Cheesesteak Brand Leases Former Starbucks Spot at Broad and Bowe

By Mike Platania | Posted by: Richmond BizSense on July 12, 2021 

Richmond’s Philly cheesesteak market is staying hot, as another option via a national chain is setting up shop near VCU.

Charleys Philly Steaks is preparing to open at 1500 W. Broad St. It will be the Ohio-based chain’s second store in the Richmond region, joining its spot in Chesterfield Towne Center that opened last fall.

Charleys has over 600 locations all over the globe, per its website.

Located near the intersection of West Broad and Bowe streets, the roughly 2,000-square-foot space was formerly home to a Starbucks. The coffee shop and its neighbors GameStop and DTLR were damaged during last summer’s riot.

While GameStop and DTLR reopened, Starbucks vacated its space, opening the door for Charleys and franchisee Ramy Yacoub.

“I went to VCU and I always went to that Starbucks,” Yacoub said. “I saw they left and thought it’s a perfect spot.”

Yacoub is leasing the space from landlord Harper Associates, which was represented in negotiations by Commonwealth Commercial’s Morgan Trible.

Charleys Philly Steaks is opening its second store in the Richmond region. (Courtesy of Charleys Philly Steaks)
Charleys’ cheesesteaks range from $7 to $11. In addition to traditional Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks, Charleys also offers variations like Buffalo-, teriyaki- and California-style cheesesteaks.

Read More on Richmond BizSense