New Use Coming

The Eatery eyes move to Lakeview Garden Flower Shop building

Lakeview Gardens Flower Shop, located at 1259 North Main Street is looking to change hands and soon become the home of a restaurant, The Eatery, following the approval of a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals during their latest meeting.

The Eatery is an existing restaurant, currently located in the Fluvanna Plaza at 180 Fluvanna Avenue and owned by Deborah Paddock and James Sinatra. The owners are currently in the process of buying the property, contingent on the receipt of the use variance, which would allow for the restaurant to be placed in a R-C zoning district, where restaurant use is not allowed without a variance.

The move is expected to take place over the next six to eight months. At the same time as that, the city's zoning code will be in the process of being updated, and ZBA Chair Ellen Ditonto said in the time frame that the restaurant is looking to move, the zoning could be updated to make the use variance not needed. Lakeview Gardens plans to remain open into the fall while the sale of the building takes place, according to a Facebook post by the shop on Saturday.

City Planner Jason Kulaszewski said the zoning code update is not planned to be fully finished until the end of 2027, noting that if the restaurant owners had to wait until then to continue this process, rather than work on construction and the move through their current planned timeline, it might not be an opportunity for them anymore.

Potential traffic issues in the area that might need to be discussed with the state, as the road is state-owned, were also a cause for concern.

"I worried about that too, but I sat in the parking lot one day and watched and I don't think it will be much of an issue," said Hannah Alexander, restaurant manager.

Kulaszewski said he would be willing to bring it up with the state Department of Transportation when he meets with them to discuss Safe Streets For All.

Finances and renovation fees and plans were discussed, including the need to put in things like a kitchen to transfer the flower shop over to a restaurant. Paddock said a financial plan is in place and supported by the bank, adding that The Eatery will continue to operate at the current location until the move and that as soon as the variance was approved they plan to get moving on the project. They own everything in their current location as well.

Parking and the expected number of customers was also discussed by the ZBA, and Paddock said there are currently about 12 employees with five or six that have been with them over the years since day one.

"I think we're a good move for Jamestown, because we're a good, solid place that is good for Jamestown," Paddock said.

The Eatery is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, with hours from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. which is expected to stay the same at the new location. A message was also sent in to the ZBA from the owner of the Lakeview Gardens flower shop, Jason Spain, voicing his support of the move and purchase. Spain's message noted the struggles that the current R-C zoning causes, especially for purchasing purposes, with the property having been listed for two years without a successful sale. Spain added the purchase of the building by The Eatery brings an ideal resolution for this property. The store will remain open until the sale is complete.

The ZBA approved the use variance for the property with the condition that Kulaszewski would get in contact with the DOT regarding traffic and egress concerns, with the business being on a state road, and report back to the restaurant owners.