1462 replies to this topic

[wrldcoupe4]

I bet Carytown's pedestrian traffic is reminiscent of how Grace and Broad were 50-60 years ago...I hope we can get it back there too.

[burt]

wrldcoupe4, on Jun 16 2005, 03:43 PM, said:

I bet Carytown's pedestrian traffic is reminiscent of how Grace and Broad were 50-60 years ago...I hope we can get it back there too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh no, Coupe - Carytown pedestrian traffic, while fairly heavy, can't hold a candle to what it was like on Broad Street in the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.  It was shoulder to shoulder on Broad and Grace streets.  Wish I could direct you to some pictures of that era downtown; maybe Ryan has some in the archives.

[StevenRocks]

^Does anyone here remember what it ws like to shop at the old Miller & Rhoads and Thalhimers stores downtown (or Woolworth's and G.C. Murphy)?  I was too young and too far away to get to see them when they were open.

[wrldcoupe4]

I was reallly little when Miller & Rhoads and Thalhimer's were open but when we would go to see the Legendary Santa, we would walk through them. They were huge department stores with great character. Don't wanna sound like a nerd here but I did see a really good PBS documentary on downtown Richmond from years gone by and there was a lot of emphasis on M&R and Thalhimers. They were absolutely beautiful inside.

Man I would kill to see that type of pedestrian traffic again. Real streetcars would be icing on the cake!

[burt]

Arf!  Arf!  Arf!  According to Greg Gilligan's column in today's RTD, a swanky new doggie boutique has opened next to Dick's at Stoney Point Fashion Park.  You'll find it on the business page.  Read it for a good laugh.   

link

Doggie Boutique

(This is my first time trying to put in a "link" vdogg.  If I did it wrong, can you tell me how to do so in future?  tnks.)

Well, I just added www, but that doesn't seem to highlight the link either.  hmmmm.

Remember that you must enclose the address in the tags. If you hit the add reply button the post window will pop up. Look under the section that says code buttons at the top of the page and you will see a button that says http://. Click on that button and enter the title of the link and when prompted enter the address and these tags will automatically be inserted for you.

Edited by vdogg, 20 June 2005 - 01:33 PM.

[wrldcoupe4]

Ukrop's leads the Richmond market in both traditional grocers and 'any retailers selling groceries'  categories in a recent study:

among all retailers selling groceries in the Richmond market:  22.41%, a very slight decline from 22.49% last year. Food-Lion followed in second, followed by Wal-Mart in 3rd.

Among traditional grocery retailers, Ukrop's gained slight market share rising to 40.16% from 39.72%. They anticipate performance to improve for next year's stats as the brand spankin new Forest Hill Ave. store opened this May.

Ukrop's 27 Richmond area stores generated  $579.27 million in sales during the study period.

The study did not include Ukrop's stores in Fredericksburg and Williamsburg. The Williamsburg store is the company's fastest growing store, and they are building a second Williamsburg store scheduled to open next year. Ukrop's is also expanding into the Roanoke market next year.

Ukrop's has 27 Richmond area stores including Joe's Market. Food Lion has 47.

There is a TD article about this stuff: Study: Ukrop's tops Richmond market-share list

Edited by wrldcoupe4, 21 June 2005 - 10:47 PM.

[StevenRocks]

Ukrops deserves to be on top.  They run a quality operation.

[wrldcoupe4]

Two new stores in Carytown:

Que Bella and Heidi Story....


Que Bella is a footwear boutique: "Que Bella, which originally opened up last winter on a Fan side street, offers an eclectic arrangement of fashion for your feet. Owner Heather Teachey just moved into a new, more spacious spot on Cary Street, where her fashionable finds tempt streetwalkers through the enormous windows.


Heidi Story "opened up her first shop in Brooklyn, New York, with the intention to offer attentive personal service and clothing and accessories by small New York and Los Angeles designers. Now, she aims to do the same in Carytown.

