Taking stock of what one has accomplished is a common exercise for folks this time of year.
But I’d argue that few professions allow one to so easily – and cathartically – retrace one’s steps over a calendar year than daily news reporting.
While everyone retains memories over 12 months’ time, the record of the BizSense reporting staff’s work in 2018 is forever etched in our archive, each story stamped with a date to be recalled at any moment. Those mile markers remind us how hard we work to feed the beast that is the daily deadline, while also helping us see in one large year’s-end overhead view the churn of the Richmond region’s business scene.
So as we take stock internally on another year, we share with you our list of favorite stories. These are our biggest scoops, best reporting, most memorable storytelling, catchiest headlines and the brightest of colorful characters (dogs included) that we documented in 2018.
Enjoy the look back. And to all loyal BizSense readers that helped make our 11th year in business yet another success: Thank you for allowing us to keep you in the know and for making our scrappy little business publication part of your daily lives.
Cheers and happy New Year.
Darn good reporting and storytelling
A reader emailed in, asking what had become of a financial incentive offered by the state to a growing local insurance company. A little digging resulted in a story we didn’t quite expect – which was that the company had lost track of its end of the deal and the state was looking at new ways to police the process.
From left: Dick Fowlkes, Missy Snyder, Kate Ackerly (Mike Platania)
Another tip that came from a reader resulted in an incredibly compelling tale of a popular West End menswear shop and how it had worked its way out of a state of e-commerce purgatory after 10 years. The story has it all: small business lessons learned, candid quotes and colorful neckties.
A tiny sliver of a legal notice printed in a local newspaper was the impetus for this story of an obsolete state building near the capitol that needs to go. But first the state is hoping someone wants to move the entire structure.
Virginia may be for lovers, but there was no love lost between the state’s tourism arm and a local online retailer who misappropriated the popular Virginia slogan. Re-read this story to be reminded of what happens when you get in the state’s crosshairs.
Fun with puns
Regular readers of BizSense know we like a good (and sometimes corny) pun. This word-play affinity has led us to trouble every so often, but most of the time helps us entertain ourselves while preventing nitty-gritty business news from being otherwise too cut-and-dry. Here are a few that stand out from the year:
Moving oolong: Tea shop trades Carytown for the Fan
A tell-tale restart for Poe Museum property
Code names
We love getting the jump on top-secret economic development deals in the region – the ones officials often discuss internally using code names. Our biggest get this year was to chip away at details of “Project River City,” a large industrial deal in Chesterfield, which we ultimately found out was being built for Pepsi. Spoiler alert: We couldn’t resist a few puns in this one, too.
CBD oil is derived from the marijuana plant.
The Richmond marijuana beat is born
It’s rare as a reporter to be able to cover the birth of a new industry. But such is the case with the business of cannabis, which began to rear its head in Richmond toward the end of 2018 and is sure to continue to blossom in years to come. It gives us a new beat to follow and the potential tangents are fascinating. Here are the first three installments:
Local developer part of group vying for medical cannabis license
Meet the locals helping to bring medical cannabis to Richmond
Medical cannabis operation to sprout in Manchester
Height matters
The debate between two downtown rooftop bars caught our eye during the year, as both claimed to be the highest such venue in the city. BizSense intervened – with the help of a local civil engineer – and what followed was a fun story to report and write.
Hungry for a scoop
A hungry reporter is a force to be reckoned with. Here are our favorite food-related scoops that stood out this year.
Nick’s’ co-owner Manuel Mouris inside the West End market. (Mike Platania)
First was news of the downtown departure of Nick’s Greek deli, which packed up its Broad Street storefront after three decades and headed for the West End. A certain reporter on the BizSense staff truly misses being able to walk two blocks for a Nick’s meatball sub.
Then came the final chapter of the local cookie quarrel, as two rival cookie makers who happen to have shops across the street from one other in both Richmond and Charlottesville finally put to rest their year’s-long trademark dispute.
Covering another local restaurant that’s near and dear to the hearts of certain members of the BizSense staff, we got word of Chicken Fiesta’s plans for a new HQ on the Southside. As a bonus, we got an interview with the owner, who had proven elusive in the past.
Photo of the year
Finally, we end the year by recalling an otherwise quick-hit story about state brewery laws that was made that much more compelling by a fun photo featuring none other than the resident BizSense canine. Her predecessor was more of a newshound, but she’s arguably easier on the eyes.
Giselle at Triple Crossing’s downtown porch area. (Mike Platania)
Taking stock of what one has accomplished is a common exercise for folks this time of year.
