a restaurant — as well as a service to the community.

"Look around. You've got a baseball stadium (and a) popular movie theater right up the road" and several established restaurants, he said, referring to The Diamond, Movieland at Boulevard Square, Buz & Ned's and Stronghill Dining Co.

"I see (En Su Boca) as the kind of place people can sit outside on a summer night, have a margarita and watch the fireworks."

Transforming the building is a difficult, labor-intensive process, but Stamper said he's encouraged by what he's finding under the detritus of the bookstore: the shell of the original gas station.

The building was a gas station in the 1950s and '60s before converting to a porn shop in the 1970s. It was sold last year.

"It's a really solid place," Stamper said.

The 1,300-square-foot building is small, but he hopes to knock out a back wall and add a few hundred square feet. He also plans to incorporate the bay door to open up to outside seating.

He think most people eventually will forget what the space used to be. But that's not happening yet.

"At least once a day somebody stops by looking for the porn shop," Stamper said.

Car dealer coming

Used-car retailer J.D. Byrider is moving into the Richmond market.

The national chain and finance company is opening its first area store on a portion of the Midlothian Turnpike property once occupied by Pearson Honda. J.D. Byrider is moving into the former used-car space.

Mobility Supercenter, which is operated by Mobility Center of VA and carries products geared toward people with disabilities, operates in the Honda dealership's former new-car showroom. It opened last month.

The Chesterfield County lot will be J.D. Byrider's fifth in the state. The others are in Roanoke, Winchester, Lynchburg and Harrisonburg.

The chain has more than 135 company-owned and franchised dealerships in about 30 states. The local store is expected to open in the next several weeks.

Pearson moved its Honda dealership last year to a new facility on Hull Street Road in western Chesterfield.

Fitness expansion

Elkin Sports Performance has opened a second location.

The fitness company, which trains people with techniques used by pro athletes, now operates in 1,200 square feet at Richmond Volleyball Center on Byrdhill Road in Henrico County.

Owner Jason Elkin said he's been looking to expand for some time. He opened his first location in the Sports Center of Richmond on Overbrook Road in 2009.

Richmond Volleyball Center was a natural choice because he had already trained several athletes there, he said.

Pho Saigon opens

There's a new Vietnamese restaurant in Henrico County.

Pho Saigon has opened in the Lexington Commons Shopping Center on West Broad Street between Gaskins and Cox roads.

Co-owner Jack Peters said the restaurant features food from the Dong Nai province in southeastern Vietnam. Most of the food is prepared using co-owner Dangminh Nguyen's family recipes.

Oil-change options

Valvoline Instant Oil Change is looking to expand into the Richmond market.

The chain, which specializes in quick oil changes and minor mechanical work, expects to open one or two shops by the end of the year. The long-term plan is to have up to 20 shops here and in Norfolk in the next several years.

Tony Puckett, Valvoline Instant Oil Change's president, said the company targeted the Richmond market because the area "has a large, diverse retail economy."

The chain is meeting with potential franchisees this month.