F.W. Sullivan’s, which operates a popular bar and restaurant in Richmond’s Fan District, is planning to open a location in downtown Fredericksburg. F.W. Sullivan’s partners Jake Crocker and Hayden Fisher have applied for both tourism zone incentives through Fredericksburg’s City Council and a JumpStart grant through the city’s Economic Development Authority, according to Fredericksburg Economic Development Manager Richard Tremblay. He said they have signed a lease to occupy the space now used by Fatty J’s and an adjoining church on George Street near the intersection of Caroline Street. An opening date is for now unclear.

On Feb. 22 the incentives application will be before Fredericksburg City Council, which earlier this month approved a five-year incentives deal for Longstreet’s American Eatery on William Street that could be worth up to $46,250. The application is scheduled for the EDA’s March 14 meeting. Crocker and Fisher have been meeting with city officials about local plans for F.W. Sullivan’s, Tremblay said.

Fatty J’s has operated in that spot at 106 George St. for about seven years, said owner Mo Roman. He said he couldn’t comment on whether Fatty J’s was closing because of pending litigation. He referred questions to his attorney, Alex Burnett at Williams Mullen. Burnett could not be reached for comment.

Crocker and Fisher could not be reached for comment on their plans. Their company, which opened F.W. Sullivan’s in Richmond within the past couple of years, recently opened a second restaurant just across the street in The Fan called Lady N’awlins Cajun Café, according to Richmond BizSense. F.W. Sullivan’s in Richmond serves lunch, weekend brunch, dinner and late-night fare. It’s open until 2 a.m. seven days a week, according to its website.

If F.W. Sullivan’s does end up opening a downtown Fredericksburg bar and grill, it would be the second Richmond-based business to do so in the past few years. Capital Ale House expanded out of Richmond in 2008 to open a Fredericksburg location at 917 Caroline St. Capital Ale has fared well and has organized Oktoberfest events the past two autumns that have brought thousands of people into downtown Fredericksburg.

Capital Ale President Matt Simmons has had lunch with the owners of F.W. Sullivan’s and told them that he “highly recommended that they come” to Fredericksburg. 

“It’s a nice operation, and the downtown area would benefit from having an FW Sullivan’s,” Simmons wrote in an e-mail.

Click here for the EDA application, which describes what F.W. Sullivan’s wants to do.