AMAZING ANGLES WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH Look for the Downtown Loft Tour online.
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MAGAZINE
Downtown Richmond
WORKSPAC CREATIVE
Designing Your Perfect Blend of Art and Commerce
Volume: 4 Issue: 2
SPRING 2009
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Downtown News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Architecture Out-of-Bounds: BOB Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Solid Structures: NXL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Loft Life: Touring Downtown Live, Work & Play Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 The Pulse of Richmond: Tammy D. Hawley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Commercial Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 www.creativeworkspace.biz
CONTRIBUTORS Executive Editors: Lucy Meade, Venture Richmond Ted Randler, Palari Publishing LLP Managing Editor: Rebecca Jones Words Zac Bardou
Photography Walker Allen Stephanie Garr Ben Madden
CONTACT DATA
City of Richmond Department of Economic Development (804) 646-5633 www.ci.richm on d .va .u s Carthan F. Currin, Director Dara Glass, Deputy Director
(804) 788-6466 The Team: Jack Berry Mavis Wynn Jim Watkins Sharon Bassard Lucy Meade Stephen Lecky Lisa Sims Renee Gaines Erika Gay Part-time: David Jennings
Industrial Meets Traditional Located in Manchester, Jeremy and Robyn Connell’s loft at The Decatur is a melange of textures, rich, earthy colors and lyrical art pieces. With warm black and beige as the predominant color scheme, the space becomes a collection of cozy comfort zones that pop with red, magenta and orange details. See more lofts on page 7.
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To advertise in upcoming issues call: Palari Publishing LLP (804) 355-1035 or email: dave@palaribooks.com
is published and owned in partnership with Palari Publishing LLP.
Palari Publishing LLP was established in 1998 in Richmond, Virginia. Palari is a forward-thinking, independent, royalty-based publisher committed to producing innovative periodicals, fiction and nonfiction books. Through our hardcover and trade paperback originals, Palari provides authoritative, well-written nonfiction that addresses topical consumer needs and fiction with an emphasis on intelligence and quality.
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DOWNTOWN NEWS Downtown’s Dominion Riverrock Will Combine Sports, Music & Fun
Dominion Riverrock, Richmond’s newest active lifestyle event will blend music, sports, interactive opportunities and environmental stewardship at Brown’s Island on May 15-16. Billed as “Richmond’s Riverlife Celebration,” Dominion Riverrock begins Friday with a free performance by nationally acclaimed roots music and world rock band Rusted Root, a Mud Run, a high-flying Big Air dog jumping competition, and an acrobatic freestyle bike competition. On May 16th, athletes from around the region will square off in high-adrenaline activities both in and around the river including the James River Scramble trail run, mountain biking, kayaking and more. Dominion is the title sponsor of the event through a grant from its Dominion Foundation philanthropic arm. The partnership team of Venture Richmond and the Sports Backers will produce the event. “We are very pleased that the Sports Backers and Venture Richmond have developed a major new event to help us celebrate the river and all its amenities,” said Dominion Resources Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II. “Dominion Riverrock is uniquely positioned to capitalize on Virginia’s many historic, economic and geographic endowments: a location rich in history, an economically strong city center and a marvelous geographic setting.”
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17th Street Farmers’ Market Opens with a New Manager
Bolos: “We want this to be a gathering place for everyone.”
