ABOUT
Chef Shane O'Connor
Hospitality Visionary | Restaurateur | Chef
To understand the beauty and quality of Bia Kitchen, it's important to get to know our executive chef and owner, Shane.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1972, Shane spent much of his early childhood along the rugged coastlines of Ireland’s east and west shores. As the son of an Irish lighthouse keeper, he was raised within a family tradition that stretched back generations. His father was among the last of the Irish lighthouse keepers prior to automation, continuing a family legacy that began in the 1890s when Shane’s great grandfather served as a lightship captain shortly after the official formation of the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
The history of Irish lighthouse keeping traces back even further to the 5th century at Hook Head, County Wexford, where monks lit signal fires and warning beacons to protect passing ships from dangerous coastal rocks. Historical accounts suggest their work was driven by compassion and humanity, having witnessed the devastating loss of life from shipwrecks along Ireland’s shores. Those values of duty, perseverance, and service would later become foundational principles in Shane’s own
life and career.
Following his father’s retirement, Shane’s family settled in Newbridge, County Kildare, where he attended the Christian Brothers School. During a difficult economic period in Ireland, Shane’s parents made the courageous decision to immigrate to the United States in pursuit of greater opportunity and a better future for their children. More than 35 years later, Shane still carries with him the values of hard work, faith, family, and resilience that defined his upbringing.
Shane’s passion for the culinary world began during his childhood in Ireland, where food, family, and tradition were deeply woven into everyday life. Coming from a large extended family on both his mother’s and father’s sides, including 8 uncles, 8 aunts, and 36 first cousins, family gatherings were an important part of his upbringing, and those close relationships remain strong to this day.
Food preparation was at the heart of these gatherings, long before the term “farm to table” became popular. Meals were built around fresh local ingredients that reflected the Irish countryside and coastal communities where Shane spent much of his youth. Fresh seafood, lamb, fowl, and small game such as rabbit were commonly served alongside root vegetables and greens sourced directly from family gardens and local markets.
These early experiences not only shaped Shane’s appreciation for authentic ingredients and traditional cooking but also inspired the culinary philosophy that continues to influence his restaurants and hospitality concepts today.
In 1989, Shane entered the culinary profession and quickly discovered a passion not only for food, but for creating experiences that brought people together. For Shane, hospitality became more than a profession. It became a calling centered around connection, atmosphere, culture, and community.
In 1995, he married his wife Elizabeth, and together they built a life centered around family, resilience, and hard work while raising their three children: Jordan, Dillon, and Aidan.
Over the course of his career, Shane has successfully opened and developed numerous restaurants and hospitality concepts, earning recognition for his ability to transform historic properties into celebrated culinary destinations.
In 2006, Shane acquired and restored a historic 50 acre estate in Middleburg, Virginia, land once owned by George Washington and home to a landmark structure dating back to 1763. There he created the renowned Blackthorne Inn & Restaurant, a destination property featuring luxury accommodations, fine dining, event spaces, weddings, and a vibrant Irish pub experience. Under Shane’s leadership, the property became one of the region’s most respected hospitality destinations before its successful sale in 2017.
Shane’s passion for food, culture, history, and human connection has fueled a lifelong love of international travel. To date, he has visited 78 countries throughout the world, immersing himself in the traditions, cuisines, architecture, and daily life of the places he explores.
Following the successful sale of the Blackthorne Inn & Restaurant, Shane embarked on a transformative journey through 52 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia in search of inspiration for his next chapter. Driving more than 21,000 miles along the Mediterranean coastline, beginning in Spain and concluding in Morocco, he traveled through 23 countries by car, allowing for a far more personal and immersive experience.
The journey provided Shane with the opportunity to deeply connect with local cultures, regional cuisines, craftsmanship, and centuries old traditions, experiences that would later become a major source of inspiration behind his evolving culinary vision and hospitality philosophy.
Returning to Virginia inspired and energized, Shane began developing a major hospitality project in Purcellville, Virginia. After years of planning, design, zoning, and architectural work, the project was abruptly halted by the arrival of the COVID 19 pandemic, a challenge that reshaped the hospitality industry worldwide.
Undeterred by uncertainty and adversity, Shane purchased and restored another historic property in the heart of downtown Purcellville, transforming it into what would become Bia Kitchen, an elegant European inspired dining destination and cocktail bar.
Developed during one of the most difficult periods in modern hospitality history, the project required extraordinary perseverance and vision. Construction extended over two years and exceeded original budgets significantly due to pandemic related challenges. Despite the obstacles, Shane remained committed to creating something truly authentic and timeless at Bia Kitchen.
Our Location
Once a former metalsmith shop circa 1917 and situated in the heart of Purcellville, Virginia, “Bia Kitchen” offers a uniquely designed space perfectly set for a relaxed and friendly dining experience.
Opened in April 2022, Bia Kitchen was designed and handcrafted in collaboration with Old Irish Pubs in Drogheda, Ireland. The restaurant features bespoke interiors and materials sourced from nine European countries and milled in Ireland, blending old world craftsmanship with modern hospitality.
Today, Bia Kitchen stands as one of Loudoun County’s premier dining destinations, celebrated for its atmosphere, authenticity, craftsmanship, and guest experience. Shane continues to pursue new creative ventures and culinary concepts, with another culinary project currently underway and scheduled to open in September 2026.
Through every chapter of his journey, from the Irish coastline to historic hospitality destinations in Virginia, Shane O’Connor’s story reflects an unwavering belief in perseverance, vision, craftsmanship, and the power of hospitality to bring people together.
With the help of our design team the entire restaurant interior includes custom bar furnishings, flooring, millwork, art and light fixtures – all custom crafted in Drogheda Ireland, a town just north of Dublin.
Our Story
Three best friends came together with a culinary vision inspired by a love for exceptional service that echoes the feel and taste of quaint towns and villages they had visited over the years throughout Europe.
They imagined a semi-open kitchen design and a chef’s counter that offered diners a sense of inclusion as they experience the highest quality of culinary preparation.
Bia Kitchen is the brain child of renowned Head Chef Shane O’Connor and partners Eric Major and John Wolff. Together, the trio bring decades of experience in good business, culinary virtuosity, and unparalleled service. Bia Kitchen exhibits a warm and modern European design, offering an attractive social gathering spot for the local community.
In 2006 he became the owner and operator of the Blackthorne Inn and Restaurant in Upperville, Virginia. As Co-owner and operator of Bia Kitchen, he believes consistency, quality, and service are the three main ingredients to success.
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