It seems like it’s been under construction forever, but it’s finally here. Whole Foods is now open on Broad Street next door to Lee’s Chicken (Just a short ride or walk east of Scott’s Addition). Thursday morning, crowds lined up for the first peek inside the 47,000sf building.
Remember, the store was built on the spot where the old Pleasants Hardware once stood. In fact, some of the original Pleasants architecture was used in the new building.
This Whole Foods is similar to the store in Short Pump, with all the natural/organic food and self-care sections, but there is a mezzanine taproom at this location with indoor/outdoor seating and pub like food for sale.
And I kinda love the idea that at this location, customers are invited to buy a drink and sip while shopping. I’m not sure I knew that was a thing, but it works for me.
Yep – the partnership with Amazon applies here. So, you can use your Prime membership for benefits and deep discounts. The store will be open from 7am-10pm daily. The address is 2024 Broad Street.
Oh – you don’t know what Paisley and Jade is? Well, let me happily tell you.
In summary, it’s the company that rents out vintage and eclectic items to decorate your wedding, event, trade show or film set.
Need a pink, velvet, tufted sofa? Check!
Need a vintage bar or serving table? Check!
Need some chalkboard art, lanterns, or chandeliers? Check, check, and check!
The 10,000 square foot shop that houses P&J on the corner of Highpoint and Moore is dreamy. It’s a showroom, a warehouse, and a workspace. You can even use it for photoshoots because it’s pretty much ready to go.
On Sunday the 11, the P&J team will host an Open House along with the Pop Up Shop. Last year, customers started lining up to get in about 30-minutes to an hour before the doors opened. You would have thought they were serving free food the way the crowds gathered. So, it might not be a bad idea to get there early.
Here are the deets:
Paisley & Jade Pop Up Shop
Sunday, August 11 – 10am
Items sold first come, first serve. Pricing is not listed in advance. Delivery options are available.
The folks who manage the Symbol Apartments, and a few others in Scott’s Addition – are inviting more food trucks into the area, during lunch time in particular.
They said they added a concrete pad in the Symbol parking lot (behind the blue building on Rockbridge St.), during development, for this very reason; To give food trucks a place to park.
We saw the trucks they’ve booked and it’s everything from comfort food to Caribbean. In fact tomorrow, Wednesday, The Hungry Turtle food truck will bring us some Asian Fusion with Vietnamese styles and vegan options.
Check it out if you’re in the area and ready for some new options. Here’s the link to see what’s parked in the lot before you head over.
PS – Want a food truck at night or on the weekends? Be sure to visit one of our many beverage spots. My fave truck, Intergalactic Tacos, is a regular at Veil on Tuesday nights but there are often trucks at Vasen, Isley, Ardent, Three Notched and Blue Bee.
It’s the first weekend in May and there are so many things happening in Scott’s Addition, plan accordingly.
Saturday May 4
River City Roll
Saturday at 3pm, River City Roll kicks off its Summer Concert Series. That’s right – the boutique bowling alley is going to bring us live music over four Saturdays this summer. It’s free and it’s family friendly! You can expect to see four bands the first Saturday of each month, some will be inside while others are outside.
This Saturday rolls from 3pm-10pm and includes music from:
Bart Chucker Band 3pm-5:30pm (inside)
Killer Tofu 5:30pm-6:45pm (outside)
Kentucky Derby Break 6:50pm
The Pietasters 7pm-10pm (headliner /outside)
The event will include a beer truck and outdoor Belle Isle Bar, plus shrimp po’ boys on the patio.
Can’t make it this Saturday? RCR will bring the bands back on June 1, July 6 and August 3.
Galactic Pub Crawl
Yes. It’s International Star Wars Day! And May the Fourth Be With You while you’re touring Scott’s Addition for the first ever Galactic Pub Crawl. That means you should expect to see a ton of people dressed in their best Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate, and Battlestar Galactica gear walking around the neighborhood as they tour participating pubs. Yeah – it’s going to be like a mini-neighborhood Comic Con from 3pm – 9pm.
Attendees get Dark Side or Light Side keepsake badges and color changing lightsabers with sound (free for the first 150 people who register). There are also commemorative pins, photo ops, and special drink and gaming specials. Where do I register? Bingo Beer Co. or buy $20 tickets at this link: more info here.
Blue Bee Cider’s Third Annual Virginia Cider Jam
Come taste ginger infused cider made by cider makers all across Virginia at Blue Bee Cider, Saturday. Food food from Zorch Pizza, Shyndigz Dessert and Nightingale Ice Cream will also be on hand along with live music starting at 1:00pm. There will also be local artisans and vendors and it’s family and pet friendly.
Sunday, May 5
The Big Pig Project & Brunch Market
This Sunday is the third Annual Big Pig Project. What is that, you say? It’s a fundraiser hosted by Lunch | Supper that benefits the Ronald McDonald House. RMH provides housing and support to families with children who need extended medical treatment in Richmond.