The 17th Street Farmers’ Market opens sample freshly prepared foods. On Fridays April 22 for the 2009 season with a new the market will host Red, White & Brew. schedule and a new manager. After an ex- Bolos adds, “Virginia is well-known for its wines and Richmond has the tensive search for just the right largest cluster of micro-brewcandidate, George Bolos has re- Located at the located to Richmond from Penncorner of 17th eries in the state. We want to sylvania where he was heavily & Main Streets, showcase that.” Saturday is Mercado Market where the eminvolved in working in the com100 North phasis will be on produce, munity. “Our roots are here, and 17th Street crafts, prepared foods, and spewe decided to relocate to provide our kids with a Virginia education. This cialty vendors. While Bolos hopes eventually to have was a good fit,” says Bolos. Plans for this year include extended operating hours, a year-round market (“we’re well-posinew interactive programs, more cooking tioned to expand the market and its offerdemonstrations, and plenty of festivals. ings”), he’s excited about the commitment “The residents of the City of Richmond ex- the city has made to ensure the market’s pect to have multiple programs, for the success. “Richmonders are passionate about the city’s history and the marketsake of commerce and entertainment.” One of the pilot programs this year will place has a huge importance. Being here focus on vendor workshops where partici- is a great location for visitors from Amtrak pants join in on Wednesday afternoons to and a short walk from the financial center,” learn crafts or watch demonstrations of says Bolos. “We’ve put a lot of work into how some of the actual products are made. making sure this is a success for the city A Taste of the Market will take place on and the residents. We want this to be a Thursdays and give passersby a chance to gathering place for everyone.”
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Proviz production manager Jon Shaw, 3D artist David Robinson & director Trey Tyler
[This photo] Proviz’s conference room and studio [top photo] in Shockoe Slip.
Back to the Future: Proviz Produces Projects Both Historic & International Proviz is in the business of visualizing your project—and driving it toward reality. Specializing in architectural and exhibition rendering and animation, Proviz provides clients with a wide range of deliverables that include photo-realistic renderings, animated walkthroughs, real-time panoramas, interactive DVDs, and complete virtual tours. Before Movieland was a Sunday morning destination, it was a state-of-the-art architectural rendering by Proviz. And as the Miller & Rhoads building was transforming into sought-after residences, the Proviz team was developing images that helped designers, investors, and clientele see the future possibilities of this timeD o w n t o w n R i c h m o n d C R E A T I V E WORK SPAC
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honored landmark. “We recognized that until recently there were very few renderings being done for historic buildings, adaptive reuse projects, and/or preservation jobs. In a city like Richmond, the opportunities were huge because of the vast historic building stock. In 2006 we set out to capture a major share of this market— both locally and nationally. Today, I am pleased to announce that well over half the visualization projects we produce are historic projects,” says Proviz director Trey Tyler. Proviz’s work extends beyond state and national boundaries, as well. Production is currently underway for Duke University Health System for an ani-
mated flyover of the campus. This animation (virtual movie) will simulate what the new cancer center and major hospital addition will look like in context to the rest of the campus buildings when completed. Proviz recently collaborated with the Washington, DC office of Perkins+ Will to develop several 3-D renderings of a new data center in Saudi Arabia. The Proviz staff has professional backgrounds in architecture, graphic and 3-D design, advertising, and animation. This collective experience allows Proviz to work as fully engaged partners in the creative process with a wide range of clients. And that’s something to get animated about. SPRING 2009
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DESIGN FORWARD
ARCHITECTURE OUT-OF-BOUNDS It’s tempting to think that BOB Architecture was named for the founder, Robert A. Steele, AIA. But in fact, the name stands for “Beyond Ordinary Boundaries”—and that’s a place Steele and his 6 colleagues go every day. Situated high above the intersection of 7th and Franklin, BOB Architecture’s offices are within a few miles of some of their most designforward projects: 1708 Gallery, Millie’s Diner, Bruce’s Super Body Shop, and In Your Ear Music and Recording Studio. All of those projects have reCWS:4
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ceived design awards. The firm is equally comfortable with historical structures. Their work on Woodside Plantation earned BOB Architecture a Southern Home Award, presented in 2000 by Southern Living Magazine. While many of their buildings are familiar Greater Richmond landmarks, BOB Architecture’s residential, commercial, and historic projects are also seen throughout the Eastern Seaboard. They moved to their current offices, in a building that once housed VEPCO, four years ago. They realized
they were bucking a trend, and were partly motivated by that fact. “We’ve been everywhere,” says Steele, noting that many of his colleagues in the architecture field have their offices in Richmond’s loft districts. “We are one of the few architecture firms in a high-rise. We wanted to break the mold.” And with their bold redesign of their office suite, they feel they have done that. “When the elevator door opens on the ninth floor,” says Steele, “You know you have arrived somewhere different.” CWS D o w n t o w n R i c h m o n d C R E A T I V E WORK SPAC Powered by Venture
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[This photo & bottom center]: A vibrant green
foyer wall along with the unexpected use of slate tile and wood panels exemplifies the firm’s creative focus.
