Two Danville entrepreneurs are teaming up to open a coffee shop, café and wine bar in the former Exxon gas station at 1009 Main St., which is adjacent the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History.
Rick Barker and Steve DelGiorno have formed Two Crows, a limited liability company, to purchase the property.
“We imagine a food concept that includes remodeling the interior and using a portion of the parking lot for outdoor seating,” Barker said. “The hours of operation would be morning through evening, and we would be serving coffee, a light lunch and a dinner menu with a wine bar.
“We believe it would enhance the neighborhood. We want to enhance not distract. We want to be good neighbors.”
Barker, owner of Supply Resources and its affiliated companies, points out that he resides a few doors away from this location. DelGiorno, a Danville native and co-owner of The 616 restaurant on North Main Street, is planning to relocate to Danville from his current home in Nashville, Tenn.
“We are two developers vested in the community,” Barker said. “We want the best possible outcome. We don’t have the appetite to do anything average.”
DelGiorno said the concept is popular in Nashville, and he believes it would be a good fit for the Old West End neighborhood.
“It would be the only eatery between Averett University and the River District, so it is something this neighborhood does not have,” DelGiorno said. “We also see it improving the walkability of the neighborhood. If you are at the hospital or university, you could walk here to have a cup of coffee or a beer and glass of wine.”
Corrie Teague, assistant director for the Danville Office of Economic Development, said this location serves as a connecting point to major anchors within the community, including the River District, Averett University and Danville Regional Medical Center.
“It was important that the Office of Economic Development, in partnership with the Industrial Development Authority, find an end use for this building that would not only serve these anchors, but also complement the Old West End neighborhood (OWE),” Teague said. “We are thrilled that Steve and Rick have partnered to bring this concept to the OWE. They have a proven development track record in this community that guarantees a high quality establishment that the OWE and the City can be proud of.”
Barker and DelGiorno anticipate the deal will close within the next few weeks.