Area companies sponsor a concrete pig and decorate it however they chose, then those themed pigs are auctioned off at the Big Pig Project this weekend. Money raised supports RMH. And before you say, ‘nah – I don’t need a pig’, make sure you go take a look at them at the event. They are some really amazingly decorated works of art. In fact, eight of the 60 pigs are online for you to see today and they were decorated by area artists like Matt Lively, Hamilton Glass and Jessi Leonard, to name a few. The Scott’s Addition Boulevard Association sponsored a pig and I hear it’s a little version of our namesake: General “Pigfield” Scott.
If a pig is out of your budget there’s plenty of other stuff to partake in. In fact, the Brunch Market will be set up inside the Urban Roost and there will be plenty of food, vendors and live music to entertain you.
The Big Pig Project is rain or shine Sunday, May 5 starting at 12pm. The first auction begins at 1:45pm. Summit Avenue will be closed off from W. Clay (BlueBee Cider) to Broad Street and Marshall Street will be closed from Highpoint to Altamont. Parking is available at the old Clarion Hotel and on neighboring streets.
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Just celebrate the margarita and tacos, why don’tcha? You can do that starting at 2:30pm at Bingo Beer Co. They’ll be kicking off the fun with some live bands, including a performance from Los Ramones. PS – Bingo’s patio is now open! So even if you can’t sit outside this weekend, you can make it a destination for the rest of summer.
This post was totally inspired by one of my best friends, whose company just moved into the neighborhood.
Like most of the newbie companies setting up shop here, Aerotek, recently leased an aging building in Scott’s Addition, and transformed it into an epic office space for its staff.
And just as I was walking on cloud nine with elation that she was going to be so much closer to my studio – one of my clients informed me that her brother’s staffing company just set up shop here too, Ranstad.
Sweet and simple: Aerotek and Ranstad are both employment agencies. They both put butts in the seat for companies that need to fill jobs both on a permanent and temporary basis.
I know, you’re probably like whoopty-do, but stay with me here – a quick Google search and I learned that there are now technically six staffing/employment agencies here in Scott’s Addition.
I know, right? – Mind blown! Almost as many headhunters here as there are breweries – who knew? It means Scott’s Addition is not only the place where you can find a banger of a craft beverage, but it is also the place where you’re most likely to find a job.
I won’t bore you with their company missions or history of how these staffing agencies came-to-be, but I am gonna give you the rundown of who’s here and where you can find them in a list below.
And I’m going to include the names of co-working spaces now in our neighborhood too, because the idea of living here with just a walk to work, a workout or a favorite hangout sounds perfect to me.
You’re welcome!
STAFFING
Aerotek 1901 Roseneath Road aerotek.com Specialty: Manufacturing, Engineering & Professional
Aston Carter 1901 Roseneath Rd Astoncarter.com Specialty: Accounting and Finance
Monument Consulting 1800 Summit Ave monumentconsulting.com Specialty: Labor & Professional
At long last, Richmond’s fastest growing neighborhood now has its own fresh, bold logo and brand identity. The Scott’s Addition Boulevard Association revealed the new sleek design at its public meeting April 3.
The logo was designed by the Barber Martin Agency, a Scott’s neighbor that acquired and rehabbed an aging warehouse space at the corner of Roseneath Rd. and Leigh St. in the fall of 2017.
Graphic Designer, Bailey Jenkins, who designed the artwork, told SABA members BMA is so thrilled with its new space and energy in the neighborhood that it jumped at the chance to help design a logo that not only kept the integrity of the area’s history but also embraced the modern change underway.
Under the direction of COO and SABA Board Member, Greg Simos and Chief Creative Officer Deb Hagan, several artists dove headfirst into the effort to create a historic yet modern design. The art was then submitted to an association marketing committee that ultimately selected the design created by Jenkins.
Jenkins said she studied General Winfield Scott, the neighborhood’s namesake, before crafting her design. She said it was the goal to create a logo that could be used as a key system to help visitors navigate where they can find food, beer, shopping, residential areas and more. She said she wanted to define the eat, play, work environment unique to Scott’s Addition.
The core logo with the “SA est. 1901” can be accompanied by any number of icons like forks, pint glasses, and bags to indicate what type of business is being referred to on the neighborhood’s website, promotional items or on decals for the businesses themselves.
SABA president Trevor Dickerson said, “We want the logo to be used by everyone in the neighborhood to help build pride in Scott’s Addition, the same way the RVA logo has been adapted to show pride in Richmond.”
In addition to adding the logo to its marketing efforts, the Scott’s Addition Boulevard Association intends to use the new logo on banners that will mark the gateway into the neighborhood, and eventually add the design as a mural to buildings.
