Karri here, still trying to process the fact that I found a speakeasy in Chesterfield County.
Why it matters: Might it be that the region’s most populous county is becoming cool?
State of play: I’m talking about the speakeasy in the basement of 1870, the French-inspired seafood and steakhouse thataward-winning chef David Dunlap and his wife, Brittany, opened in 2024.
- Named for the year the Midlothian Turnpike former general store was built, 1870 is a follow up to the couple’s other Chesterfield restaurant, Midlothian Chef’s Kitchen.
- Both restaurants have racked up accolades since opening, but shockingly none seem to be for 1870’s excellent bar program, hidden imbibing nooks and shockingly stellar happy hour specials.
Zoom in: 1870 has not one, but three bars across its three stories, including one inside the Foxhole speakeasy, tucked away in the historic building’s basement…