U-Fab opened Oct. 5 at 7921 W. Broad St. (Michael Thompson)
When its plans to relocate to Scott’s Addition unraveled, a local retailer decided to cut a new deal for a home in Henrico.
U-Fab, a fabrics seller and furniture maker, opened Oct. 5 in its new digs at 7921 W. Broad St. Owner and founder Travis Hamilton said the company has a long-term lease on the 28,000-square-foot spot formerly occupied by CORT Furniture.
Hamilton had previously planned to consolidate U-Fab’s operations to a 25,000-square-foot space at 3210 W. Marshall St. in Scott’s Addition. The business at the time was spread between 106 S. Robinson St. south of the Fan and 11382 Midlothian Turnpike, where it’s currently winding down operations.
Travis Hamilton
The West Marshall Street space initially came on the market because of the planned departure of its current tenant, Brass Beds of Virginia, until the metal bed manufacturer decided to stay.
That’s when Hamilton decided to get things moving in Henrico. While there may not be a brewery on every corner of U-Fab’s new neighborhood, Hamilton said it’s got its own appeal with Broad Street frontage surrounded by restaurants, bank branches and other neighbors.
“We’re actually pretty happy,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got great parking. We’ve got good visibility.”
Eventually, there will be 30 employees working out of U-Fab’s West Broad Street shop. Hamilton said the business will look to expand its custom furniture work as it grows into the new location.
And it didn’t take long for another company from the furniture industry to snatch up U-Fab’s South Robinson building.
Patina’d Grace plans to open in November at 106 S. Robinson St. The storefront will serve as a furniture workspace and gift shop lined with home décor, soap, lotion, clothing and jewelry.
Patina’d Grace owners Danielle and Erick Fitzgerald moved their furniture business to U-Fab’s old digs at 106 S. Robinson St. (Michael Thompson)
Patina’d Grace was launched in 2012 by Danielle Fitzgerald and her husband Erick Fitzgerald. Erick does the wood work on Patina’d Grace’s furniture and Daniel Fitzgerald finishes them with paint and staining.
“We’re mainly into antiques and vintage,” Danielle said.
The business previously operated as a vendor at Lazy Daisy Gift Store locations in Midlothian and Short Pump.
“This is our big expansion,” Danielle said.
Patina’d Grace joins a stretch of South Robinson that’s undergoing a dramatic transformation.
Vitality Float Spa recently opened near Patina’d Grace’s future home, and Cask Café has been open on South Robinson Street since 2013. On the residential side, 285 new apartments are in the works at the former GRTC bus barn site and a cluster of townhomes dubbed A2 are under construction behind Vitality.
The GRTC site is actually comprised of historic trolley barns, not bus barns, although buses were housed there in recent decades.
Danielle and Erick Fitzgerald welcome to the neighborhood and we are excited you are moving in. However you might have to fix the surrounding City alleys like others have done with your own gravel.
Thank you Michael! That is one of our top priorities. We will do everything we can in making the exterior of the building as well as Souh Robinson beautiful!