"I love New York but after 11 years there, I needed a change," said Story. "I was looking for something southern but urban, and I just fell in love with Carytown.""

I know nothing about the fashion world but she also attended Parson's School of Design.

Sounds like two great additions to Carytown. It would be nice if there were more stores targeting guys though.

[Downtowner]

I think Richmond City Would do great with the following Shops and restaurants

Circuit City
Best Buy
Dicks Sporting Goods
Brusters
BlockBuster
Unos Chicago Grill
Cheesecake Factory

[burt]

Downtowner, on Jul 13 2005, 05:36 PM, said:

I think Richmond City Would do great with the following Shops and restaurants

Circuit City
Best Buy
Dicks Sporting Goods
Brusters
BlockBuster
Unos Chicago Grill
Cheesecake Factory

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Since most of these are already in Greater Richmond, I assume you are suggesting them for downtown as well?

[StevenRocks]

^I think eventually a lot of those stores will settle in the downtown area, but in order for Downtown Richmond to be a viable retail desitnation, it's gonna need more distinctive retail than a Circuit City and the like.

[wrldcoupe4]

I like the independence of most of downtown's retailers. Carytown is a great example (VERY FEW chains). I wouldn't be opposed to having some of those retailers downtown though as long as they created stores with an urban feel (they are all predominately suburban retailers). I think they are blockbuster's downtown. I know a MovieGallery just opened on main st near The Market. I still think Circuit City could/should build a flagship urban store downtown since its HQ'd in Richmond and all. Have it multi-level with some type of interactive museum showcasing how electronics have changed the world since they started out as Ward's so many years ago.

[Downtowner]

But you know Idependent stores don't dominate the retailing market as chains do chains are much more effective and like I said chains dominate the retailing market.But yea It would be nice to have some Urban versions of these stores.

[wrldcoupe4]

Richmond's Porsche Dealership in Midlothian is now selling the Lotus Elise Sports Car.....The dealership will be expanded to accomodate the Lotus vehicles. Without even having a sign up, lotus had already sold 6 cars in 3 days.

[theriverpirate]

wrldcoupe4, on Jul 28 2005, 01:53 AM, said:

Richmond's Porsche Dealership in Midlothian is now selling the Lotus Elise Sports Car.....The dealership will be expanded to accomodate the Lotus vehicles. Without even having a sign up, lotus had already sold 6 cars in 3 days.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, I love driving by there and looking at those.  I didn't even know Lotus existed until I saw one in England last year; now they're one of my favorite cars.

Edited by theriverpirate, 28 July 2005 - 10:07 AM.

[burt]

theriverpirate, on Jul 28 2005, 10:46 AM, said:

Yeah, I love driving by there and looking at those.  I didn't even know Lotus existed until I saw one in England last year; now they're on of my favorite cars.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Expensive little boogas, tho.  Guess the area's high average income is one of the reasons the franchise is located out there on Motor Mile (it's the only one between D.C. and Atlanta).

[wrldcoupe4]

wow didn't know that burt! but yea the cars are small pure sports cars. I wouldnt mind test-driving it on the pocahontas pkwy since there's no one out there

[StevenRocks]

Macy's is coming!  Macy's is coming!

[burt]

StevenRocks, on Jul 28 2005, 03:22 PM, said:

Macy's is coming!  Macy's is coming!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, don't stop there, Stephen!!!!   Where?  Do you mean ALL Hechts?  If not, which ones that Virginia would be interested in?

I wish one were going into MacArthur Center downtown Norfolk.

How about Short Pump?  I'd be very surprised if it were not on the conversion list.

[burt]

wrldcoupe4, on Jul 28 2005, 11:47 AM, said:

wow didn't know that burt! but yea the cars are small pure sports cars. I wouldnt mind test-driving it on the pocahontas pkwy since there's no one out there

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just watch those exit ramps at I-95!!!  They can be trecherous!