Three new S. Pump stores all open this week

Three new retailers are opening or have opened this week in the Short Pump area. Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), hhgregg and Jake and Friends are all new on the Far West End retail scene.

Electronics retailer opens in former Short Pump Circuit City

Indianapolis-based hhgregg opened their new Short Pump Town Center store last Thursday in the building that formerly housed Circuit City. The store is currently in a soft opening phase, with grand opening to take on Thursday. The store looks very different from its former days. The entire warehouse-style building was gutted, re-floored and a drop ceiling was added to the entire length of the back wall. On one side you’ll find your typical consumer electronics offerings and on the other you’ll see an array of different appliances, from washers and dryers to refrigerators and small kitchen electrics.

A slew of new shops in Short Pump

A handful of new retailers have recently opened their doors around the Short Pump area. HomeGoods opened Sunday morning at West Broad Village. The highly-anticipated discount home accessories retailer was packed with eager shoppers through the afternoon.

Teavana, a highly-specialized retailer carrying over 100 kinds of teas from around the world, including India, Nepal and Japan, has opened on the lower level of Short Pump Town Center, near Firebird’s. The store also carries a variety of teapots and other related products.

Crazy 8, a new concept from children’s retailer Gymboree, has also recently opened in the mall, offering discount children’s clothing and accessories.

A third new tenant at Short Pump Town Center is Fast-Fix Jewelry & Watch Repairs, offering watch and jewelry repair, cleaning and battery replacement, plus key duplication and other services.

Electronics retailer hhgregg will be ...

Max & Erma’s waiting for John Rolfe Pkwy

Yesterday BizSense reported the Max & Erma’s restaurant chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Downtown Short Pump, a BizSense news partner, reported today that the Short Pump franchise in the John Rolfe Commons shopping center is closed.

A sign on the door reads that the location will reopen once John Rolfe Parkway is cut through. The delayed road project has hurt businesses in the shopping center, many of whom came in with the understanding that the major thoroughfare would be completed soon thereafter.

One local business, Cavanna Pasta, was profiled last year in Richmond BizSense. At the time, owner Jonny Cavanna said the store would have to close by year’s end. Cavanna is still hanging on, partly due to a boost in sales from their bi-weekly booth at the nearby West End Farmers Market at Gayton and ...

With new businesses, The Shoppes At Westgate fully leased

While many Short Pump shopping centers have lost tenants due to the recession and many businesses have closed their doors, one center is completely leased out. Thalhimer Commercial Real Estate leasing representative Jim Ashby says The Shoppes At Westgate at Broad and Lauderdale is welcoming a host of new tenants.

Two Short Pump businesses close

Two Short Pump businesses have shuttered their doors in the past week. Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina,  on Nuckols Road in Twin Hickory Town Center, closed last week. No reason was given for the closure, but the location never seemed to attract the crowd that nearby Nonna’s Pizzeria or Tropical Smoothie Cafe does. This was the only location in Richmond.

Dream Dinners, across from Short Pump Town Center in the Promenade Shops, closed their doors this past week as well. The store allowed groups to come in and prepare dinner entrees to freeze and serve to their families later. A location on Southside near Woodlake remains open. The Short Pump location will remain only as a pickup service inside the neighboring Daily Grind Coffeehouse & Cafe.

This story orginally appeared at DowntownShortPump.com, an RBS news partner.

Vino for Short Pump

Entrepreneur and franchisee Jeff Ottaviano is hoping to bring a new experience to Richmond’s West End when he opens a wine lounge-nightclub in Short Pump’s West Broad Village.

He hopes to open the Wine Loft at the end of October.

Ottaviano was an airline pilot for 10 years with the former Independence Air. His idea to open a wine cafe came quite literally by accident.

“I tore my ACL and was at home watching Food Network one day when I got the idea [to open a wine cafe]," he said. "I Googled for different ideas and concepts."

That’s when he got in contact with the Wine Loft.

"They had the concept I was looking for.”

The Short Pump location will be the Wine Loft’s first in Virginia and 23rd nationwide. The first location opened in New ...

Short Pump retail update

Short Pump is getting another Asian restaurant and the region’s first Life Is Good store. Rainbow Buffet opened last week in the Short Pump Village shopping center. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant joins multiple other Asian restaurants to open in the past year, including Kanpai Japanese Steakhouse in the Towne Center West shopping center, Kenji Hibachi & Sushi Bar in Parc Place Shops and Kona Grill at West Broad Village.

Cafe Caturra opens in Short Pump

Cafe Caturra has opened its fourth Richmond location in the Short Pump Crossing shopping center, near Ukrop’s.

Another Circuit City location gets new lease on life

The former Short Pump Circuit City, soon to house an hhgregg electronics store, isn’t the only one in the area to come back to life.

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