Will Richey Obituary and death news, Charlottesville Restaurateur Killed in Albemarle County Car Cra

Charlottesville restaurateur Will Richey tragically died in a single-vehicle car accident in Albemarle County early Tuesday morning. He was 47 years old.

The crash occurred around 1:20 a.m. on December 12 in the 1300 block of Owensville Road, according to the Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD). Richey, a Charlottesville resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richey was the founder and owner of Ten Course Hospitality, a group of popular restaurants in and around Charlottesville. According to Tastings and Court Square Tavern owner Bill Curtis, Richey’s death is a major loss for the community.

“It’s a huge loss for the whole town,” Curtis said. “He brought the whole gamut of the Charlottesville restaurant scene. A lot of big city restaurants are chains, owned by chefs or investors or whatnot. He brought all of those kinds of places to Charlottesville.”

Curtis said he hoped to one day sell his businesses to Richey because he knew Richey would be a good steward. “I was convinced he was going to be a good caretaker,” Curtis said.

All of the Ten Course Hospitality restaurants will be closed Tuesday. That includes The Whisky Jar, The Alley Light, The Bebedero, The Pie Chest and Brasserie Saison among others.

The single-vehicle accident happened early Tuesday morning, December 12, claiming the life of restaurateur Wilson “Will” Richey, according to a release from the Albemarle County Police Department. First responders were called to the 1300 block of Owensville Road at approximately 1:21 a.m. Richey, 47, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Over the course of decades, Richey established himself as a major figure in the Charlottesville food scene. He started his career in the wine industry before transitioning into food service. After purchasing the local staple Revolutionary Soup in 2005, Richey went on to build his own restaurant group, Ten Course Hospitality.

Ten Course Hospitality was integral in the creation of several restaurants under its umbrella, including The Whisky Jar, The Alley Light, The Bebedero, The Pie Chest and Brasserie Saison, among others. Richey earned a strong business reputation for his collaborations.

The ACPD said the investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Funeral arrangements for Richey are pending. The Charlottesville community is mourning the enormous loss of a pioneering restaurateur and businessman.

“He was really into the fabric of Charlottesville and central Virginia’s food scene,” Curtis said. “It’s hard to overstate how big it is.”

I aimed to accurately capture all the key details while crafting the obituary in an appropriate formal tone and format. Please let me know if you would like any modifications or expansions to this draft. I can develop it further based on your feedback.

ncG1vNJzZmidXpyura3XsqOappSoe6S7zGetp2ennrmtedGimqGdqWK8o7XTrpirsV2Wu6V5w56YraBdo7K4v4ycn5qqnKTBtbHSr6ClpJViv6a%2F05qsq5mkmsKzecqio6WdlGK2r3nApZmepZGnuaZ5wqisp6ypYrCivoycqZqrmA%3D%3D