In the conference room and throughout the suite, a sophisticated blend of classic Modern furniture and contemporary pieces provides glass and polished-steel details that refract the abundance of natural light.
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DESIGN FORWARD
De León is currently appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia to the APELSCIDLA Board (Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects).
SOLID STRUCTURES “When I founded NXL in 1989, I vowed to provide excellence in everything we do,” founder and president Nico De León, PE, CCM says, explaining the origin of the company brand. “That’s why I framed the letter ‘X’ for excellence in the center of our company name.” A professional construction management and surveying firm, CWS:6
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NXL specializes in transportation projects. The company is headquartered in Downtown Richmond at 114 E Cary Street and has added offices in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Atlanta to keep up with demand. De León holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in the Do-
minican Republic. He also has a Masters of Engineering in Construction Engineering and Management from the University of California at Berkeley. Before establishing NXL, De León worked for private contractors on major projects such as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (Tampa, Florida) and Seven Mile Bridge (Florida Keys). In 2008, De León and NXL’s team of engineers, construction managers, land surveyors and technicians were honored with a “Best of Richmond” from the US Local Business Association (USLBA). In 2009, the firm was also selected as one of the Top 500 Hispanic American Owned Businesses in the US by DiversityBusiness.com. They were recently re-selected for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Bridge Repair and Coatings Inspection for the Staunton and Salem Districts; this is NXL’s second time winning the project as a prime consultant. NXL was also awarded the Department’s Northern Virginia DistrictWide Maintenance contract. Further north, NXL is providing construction inspection/administration and engineering services on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project, the largest public works project in the midAtlantic region. CWS
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LOFT LIFE
TOURING DOWNTOWN LIVE, WORK & PLAY SPACES
Whether it’s the adventure of creating a personal vision for living from the blank canvas of an industrial space or the new venture of combining home and office in one central location, Downtown lofts offer the versatility and urban amenities that attract diverse homeowners.
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The Amins’ minimalist palette of black, gray and ivory is softened by the clever play of light and shadow that creates different areas of focus. Central to the design is the dramatic contemporary light fixture with an ornate shade, Moroccan in feel. Note how the home office seamlessly blends into the living space, the simple, yet elegant, white chairs’ curves mimic the computer’s form. The recessed kitchen also blends into the open floorplan, perfect for entertaining.
NEIL & AMISHI AMIN Riverside on the James When Neil Amin returned to the town he grew up in after his two-year stint in New York City, he knew he couldn’t return to the suburbs and wanted a space like the loft he had near Union Square. Riverside on the James drew his interest with its waterfront location and general accessibility both to downtown and the surrounding area, so he bought two units, knocked down a wall and embarked on the creation of a unique, modern space. “It was a bachelor pad when I got here,” says Neil’s wife Amishi who relocated to Richmond from London. “When I came along we bought new furniture and added a lot of finishing touches and accents including more lamps, mirrors, and artwork.” The marriage of aesthetics has resulted in a sleek and contemporary space that is perfect for hosting friends and family, whether in town for the weekend or popping in for a drink on the way to a multitude of nearby downtown destinations. “It’s wonderful to be at the heart of it all,” says Neil.
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LOFT LIFE CONTINUED
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Norma: “During the day, it is incredible to watch the sunlight and shadows slowly moving over the buildings.”
