Candlewood Suites opens in the Walthall Enterprise Zone

Candlewood Suites recently opened in the Walthall area on 15820 Woods Edge Road. The 42,588 sq ft, 3-story hotel has 82 suites and is conveniently located off I-95 at the Woods Edge Road exit. The company plans to have a grand opening celebration in September.

Theses suites are designed especially for stays of a week or more. Each suite is equipped with a full kitchen including a dishwasher and refrigerator/freezer. For more information, visit www.CandlewoodSuites.com.

New medical practice to open in the Jefferson Davis Enterprise Zone

In mid-September, Dr. Jolanta Herrera will open a new medical facility on 2552 Aldridge Ave at the corner of Jefferson Davis Highway. Dr. Herrera specializes in diabetes, high blood pressure, skin infections and women’s health. This practice accepts walk-ins and welcomes both Spanish and English speaking patients. La practica de la dra. Herrera acepta pacientes de habla hispana.

Bachrach Store Coming to Chesterfield Towne Center

Chesterfield Towne Center has announced the addition of Bachrach, an upscale men’s apparel and accessories store. The center will be the retailer’s first Richmond location and is expected to open in November 2008.

The Bachrach brand features men's suits, detailed dress shirts, and distinctive silk ties as well as other fashion essentials for the business professional and fashion-conscious male.

Bachrach will feature both exterior and interior entrances on the Huguenot Road side of Chesterfield Towne Center which has been undergoing redevelopment. The new store will occupy 4,140 square feet and will be located near the North mall entrance and Coldwater Creek. Bachrach’s other Virginia location is at Macerich’s Tysons Corner Center in McLean.

In the past year Chesterfield Towne Center has announced six new retailers including Aldo, Barnes & Noble, Charlotte Russe, Coldwater Creek, Hollister and Red Robin. At the same time, the center has been redeveloping the Huguenot Road side of the center to create a streetscape atmosphere with exterior facing retail.

On Target for March 2009

Construction is well under way at the new Target store at Westchester Commons. The 900,000 square foot retail shopping center is located at the northwest quadrant of Route 60 and Route 288. Westchester Commons is part of the 640 acre Watkins Centre mixed use development.

Westchester Commons will consist of large, national retailers including Target and Regal Cinemas around the perimeter of the center, with a concentration of small shops along an interior, pedestrian-friendly Main Street. In addition to offering residents convenient and quality shopping options, Westchester Commons will also provide a sense of charm and community with its gathering places.

Construction began in the fall of 2007 with a grand opening scheduled in the spring of 2009.

Virginia Is Best State for Business in 2008

For the third year in a row, Forbes.com has ranked Virginia as the best state in the nation for business. Virginia has been number one in the Best States ranking since 2006. Forbes uses six measures in its rankings: business costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.

Forbes writes, "Virginia remains an excellent location for new or existing businesses. It has the best regulatory environment by our count, thanks to the second-best incentive programs in the country--as well as the fifth best tort atmosphere. Other high points include energy costs 30% below the national average and an educated labor force fueled by its proximity to Washington, D.C., and top colleges like the University of Virginia and William and Mary."

Read the rest of the story on Forbes.com.

Village Bank Plans Move to New HQ Building

Louis Llovio reported in the Richmond Times Dispatch yesterday that Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. plans to move into its new corporate headquarters building in Watkins Centre on August 8th.

The company will utilize two floors of the 80,000 square foot building. The other two floors will be available for lease. The Village Bank mortgage division will relocate to the new facility from its current location in the Arboretum Office Park.

Regal Walls Rising in Westchester

The Westchester Commons 16 Theater is now under construction. The 66,185 square foot movie theater will feature 16 screens and more than 3,000 stadium style seats. The Regal Entertainment Group is constructing the first-class motion picture theater as an anchor of the “Main Street” section of the Westchester Commons mixed use power and lifestyle project.

The photograph featured on the right was taken from Route 288. The project is located at the northwest corner of Route 288 and Route 60.

GRP Launches Its YouTube Channel

While it's probably not an "official launch", the Greater Richmond Partnership has begun posting videos on its YouTube Channel. Check them out at http://www.youtube.com/GRPVA

Here's an example of one of the GRP videos.

Chesterfield Reports on Enterprise Zone Results

Barbara DelVillar, Chesterfield's Enterprise Zone Coordinator, has submitted the 2007 Local Enterprise Zone Program Annual Report to the Department of Housing and Community Development. The activity in both enterprise zones was significant.

In the Jefferson Davis Enterprise Zone, which includes the Hull Street Road subzone, there were 96 new or expanded businesses. These projects created 221 new jobs and invested more than $41.7 million.

In the Walthall Enterprise Zone, which includes the Midlothian Turnpike and Meadowdale/Meadowbrook subzones, there were 45 new or expanded businesses. These projects created 231 new jobs and invested more than $78.7 million.

Virginia Pewtersmith Profiled in the Richmond-Times Dispatch

Joan Tupponce has written an article in Metro Business section of the Richmond-Times Dispatch about a Virginia Pewtersmith.

Family pewter shop perfects its craft
Chesterfield firm finds success in increasing sales and helping the disabled
>>> Read story

Virginia Pewtersmith, which is located at 420 Southlake Boulevard in Midlothian, produces a wide variety of hand crafted pewter items. http://www.virginiapewtersmith.com/