VELE (pronounced Vay Lay) is Italian for blank canvas. Our chef, Justin Richardson, envisions a “blank canvas” of possibilities as he develops an ever-changing menu drawn from not only his Italian heritage and culinary studies in Italy, but also his classical French training; French precision, modern Italian influence. The ownership team consists of Dan Sperry, Nichole Sperry and Justin Richardson
, the ultimate trifecta. Dan handles the business and operational aspects, Nichole is our design and marketing aficionado and Justin will be the purveyor of all things culinary, developing our menu and training the kitchen staff. We believe in sharing and experiencing new and different tastes so we will offer a multitude of small plates meant for sampling, sharing and pairing with our great wines, alongside limited entree selections from the southern Italian region. All clean, fresh, simple, unique, and very deep in flavor. Who doesn’t love good food and a new experience?! Ultimately this is a project of passion for each of us in our own unique way. As businessman, designer and chef we are each bringing a different aspect to the table, literally. We are huge advocates of supporting and promoting locally-owned, independent restaurants and we want to play a part to increase the economic and cultural vitality in downtown Springfield. Our hope is to deliver a satisfying, meaningful dining experience unlike something Springfield has ever seen.