RUDY & NORMA BERMAN VALENTE Riverside on the James When Rudy and Norma Berman Valente moved down from the New York City area to Richmond, they did not want to leave the kinetic energy of metropolitan life entirely behind. They were also looking for an exceptional view. They eventually found both in a 10th floor Downtown loft at Riverside on the James. “During the day, it is incredible to watch the sunlight and shadows slowly moving over the buildings,” says Norma. “In the evenings, the sunset is reflected on the sides of the buildings and at night the lights of Richmond are absolutely beautiful.” Nothing in the apartment detracts from or obstructs the view. In fact, the effect is multiplied by mirrors hung amongst a stunning collection of Isamari paintings. All the furniture came from Rudy’s former furniture company, R.V. Cole, and reflects their love of clean lines and subtle design.
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Shifting light along with contemporary, early 1950s and vintage pieces define the living and dining areas. In the media room, retro chic shag rugs complement an architectural stone accent wall. The kitchen features a stunning 13-foot curvilinear island.
BOB & DOUGIE SCUDDER The Vistas on the James For Bob and Dougie Scudder, living Downtown makes it easy to strike a balance. Bob, a career development coach, helps his clients achieve greater success and satisfaction by simplifying and intertwining the most crucial aspects of both their professional and private lives. “It’s about self-awareness,” says Bob. “If you know what it is that you are really trying to achieve, it allows you to focus on the things that will bring you the most happiness and best balance in your life.” Their stunning home at The Vistas on the James has helped the Scudders achieve the same results as Bob’s clientele. With the airport, West End and Southside all within 15 minutes of their doorstep, Interstate 95 mere seconds away, and a slew of restaurants, clubs and bars within walking distance, the couple is afforded quick and easy access to the things they need and enjoy. LOFT LIFE CONTINUED
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BILL CHAPMAN
The simple and dramatic statement of a single wall embedded with a fireplace defines the media area. Painted cinderblock and exposed brick visually complement the polished grid of the floor. The kitchen’s angled countertop and soffit, along with its platform, offer a dedicated space while still maintaining the loft’s expansive feel.
The Decatur In 2004, Bill Chapman and his company, Fountainhead Development, transformed Plant Zero, a former Manchester factory, into a veritable artist enclave, featuring over 120 artist studios and lofts, a café, art galleries and a 7,000 square foot event space. A year later, he finished his own CWS:12
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condo in the adjacent Decatur building and was finally able to join the community he had created. “I like being around other creative people,” says Bill. “I love the creative energy here and I feel like I’m at the
forefront of changing trends.” The fruits of so much contagious creativity abound throughout Bill’s home. Since the top level of the unit boasted the best views, he eschewed convention and built his living space upstairs.
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Three bedrooms and two bathrooms are axially connected by a modern interpretation of a Japanese tatami room containing a large fountain.
For Chapman, The Decatur’s rooftop deck offers an impressive view of Downtown.
Below, three bedrooms and two bathrooms are axially connected by a modern interpretation of a Japanese tatami room containing a large fountain. Throughout the apartment other modern and Asian elements are mingled with the bare industrial bones of the historic building. LOFT LIFE CONTINUED D o w n t o w n R i c h m o n d C R E A T I V E WORK SPAC
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Robyn:“We recently bought another warehouse two blocks from here and have placed this apartment on the market. We enjoyed doing it so much we’d like to do it again.”
JEREMY & ROBYN CONNELL The Decatur Developers Jeremy and Robyn Connell also pounced at the Decatur opportunity. “We have a tremendous faith in the future of Manchester,” says Jeremy, “and we wanted to be here from the beginning of its rebirth.” Their space features a steel fireplace he designed, beautiful Australian lace wood countertops, rich wooden furniture with a French country flair and a spectacular collection of giraffe figures and statues, some as tall as ten feet. “By integrating exposed brick walls, heavy timber columns, original metal windows, and existing piping into our design,” he says, “we were able to create an industrial skeleton upon which we’ve imposed a comfortable and traditional living environment.” The Connells enjoy the process of creating unique living environments as much as the finished product. “We recently bought another warehouse two blocks from here and have placed this apartment on the market,” says Robyn, “We enjoyed doing it so much we’d like to do it again.”