Alright, party people. Saturday is the day. The Irish Festival, Shamrock the Block, returns to the Boulevard from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. Grab your green and get ready for a good time.
The free event always draws large crowds and this year is boasting attendance by more than 70-vendors selling beer, food, and crafts along with a small kids area for parents who want to venture out.
Of course, there will also be live music on the main stage from acts like Cracker Jackson, and The Folly and Redneck Pool Party.
There will also be an after-party in the parking lot of River City Roll that will include performances from Three Sheets to the Wind, East of Blue Ridge and Dance Candy. Those shows begin at 5:00pm and wrap at 2:00am.
Shamrock the Block is sponsored by Murphy’s Irish Stout, River City Roll, Heineken, Belle Isle, Dave and Busters, Brown Distributing and the Scott’s Addition Boulevard Association. Proceeds from the event will benefit Project Local a group that supports other non-profit organizations.
But here’s what you really want to know… the Boulevard will be closed off for this event. Expect the closure to start at Leigh Street/Moore Street (Boulevard Burger and Fries and Movieland) to Broad Street. The closure begins at 5:30am Saturday to 9:00pm. So, if you have to leave Scott’s – head out on Summit Ave., Highpoint Ave., Mactavish Ave. or Roseneath Road.
There will be parking at the Diamond and on streets in and around Scott’s Addition. Lyft is offering a 25% off discount for two rides with code: RVASHAMROCK — Drop off and pick up for that is on Leigh Street in the bike lanes near the Redskins training facility.
By now you’ve likely heard of Tang & Biscuit, a shuffleboard facility, that opened in Scott’s Addition. Plenty has been written about it; About how big it is, and how it has 10-lanes, an event space with yard games or how it’s got a 50-foot bar – but I’m not sure anyone has written about what playing the game is actually like. So, I thought I would.
Recently, a group of us got the chance to experience it for ourselves. Just a random Friday night decision to try something new.
We arrived at 9:00pm, parked in the back parking lot, and walked into an already crowded Tang and Biscuit. I mean people from the front door to the back door were playing shuffleboard, cornhole, Jenga or Connect 4. Some were there to watch football, drink at the bar or just eat.
We waited a bit, maybe 10-minutes, for a lane to clear from the previous players. We then received our biscuits: four yellow and four black and were sent on our way.
None of us remembered how this game was played but a Lane Captain was sent over to give us the low-down on how it was supposed to be done. It was loud and I tuned out, so I just trusted that someone in my group paid attention and went along with what they did before realizing there’s a handy-dandy cheat sheet at each of the shuffleboard lanes. The laminated card is written like airline safety instructions; it’s got an illustration with step by step details and rules on what you’re supposed to do.
Similar to Cornhole, Horseshoes or Bocce, two players (opponents) are on one side of the lane while their partners are on the other side of the lane. All eight of the biscuits (pucks), yours and your opponents, are lined up in the bottom part of the triangle that is painted on each end of the lane. You shoot from there, taking turns pushing it to the opposite triangle and trying to drift it into the scoring zones.
Now here’s the deal: while the puck slides easily, there’s a finesse to it. Too hard and you’re smacking the back wall. Too soft and the puck is landing in the dead zone. You’ve got to get it just right to land it in the triangle. And when it gets there, it can’t touch a line or it doesn’t count. You also can’t land in the widest part of the triangle (the Kitchen) or you lose 10 points.
You can strategize and hit your own puck to get it into scoring zones, like a combo in pool, or do the same to play defense and push your opponent’s biscuit off the scoreboard. Kinda awesome and you can see where it gets beyond competitive.
We ordered drinks while we played. Most of us had beer but some did the Tangtails; Tang & Biscuits’ signature drink which is Tang powder mixed with various liquors and served in a cute lightbulb. You have to do it – because it’s part of the experience, but Tang is definitely an acquired taste. I’ll just leave it at that.
And, let’s face it shuffleboard is a game you can play while holding a tang (stick) in one hand and a Tang cocktail in the other. In fact, I would argue that I played even better once I did.
Because you have the lane for an hour your party of four can play several games while scoring yourselves on a chalkboard. Or, you can bring extra friends and play them when you move on and want to give other people a chance to experience it.
There is food to order. It was pretty good bar food but it did take a while to get it. Like, we were almost done by the time it arrived, we were told that was a fluke.
Like I said – the place was packed, and it’s so bright and cheery in there it’s hard not to stop and glance around at everything while you’re playing. I do think my favorite part was seeing so many different kinds of people having fun. Really it was a mix of young, old, black, white, families and singles and on and on. And yeah – it was just fun. Fun putting my phone down and just doing something together as a group. It feels bonding and indoctrinating.
Since it was a weekend the lane time was $50 an hour; divided by four that’s not too pricey. I’m pretty sure that’s cheaper than taking four people bowling – still costly if you add drinks and food, but I’d definitely go back.
