Lehja owner to open new Indian restaurant in Midlothian this fall

Sunny Baweja, owner of Lehja restaurant in Short Pump Town Center, is opening a new Indian restaurant called Tashan Indian Kitchen & Wine in Midlothian this fall, according to WTVR CBS 6 and Richmond BizSense.

Tashan will be located in a 2,400-square-foot space at Westchester Commons in Chesterfield County, previously occupied by Rusty Taco, as reported by Richmond BizSense.

Baweja said the new restaurant will focus on Punjabi cuisine from northern India and will be a sister restaurant to Lehja, which has earned a dedicated local following and several James Beard Award nominations.

Baweja emphasized that he waited until the timing and location felt right, noting that Midlothian neighborhoods like Hallsley and Salisbury showed strong support for Lehja during the COVID pandemic through delivery orders.

The decision to open Tashan reflects Baweja's approach that a restaurant should have a theme, soul, and meet a demand in the area, according to Richmond BizSense.

Lease negotiations for the new space were handled by Trey Blankinship of Segall Group for Baweja, with landlord representation by Thalhimer agents Alex Wotring, David Crawford, and Kevin South.