A Richardson coffeehouse and coworking space is bulking up, with the addition of a full-service restaurant and a barber shop down the road.

The concept that was once known as Communion Cooperative will become Communion Restaurant and Bar, in partnership with Dallas restaurant Victor Hugo's.

The Oak Cliff restaurant is helping the coffeehouse make the transition, featuring a menu of light dishes with the Victor Hugo's touch, overseen by chef Christophe Strattman.

Communion has always had food and snacks such as granola, bowls, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries. But this new concept marks a more decisive shift towards restaurant.

The menu includes entrée-style items such as blackened redfish over crab and corn orzo; and coffee-rubbed short rib over kimchi slaw. Lighter fare includes as chicken salad with walnuts and grapes, served with mixed greens and pita bread; and tacos, featured every Tuesday, with authentic fillings such as barbacoa.

Communion Cooperative owners Tim and Amy Kahle first opened the coffee shop in late 2017 in an old auto shop on Lockwood, just off US 75 and Belt Line Road.

The space gave them room to put a restaurant and coffee shop on one side, and an office/workspace on the other. Tim Cox joined to develop their coffee and beverage program.

On this new venture, the Kahles partnered with restaurateurs Victor Hugo, Brianna Ruelas, and Tara Brahmi, who is general manager at Victor Hugo's in Oak Cliff.

Brahmi will take a leadership role, Ruelas says.

"Tara has quite the resume in the Dallas restaurant scene, most notably as the GM for Rise n°1, and she's been working with Victor for over a year in Oak Cliff," Ruelas says. "She's a huge part of our expansion as a brand, and is also a Richardson native, so she's a great fit."

Communion is also launching a new coffee shop in front of the coworking/event space, which will also house a barber shop.

"The big vision for Communion is to cultivate community, bring people together for professional and important events, and celebrate life," says co-owner Amy Kahle.

They've been open very softly for lunch and dinner Monday-Friday and weekend brunch.

This marks the second foray into Richardson for Victor Hugo's, which is opening a second location of its Oak Cliff concept in the fall, in the same center as Alamo Drafthouse at 100 S. Central Expy., in the former Kabobi Fresh Mediterranean space.

"This will not be another Victor Hugo's Dining & Bar, but rather a Communion by VH," Ruelas says. "There are exciting changes ahead for this place."