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J. HARMAN SAUNDERS & BETH WARE SAUNDERS 210 Rock (Rocketts Landing) For South Boston-based developer J. Harman Saunders and his wife Beth Ware Saunders, it was all about the River. And they do mean “River.” “We had decided a number of years ago that we wanted a weekend place on ‘The Rivah,’ as people like to call it,” says Harman. “But we came to Richmond first, and this was as far as we needed to go.”
The Saunders loft is their weekend place by the ‘rivah.’
Although their light-filled Rocketts Landing penthouse is a weekend retreat, their enthusiasm makes them ambassadors for Downtown Richmond. “A couple of medical students walked into the lobby one afternoon. They were curious about Rocketts Landing, so I took them upstairs and showed them around.” The penthouse is furnished with a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings, many of which came from La Diff. Harman’s favorite “room” is actually the rooftop garden, which affords incomparable views of the river and city that drew them there in the first place. “If my wife is looking for me, she can usually just open the door and call up to the roof.” CWS D o w n t o w n R i c h m o n d C R E A T I V E WORK SPAC
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BIG CITY, BRIGHT LIGHTS
THE PULSE OF RICHMOND hen Tammy D. Hawley purchased paintings by Richmond artist Anne Sylvest, some expressed surprise that they were for her office. “I said, ‘I spend all day in my office, and then I go home and sleep,’” says Hawley, who has been Mayor Dwight Jones’s press secretary since January. Although she is busy keeping the mayor’s vision for Richmond in the public conversation, Hawley still finds time for renewal outside the office, as well. She regularly attends First Friday’s and openings at the Black History Museum, two events that embody the things she loves most
W
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about Richmond: the pulse of the city and its cultural diversity. Hawley is a Richmond native and graduate of VCU. Her lifelong love of the arts was sparked when she saw works by Romare Bearden during an elementary school fieldtrip to VMFA. Her own collection includes works by Richmond artists Vicki Foster and Canan Boomer. The NAACP presented her with an original Jacob Lawrence lithograph in recognition of her tenure as Chief Operating Officer from 1996-1998. Prior to her work with the NAACP, she was Chief of Staff to Congressman Kweisi Mfume for 9 years. Hawley is enthusiastic about
Mayor Jones’s plans to position Richmond as a first-tier city and believes this is a robust time for her hometown. In reflecting on the career path that has circled back to Richmond, she’s philosophical. “When we lived in the Washington Park area, our house was on Maggie Walker Avenue,” says Hawley. “I thought that was ironic, because later I worked on banking legislation on Capitol Hill, including several minority banking initiatives. Earlier, when we lived in Jackson Ward, I remember my mother saying that the 2 Street area was the Harlem of the South, but I only understood what that really meant later.” CWS
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Fourth Quarter 2008
