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A new kind of capital fund

There’s a new group of Virginia investors looking to invest as much as $250,000 at a time into growing businesses, and reasons it might succeed where others have failed include a social component and low-pressure requirements for members.

Monday Q&A: Time to advertise happy hour?

A new Republican governor in Virginia could mean new opportunities for businesses in the Commonwealth. Perhaps no enterprise has more to gain than independent liquor stores, should ABC be disbanded. And more flexible rules will finally let pubs advertise their happy hour specials on a placard or sign outside their establishments. This week, BizSense chats with Tom Lisk, a veteran attorney who lobbies for the restaurant and hospitality industries.

LINC Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers

At its annual Lunch In The Garden held at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on May 14, 2009, LINC recognized two local lawyers, one local law firm and an individual who provided exceptional volunteer support to the organization over the past year

New ABC program may eventually soften the hated 45% ratio

The often-ridiculed law that requires restaurants to sell a minimum dollar value of food based on liquor sales has shown extraordinary staying power, in part because a powerful beer and wine lobby opposes upsetting the status quo.

But one law based on House Bill 2293, could make things easier for restaurant owners who want to sell high-quality liquor by allowing restaurants to calculate their ratio based on the volume of liquor sold, not by the dollar figure as is currently done.

First Market Bank bought by Union Bankshares

Richmond-based First Market Bank was acquired by Union Bankshares Corp. in an all-stock deal valued at about $100 million. The new holding company will move its headquarters from Bowling Green to Richmond, although that will only bring a few jobs downtown.