--- title: "Cheba Hut Lights Up the East Coast With First-Ever Virginia Joint in Midlothian" url: https://burnaze.com/article/31b1df97-d0e9-455f-9e44-d7f7fc8dc693 source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260918_cheba_hut_lights_up_the_east_coast_with_firstever_virginia_joint_in_midloth.html category: "Sandwich & sub" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Sandwich & sub" published: 2026-09-18T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:20.541Z image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1568901346375-23c9450c58cd?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop --- # Cheba Hut Lights Up the East Coast With First-Ever Virginia Joint in Midlothian **TL;DR:** Cheba Hut, a restaurant chain, is opening its first location in Virginia, in Midlothian, on September 25. The opening marks the eighth location for WAHi Brands Inc., the franchise group behind Cheba Hut restaurants. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-09-18. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260918_cheba_hut_lights_up_the_east_coast_with_firstever_virginia_joint_in_midloth.html).* ## Story Virginians can get an early taste before opening day. Cheba Hut will make its Virginia debut at the two-day Iron Blossom festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, complete with a drone show Saturday night featuring homegrown flair. Attendees can also swing by the Cheba Hut Stash Lounge to kick back, enter to win a year of FREE Cheba Hut and take home exclusive merch. When the new spot officially opens Sept. 25, the festivities will start at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the first 100 guests will score a complimentary swag bag. Live entertainment, giveaways and another chance to win a year of FREE Cheba Hut to round out the lineup. In true Cheba fashion, a $420 cash drop goes down at 4:20 p.m., and drones will take to the sky at dusk to close out the celebration. Located in the heart of Chesterfield County, the Steam Avenue restaurant fits right into the neighborhood's everyday routine. Diners can grab a bite on the way home from the mall, after a Richmond Kickers match or before heading to the sports complex for weekend games. The opening marks the eighth location for WAHi Brands Inc., the franchise group behind Cheba Hut restaurants in New Mexico, Texas and Montana. More Virginia shops are already in the works, starting with Colonial Heights in the first quarter of 2027. The group is also set to make its Michigan debut in 2027, becoming the first Cheba Hut franchisee to operate across five different states. The leadership team includes Isaac Montoya, whose story with the brand began in 2012 as a college crew member. He progressed to general manager in six months and later became an equity partner at the Harvard store, New Mexico's original Cheba Hut, which is among the brand's long-standing locations. After opening two more in Albuquerque, Montoya expanded to El Paso in 2024 and later expanded franchise rights in Virginia, Montana and several Michigan territories, as well as the opportunity to introduce Cheba Hut to the Washington, D.C., area. "My career started at a family fun center restaurant, and between bussing tables, hosting, running food, driving and working the kitchen, I learned that the best places make every guest feel like a regular from day one," said Montoya. "What hooked me on Cheba Hut is that it takes care of its crew just as well as the people it serves, and you can sense that the moment you walk in. We want this to be where neighbors, friends and colleagues run into each other and end up hanging out much longer than planned." Like every destination across the Chebaverse, the Virginia newcomer tells a local story through its walls. Muralist Joshua Finley, who has painted more than 30 Cheba Hut shops nationwide, took his cue from the commonwealth's famous "Virginia is for Lovers" tagline and transformed the space into a Love Shack-inspired dance party. A hip cardinal, the official state bird, flashes Cheba bling alongside a Zippo lighter that appears throughout the piece. The Bunny Man lurks in the background as the Dunlora Witch and the Richmond Vampire waltz across the room, while John Paul Jones cuts a rug beside the Bigfoot-esque Woodbooger, the oozlefinch and a "not deer" sign. Farther down, the American foxhound, Virginia's state dog, keeps the energy up before Flip makes a cameo as the canary in the coal mine next to a Tommyknocker perched on a beer barrel. The state bat soaring out of a mining tunnel wraps up the mural, with plenty of hidden gems waiting for sharp-eyed fans to discover. Beyond the centerpiece artwork, the space features a 12-tap bar adjoining an outdoor patio, where visitors can kick back with a frosty pint and a smokin' hot sub. Cheba Hut serves more than 30 signature toasted subs inspired by classic cannabis strains and available in Nug (4-inch), Pinner (8-inch) and Blunt (12-inch) sizes. Fan favorites include the White Widow, loaded with chicken, bacon and ranch; the Kali Mist, a spicy club stacked with turkey, bacon and pepper jack; the Dank, a pizza-inspired masterpiece layered with pepperoni, salami, marinara and melted mozzarella; and the Griefo, a veggie-forward favorite piled high with cream cheese, avocado and fresh greens. For those who like to sip close to home, Cheba Hut is teaming up with Virginia brewery Precarious Beer on a special collaboration sandwich and pouring Kickers Ale, a soccer-themed brew from Triple Crossing. The menu also features munchie-approved sides like pretzel nugs and garlic cheese bread, sweet treats including Krispy Bars and cookies, plus the legendary Kool-Aid bar that's been a go-to remedy for cottonmouth since day one. Cheba Hut Midlothian will be open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight. With toasted subs, local brews, a mural loaded with Virginia lore, playful humor, and a mascot named “Flip the Bird,” Cheba Hut is expanding its footprint in Virginia. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - QSR (sector) - location expansion (topic) - grand opening (topic) - new location (topic) - Virginia (location) - restaurant chain (topic) - Cheba Hut (company) - franchise group (topic) - Joshua Finley (person) - Midlothian (location) - WAHi Brands Inc. (company) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260918_cheba_hut_lights_up_the_east_coast_with_firstever_virginia_joint_in_midloth.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/31b1df97-d0e9-455f-9e44-d7f7fc8dc693).