COMMERCIAL LISTINGS Building 107 S 5th St q 10 S 6th St Richmond Plaza Building 7 N 8th St Shockoe Center Exchange Alley Bldg Watkins Cottrell Bldg Canal Crossing Central National Bank 600 E. Broad Street Theatre Row Office Bldg Federal Reserve Bank Of Richmond West Tower - Riverfront Plaza East Tower - Riverfront Plaza One James Center Two James Center Three James Center Edgeworth Bldg @ Tobacco Row The Maggie Walker Bus. & Tech. Ctr 10 E. Franklin Street Metro Chamber Building One Franklin Square 700 Centre Building Seventh And Franklin Building Chesterman Place Riverside on the James Eskimo Pie Bldg Main Street Centre DEQ Bldg The 700 Building Eighth & Main Bldg Former First Union Buildings Wytestone Plaza First National Bank Building One Capital Square The Mutual Building SunTrust Building The Ironfronts Capitol Place The Bank Of America Center Exchange Place One Shockoe Plaza Commercial Block Turning Basin Bldg
Name Address 107 S 5th St 10 S 6th St 111 S 6th St 7 N 8th St 11 S 12th St 23-25 S 13th St 111-117 S 14th St 101-115 S 15th St 219 E Broad St 600 E Broad St 712-730 E Broad St 701 E Byrd St 901 E Byrd St 951 E Byrd St 901 E Cary St 1021 E Cary St 1051 E Cary St 2100 E Cary St 501 E Franklin 10 E Franklin St 201 E Franklin St 411 E Franklin St 700 E Franklin St 701 E Franklin St 100 W Franklin St 1001 Haxall Pt 528-530 E Main St 600 E Main St 629 E Main St 11 700 E Main St 707 E Main St 800 E Main St 801 E Main St 823 E Main St 830 E Main St 909 E Main St 919 E Main St 1007-1013 E Main St 1106-1108 E Main St 1111 E Main St 1309-1317 E Main St 1 Shockoe Plz 100 Shockoe Slip 111 Virginia St
Building SF 92,752 35,418 269,097 167,398 53,000 24,637 57,430 128,000 230,000 213,266 166,741 700,000 490,414 409,190 420,000 334,200 233,200 142,000 48,000 0 31,020 19,028 132,682 160,000 180,720 32,808 263,066 45,327 424,761 6,315 181,790 325,000 26,889 253,346 163,000 242,289 155,000 570,269 56,263 66,930 545,316 72,306 125,210 38,016 88,905
Available SF 0 0 206,500 0 9,685 3,200 3,700 62,700 230,000 6,334 53,668 5,500 297,367 22,850 19,769 13,767 22,716 46,486 100.0 0 0 46,625 49,352 31,977 8,478 26,892 2,925 0 8,576 102,058 15,847 0 123,391 51,367 100,228 0 65,412 720 20,610 133,111 29,433 15,000 0 12,518
% Leased 100.0 100.0 23.3 100.0 81.7 87.0 93.6 93.2 0.0 97.0 67.8 99.2 88.5 100.0 95.3 95.9 98.5 67.3 100.0 100.0 76.2 69.2 83.3 74.2 89.8 93.6 100.0 92.6 51.0 96.2 100.0 51.3 76.0 58.6 100.0 89.5 98.7 71.4 77.5 89.7 100.0 100.0 92.4
Avg Rent $15.50 $16.50 $16.50 $17.50 $19.00 Negotiable $16.00 $17.67 $20.00 $26.29 $25.50 $26.50 $26.50 $21.80 $22.50 $18.00 $13.50 $14.00 $15.13 $23.66 $13.60 $13.50 $14.00 $16.71 Negotiable $16.50 $15.00 $23.00 $14.00 $13.87 $18.87 $15.50 Negotiable $21.47
Select listings of properties for lease in Downtown Richmond provided by Kit Tyler and Chuck Ellsworth, Grubb & Ellis | Harrison & Bates www.harrison-bates.com
The City of Richmond Department of Economic Development is here to help any company, large or small, find space Downtown. Call 646-3061.
Friday Cheers Returns Venture Richmond’s FREE signature summer concert series, Friday Cheers, presented by Coors Light and Yuengling, is back on Brown’s Island for its 25th season and features some of the nation’s hottest touring acts, along with some regional favorites. Friday Cheers offers 8 free concerts May 8-June 26. All events are on Brown’s Island along downtown Richmond’s historic riverfront. The 2009 Line-up includes: May 8, Melvin Seals & JGB (with The Spaceheaters) May 15, Rusted Root (with Jesse Chong) – Kicking off Dominion Riverrock! May 22, Zac Brown Band (with David Shultz & The Skyline) May 29, The Lee Boys (with DJ Williams Projekt) June 5, Jerry Douglas (with The Atkinsons) June 12, Old School Freight Train (with NO BS! Brass Band) June 19, Lucero, (with Farm Vegas) June 26, Toubab Krewe, (with Crucial Elements)