Riverfront dining could double

RockettsrestaurantA temporary sand volleyball court at Rocketts Landing might get the boot next year in favor of three new restaurants and some office space.

The mixed-use project along the James River is planning to build a commercial building next to the Boathouse Restaurant that will have about 20,000 square feet dedicated to restaurants.

“We have three restaurants now open that are doing extremely well, so demand is obviously really high,” said Robert Hensley, vice president of the WVS Companies.

The restaurants would occupy the bottom two floors of the proposed five-story building. The upper levels would be dedicated to office.

“We have letters of intent out with restaurants,” Hensley said. “What we need is office tenants to make it a go.”

Hensley said the potential tenants they are talking to are all local operators. The newcomers would join existing restaurants the Boathouse, Conch Republic and M Bistro & Wine Bar.

The building is still in the design phase, but Hensley said the build-out would take 16 to 18 months once enough tenants are aboard.

Hensley said most restaurant customers are coming from outside of Rocketts to enjoy the riverfront dining experience.

Hensley said the Boathouse alone served 100,000 customers last year.

Looking into the future, Hensley said his company wants to develop a riverfront medical office building on east end of the project.

“We are shifting gears, like all other developers, to accommodate the economy,” Hensley said. That means catering to those tenants that are most active, such as prospects from the health-care industry.

Rocketts Landing is also a large residential project. The development has sold about 70 percent of its available condos, according to sales associate Dan Boyer.

Nine riverfront townhouses are slated to be developed next. Called Riverbank Terraces, the units start at $925,000 and go up to $1.2 million. Boyer said Rocketts has contracts to build two and are waiting for two more to sell before they construction will start.

RockettsrestaurantA temporary sand volleyball court at Rocketts Landing might get the boot next year in favor of three new restaurants and some office space.

The mixed-use project along the James River is planning to build a commercial building next to the Boathouse Restaurant that will have about 20,000 square feet dedicated to restaurants.

“We have three restaurants now open that are doing extremely well, so demand is obviously really high,” said Robert Hensley, vice president of the WVS Companies.

The restaurants would occupy the bottom two floors of the proposed five-story building. The upper levels would be dedicated to office.

“We have letters of intent out with restaurants,” Hensley said. “What we need is office tenants to make it a go.”

Hensley said the potential tenants they are talking to are all local operators. The newcomers would join existing restaurants the Boathouse, Conch Republic and M Bistro & Wine Bar.

The building is still in the design phase, but Hensley said the build-out would take 16 to 18 months once enough tenants are aboard.

Hensley said most restaurant customers are coming from outside of Rocketts to enjoy the riverfront dining experience.

Hensley said the Boathouse alone served 100,000 customers last year.

Looking into the future, Hensley said his company wants to develop a riverfront medical office building on east end of the project.

“We are shifting gears, like all other developers, to accommodate the economy,” Hensley said. That means catering to those tenants that are most active, such as prospects from the health-care industry.

Rocketts Landing is also a large residential project. The development has sold about 70 percent of its available condos, according to sales associate Dan Boyer.

Nine riverfront townhouses are slated to be developed next. Called Riverbank Terraces, the units start at $925,000 and go up to $1.2 million. Boyer said Rocketts has contracts to build two and are waiting for two more to sell before they construction will start.

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tom
tom
12 years ago

Just think of how this could have played out if the City Council had this foresight when the threw money at 6th Street Station. We’re 20 years behind the curve here. But at least we’re getting it now.

Brett Hunnicutt
Brett Hunnicutt
12 years ago

Great news!
How are they going to build those town houses on top of the old brewery basement though?
Seems unstable. Very curious as a contractor.