The building at 204 N. Robinson St. that recently housed Sushi Ninja restaurant, and before that, the World Cup coffeehouse, is about to take on a new identity. Mac McCormack, owner of McCormack’s Irish Pub in Shockoe Bottom, is preparing to open McCormack’s Whiskey Grill and Smokehouse there.

McCormack describes the new place, set to open late this year or early next year, as “kind of a nontraditional barbecue place, a little upscale, very family-oriented.” He envisions youngsters enjoying craft root beer, birch beer or sarsaparilla, while grown-ups sip on any of 1,500 varieties of liquor, including rare cognacs and bourbons.

Thor Levesque — who is currently chef at McCormack’s Irish Pub and has experience in the kitchens of Havana ’59, the Tobacco Company Restaurant and Buckhead’s — will design the menu. McCormack says they plan to serve steak, house-made sausages, smoked cheeses and a variety of jerky, such as salmon, venison, buffalo and beef. “It’s going to be very much comfort food,” he says. But vegetarians won’t be left out either. “Right now we’re working out a way to make vegetarian barbecue," using a peach-bourbon sauce to give it a smoky quality, he says.

McCormack says he got to know the building while helping out Sushi Ninja (the former owner is a friend), and decided to open his own place when the lease was up.

“I wanted to do another restaurant, but I didn’t plan on doing anything soon,” he says. “This kind of fell into my lap. … I think it’s a great location.”

Chopstix Opens in Chesterfield
After a private soft opening Wednesday night, Chopstix Asian Bistro and Sushi Lounge (15801 City View Drive, Midlothian, 379-8308) officially opened yesterday in the Shoppes at Westchester. In addition to sushi, Chopstix offers menu items such as a grilled New York strip, miso salmon and sake-marinated short ribs.

Ms. Maggie’s Pays Homage to a Pioneer
A new restaurant in Jackson Ward is named in honor of African-American businesswoman and community leader Maggie L. Walker. Ms. Maggie’s Seafood and Jazz Lounge (343-1180) opened this fall in a renovated building at 114 E. Clay St.

“We wanted something that would reflect the heritage of the Two-Street/Jackson Ward area,” says Ryan Jones, general manager. He describes the menu as Southern, including pork chops, liver and onions, meatloaf, and baked chicken.