But I’d argue that few professions allow one to so easily – and cathartically – retrace one’s steps over a calendar year than daily news reporting.
While everyone retains memories over 12 months’ time, the record of the BizSense reporting staff’s work in 2018 is forever etched in our archive, each story stamped with a date to be recalled at any moment. Those mile markers remind us how hard we work to feed the beast that is the daily deadline, while also helping us see in one large year’s-end overhead view the churn of the Richmond region’s business scene.
So as we take stock internally on another year, we share with you our list of favorite stories. These are our biggest scoops, best reporting, most memorable storytelling, catchiest headlines and the brightest of colorful characters (dogs included) that we documented in 2018.
Enjoy the look back. And to all loyal BizSense readers that helped make our 11th year in business yet another success: Thank you for allowing us to keep you in the know and for making our scrappy little business publication part of your daily lives.
Cheers and happy New Year.
Darn good reporting and storytelling
A reader emailed in, asking what had become of a financial incentive offered by the state to a growing local insurance company. A little digging resulted in a story we didn’t quite expect – which was that the company had lost track of its end of the deal and the state was looking at new ways to police the process.
From left: Dick Fowlkes, Missy Snyder, Kate Ackerly (Mike Platania)
Another tip that came from a reader resulted in an incredibly compelling tale of a popular West End menswear shop and how it had worked its way out of a state of e-commerce purgatory after 10 years. The story has it all: small business lessons learned, candid quotes and colorful neckties.
A tiny sliver of a legal notice printed in a local newspaper was the impetus for this story of an obsolete state building near the capitol that needs to go. But first the state is hoping someone wants to move the entire structure.
Virginia may be for lovers, but there was no love lost between the state’s tourism arm and a local online retailer who misappropriated the popular Virginia slogan. Re-read this story to be reminded of what happens when you get in the state’s crosshairs.
Fun with puns
Regular readers of BizSense know we like a good (and sometimes corny) pun. This word-play affinity has led us to trouble every so often, but most of the time helps us entertain ourselves while preventing nitty-gritty business news from being otherwise too cut-and-dry. Here are a few that stand out from the year:
Moving oolong: Tea shop trades Carytown for the Fan
A tell-tale restart for Poe Museum property
Code names
We love getting the jump on top-secret economic development deals in the region – the ones officials often discuss internally using code names. Our biggest get this year was to chip away at details of “Project River City,” a large industrial deal in Chesterfield, which we ultimately found out was being built for Pepsi. Spoiler alert: We couldn’t resist a few puns in this one, too.
CBD oil is derived from the marijuana plant.
The Richmond marijuana beat is born
It’s rare as a reporter to be able to cover the birth of a new industry. But such is the case with the business of cannabis, which began to rear its head in Richmond toward the end of 2018 and is sure to continue to blossom in years to come. It gives us a new beat to follow and the potential tangents are fascinating. Here are the first three installments:
Local developer part of group vying for medical cannabis license
Meet the locals helping to bring medical cannabis to Richmond
Medical cannabis operation to sprout in Manchester
Height matters
The debate between two downtown rooftop bars caught our eye during the year, as both claimed to be the highest such venue in the city. BizSense intervened – with the help of a local civil engineer – and what followed was a fun story to report and write.
Hungry for a scoop
A hungry reporter is a force to be reckoned with. Here are our favorite food-related scoops that stood out this year.
Nick’s’ co-owner Manuel Mouris inside the West End market. (Mike Platania)
First was news of the downtown departure of Nick’s Greek deli, which packed up its Broad Street storefront after three decades and headed for the West End. A certain reporter on the BizSense staff truly misses being able to walk two blocks for a Nick’s meatball sub.
Then came the final chapter of the local cookie quarrel, as two rival cookie makers who happen to have shops across the street from one other in both Richmond and Charlottesville finally put to rest their year’s-long trademark dispute.
Covering another local restaurant that’s near and dear to the hearts of certain members of the BizSense staff, we got word of Chicken Fiesta’s plans for a new HQ on the Southside. As a bonus, we got an interview with the owner, who had proven elusive in the past.
Photo of the year
Finally, we end the year by recalling an otherwise quick-hit story about state brewery laws that was made that much more compelling by a fun photo featuring none other than the resident BizSense canine. Her predecessor was more of a newshound, but she’s arguably easier on the eyes.
Giselle at Triple Crossing’s downtown porch area. (Mike Platania)
Another great year. Thanks, BizSense!
Another great year! Thanks BizSense.