Cocky Rooster co-owners form Game Plan sports bar in Midlothian

From left: Luke Phillips, Michael Yates and Brett Diehl at Game Plan. (Mike Platania photos)

A new sports bar has picked up where a burger spot left off in Chesterfield. 

Game Plan Kitchen & Bar opens today at 101 Heaths Way Road in Midlothian. 

The sports bar’s space was most recently home to Burger Bach, which closed last year after eight years in Midlothian. 

Behind Game Plan is Luke Phillips, Brett Diehl and Michael Yates, co-owners of local fried chicken chain Cocky Rooster. 

Yates, who’s worked in the hospitality industry nearly 20 years, said he’s dreamt of opening a sports bar since he was 13.  

“That’s what I’ve always told everybody, that I wanted to own a sports bar,” Yates said. “We had this opportunity fall into our laps, and fortunately I’ve got a great group of guys that came together and made it happen.”

Part of the restaurant’s seating area has stadium seating.

Yates and Co. are bringing a taste of Cocky Rooster to Game Plan, as its wings, fried chicken and sauces will be similar to those served at Cocky Rooster. The rest of Game Plan’s menu includes staples like burgers, wraps and salads. Yates said they also have nine different types of sliders, ranging from $3 to $4. 

“We’re doing sliders kind of like tacos: a la carte with nine different builds. They’re a good entry point for everybody,” Yates said. “We want it to be economical, and make this more than a once-a-month place (for people).”

Game Plan spans 3,400 square feet and is open daily for lunch and dinner service. The restaurant is leasing its space from one of its neighbors, RVA Physical Therapy, which bought the building three years ago for $1.7 million. 

It’s a busy spring for the Cocky Rooster crew, as last month the restaurant’s first franchised location opened in Columbia, South Carolina. The group has also recently sold franchise rights to Cocky Rooster in Charlottesville, Norfolk and Raleigh. 

As for Burger Bach, its Short Pump location also closed last year, and that space has since been snagged by a Detroit-style pizza chain. The Carytown Burger Bach remains open. 

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