The late summer, early fall was bustling with new ‘additions’ to Scott’s Addition’s social scene. So, we thought it would be a good time to update everyone on what’s moved in. (Prayer hands if I left anyone out.)
Tang & Biscuit This baby opened late August and boy is it something. The first indoor shuffleboard social venue in Richmond.
It’s called Tang and Biscuit because that’s what the stick and puck are called. I didn’t know that – I thought it was some catchy reference to the food and the cute Tang cocktails they serve in a lightbulb. Ooops.
Tang and Biscuit has 10 regulation shuffleboard lanes, a 50-foot bar, a kitchen serving a fun menu, and a back room full of large yard games including Connect Four, Jenga and Cornhole.
It’s also got tons of TV’s and big screens. Really an optimal place to play games, watch people play games or just people watch.
If you don’t play Shuffleboard and let’s face it, very few do, there are Court Captains that get you through it. The games are about $20 an hour, weekdays and $30 an hour on weekends. And yep – it’s kid friendly and has league play available.
Tang and Biscuit is located at 3406 W. Moore St. $
The young family that grew an orchard of apples and pears in Goochland County has now opened a tasting room inside the newly renovated Highpoint Building on Broad St. (yep, the building with Bernie Sanders painted on the side).
All the production of their awesome cider is still done on the 4.5 acres they have in Maidens, but they’re now bringing it right to us to taste in Scott’s Addition. They’re producing about 10 ciders now (according to their website) and you can sample on their outside patio or garden.
It is open Tuesday to Friday after 4pm and Saturday and Sunday after noon.
Courthouse Creek Cider is located at 3300 W. Broad Street. $
City BarreA friend of mine said City Barre is the chicest fitness studio she’s ever been to. And I don’t think many could argue that. It’s located in a former warehouse space but you wouldn’t know that with all the gold, velvet and ornate light fixtures that now fill the room. It’s swank!
There are plenty of Barre classes but the studio owner, Gretchen Stumpf, really hopes you’ll hang out a while and has added a comfy patio and lounge with self-serve coffee to her space.
A variety of classes are offered all week long, in a variety of time slots that begin at 6:00am. There are also several membership options to choose from but you can just drop-in and try a class.
City Barre is located at 1404 Belleville Street $$
Longoven wasn’t even a full-blown restaurant, just a pop-up in 2016, and was getting awesome reviews in Bon Appetit magazine. And now that it’s here in Scott’s Addition – it’s blowing guests away with its uber cool, minimalistic atmosphere and absolutely artistic plates of delicious food. A far cry from what that space used to look like, by the way.
I went in before opening and asked, “So, what kind of food do you serve, is it foofy, foodie stuff?” I wasn’t trying to be rude or ignorant but most food has a style and a theme. Co-owner Andrew Manning politely responded – “You should follow us online.”
Longoven’s menu is a la carte and served throughout the restaurant but walk-ins are welcome. There is also a Chef’s table and dinner is served off a tasting menu through reservations. You can also just pull up to the bar and grab cocktails, wine and beer.
A friend described it like this, “It was a unique experience. It felt elite. The ambiance is great and the way the food is presented feels more like New York, San Francisco or Chicago than Richmond.”
Longoven is closed Sundays and Mondays and is located at 2939 W. Clay Street. $$$
Aloi, which was once just a neighborhood food truck, opened in late July in the space that once housed Idle Hands Bread Company and flanks The Arcade on the corner of Leigh Street and Summit (Yes, the building with the retro Arcade mural that was painted over – but that’s a whole other story).
When it was doing food truck fare, they had a pretty awesome Poke bowl. Now a restaurant, the owner of Aloi who also co-owns Sabai, is serving up seasonal Contemporary American cuisine. It means they’re making food that’s in season and can be purchased from local farmers.
Aloi also has a full bar with cocktails, beer and wine and guests call it a “chilled atmosphere”. Reservations are accepted and it’s closed on Monday and open after 4:30pm most days of the week.
Aloi is located at 3103 W. Leigh Street. $$
Photo: M. Guyer
Perchwas probably our most anticipated restaurant opening of this year. Why? Because it’s housed in the old Joy Garden restaurant and part of the gateway into Scott’s Addition.
The landmark Chinese neon marquis façade is long gone and what stands now is a beautiful modern and inviting entrance that includes indoor and outdoor patio seating. It’s bright and airy and quite the contrast from the dark and dated restaurant that long-lived on Broad Street.
The menu is an eclectic twist on traditional Filipino cuisine, and the plating is fabulous. You can dine in the dining room, or the private community table with a clear view of the kitchen so you can see all the in’s and outs of what’s going on behind the curtain.
Perch is closed on Mondays and reservations can be made online. It’s located at 2918 W. Broad Street. $$
