Alexa Schuett: Church Hill's Quadruple Threat

In Richmond, there are restaurant owners, there are coffee people, and then there are neighborhood builders.

Alexa Schuett has quietly become all three.

Over the last several years, Schuett has helped shape Church Hill’s food and coffee culture through a growing collection of neighborhood staples that each carry their own personality while still feeling unmistakably connected. From Liberty Public House and Riverbend Roastery to Chimbo Sandwich Shoppe and Peaberry Coffee House, her footprint in Church Hill keeps expanding.

And while each concept serves a different purpose, together they tell a larger story about queer entrepreneurship, neighborhood investment, and creating spaces where people genuinely want to gather.

Schuett took over Liberty Public House in 2019, helping turn the longtime neighborhood restaurant into a go-to spot for comfort food, cocktails, brunch, and casual nights out in the historic East End Theatre building. For many LGBTQ+ Richmonders, its welcoming atmosphere has become just as much a draw as the menu itself.

That same community-minded approach carried over to Riverbend Roastery, where Schuett helped refresh the longtime Church Hill coffee staple with renovations, expanded offerings, and a renewed energy that quickly made it one of the neighborhood’s busiest gathering spots.

Then came Chimbo Sandwich Shoppe, bringing oversized sandwiches, laid-back energy, and another distinctly Church Hill hangout into the mix. Most recently, Peaberry Coffee House expanded Schuett’s growing coffee presence even further, bringing Riverbend-roasted coffee and specialty drinks to Church Hill North.

Taken individually, each business stands on its own. Together, they reveal something bigger.

Schuett has created an interconnected collection of spaces that feel woven into the daily rhythm of Church Hill. Morning coffee turns into lunch at Chimbo. Dinner at Liberty turns into a weekend Riverbend stop. Each business strengthens the neighborhood around it.

There is also something powerful about seeing an openly queer woman continue to expand her presence in Richmond’s hospitality industry at a time when independent restaurants and cafés face enormous challenges.

Church Hill has no shortage of beloved spots, but few owners have become as deeply connected to the neighborhood’s culture and routine as Alexa Schuett.

Not bad for a quadruple threat.