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Balliceaux restaurant at 203 N. Lombardy in the Fan District is closing on Jan. 8 and some high-profile restaurant owners are opening a new spot in the place.

Jason Alley, chef and co-owner of Comfort and Pasture restaurants, announced Thursday that he and his Comfort / Pasture co-owner Michele Jones are opening Flora restaurant in the space - along with Jay Bayer, owner of Saison restaurant and Saison Market.

Flora will be an "upscale casual Mexican concept" opening in late winter or early spring.

"We all love the lively, delicious cuisine and cocktails of Mexico, and we are excited to bring our version of hospitality and service to this style of restaurant," the team wrote in a news release. "Authentic versions and creative takes on dishes of coastal Mexico, and the state of Oaxaca in particular, will be the focus in the kitchen. The fruit forward, and complex drinks and spirits of Mexico will be front and center behind the bar."

Balliceaux opened in August 2009. The restaurant was among the first Richmond restaurants to source its ingredients from local farms. It had an ambitious craft cocktail program before that term was even a thing in Richmond and a stellar craft beer list, years before anyone had ever heard of Hardywood.