Ledbury’s storefront at 315 W. Broad St. The menswear seller plans to shutter the store at the end of 2022 as it prepares to relocate its operations to a new, yet-to-be-determined location. (BizSense file photo)
A local menswear brand is ready to try on something new after six years in the Arts District.
Ledbury expects to shutter its store at 315 W. Broad St. at the end of the year. The company plans to reopen its brick-and-mortar store elsewhere this spring, though it hasn’t inked a lease yet, CEO Paul Trible said in an interview Tuesday.
The company is considering Carytown, Short Pump and the Libbie-Grove area for its move. Trible said there’s a shortlist of spaces but declined to provide greater specifics.
Ledbury wants to get closer to its customer base and in a high foot-traffic area. The new space would be a retail store and home to the company’s offices and clothing workshop, as is the case with the downtown location the company plans to vacate.
The move comes as Trible said foot traffic in the Arts District hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. With Ledbury’s current lease set to expire in January, he felt it was time to find the business a new home.
“Traffic continues to be significantly down and that has affected sales at the store,” he said, adding that online sales, which account for the majority of the company’s business, are strong.
“We’re optimistic about where the business is,” he said. “We want people to have a store experience to test out and try out the clothing. We need a place with high traffic to introduce customers to Ledbury.”
Ledbury co-founders Paul Trible (left) and Paul Watson. (Photo courtesy of Ledbury)
Trible co-founded Ledbury with Paul Watson in 2009. The company opened its first store in 2011 at 117 S. 14th St. in Shockoe Slip. That location moved in 2016 to the current Broad Street spot, which is owned by the Ukrop family. Ledbury’s arrival at the time was part of an influx of new businesses to the neighborhood, including the Ukrops’ Quirk Hotel.
It currently leases 5,000 square feet in the building, which includes a 3,000-square-foot, ground-level retail space. The company occupied more than twice that square footage in the building when it first moved there, but has since trimmed its footprint.
Ledbury has 17 employees, and Trible estimated the workforce is split about 60-40 between remote workers (some based locally and others out-of-town) and people who regularly work on-premises.
Currently, Ledbury’s Richmond store is its only brick-and-mortar location. In the past it has operated stores in Westhampton, Short Pump Town Center, New York City and the D.C. area.
In July, the company launched its so-named made-to-order service for shirts. The program offers online sales of customizable shirts but stops short of the higher level of personalization offered through its bespoke, made-to-measure shirt making service.
Ledbury also plans to introduce in the spring a new collection of loafers and other footwear under its Tangier shoe brand, which launched last year. New boots are expected to follow in the fall.
Ledbury’s storefront at 315 W. Broad St. The menswear seller plans to shutter the store at the end of 2022 as it prepares to relocate its operations to a new, yet-to-be-determined location. (BizSense file photo)
A local menswear brand is ready to try on something new after six years in the Arts District.
Ledbury expects to shutter its store at 315 W. Broad St. at the end of the year. The company plans to reopen its brick-and-mortar store elsewhere this spring, though it hasn’t inked a lease yet, CEO Paul Trible said in an interview Tuesday.
The company is considering Carytown, Short Pump and the Libbie-Grove area for its move. Trible said there’s a shortlist of spaces but declined to provide greater specifics.
Ledbury wants to get closer to its customer base and in a high foot-traffic area. The new space would be a retail store and home to the company’s offices and clothing workshop, as is the case with the downtown location the company plans to vacate.
The move comes as Trible said foot traffic in the Arts District hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. With Ledbury’s current lease set to expire in January, he felt it was time to find the business a new home.
“Traffic continues to be significantly down and that has affected sales at the store,” he said, adding that online sales, which account for the majority of the company’s business, are strong.
“We’re optimistic about where the business is,” he said. “We want people to have a store experience to test out and try out the clothing. We need a place with high traffic to introduce customers to Ledbury.”
Ledbury co-founders Paul Trible (left) and Paul Watson. (Photo courtesy of Ledbury)
Trible co-founded Ledbury with Paul Watson in 2009. The company opened its first store in 2011 at 117 S. 14th St. in Shockoe Slip. That location moved in 2016 to the current Broad Street spot, which is owned by the Ukrop family. Ledbury’s arrival at the time was part of an influx of new businesses to the neighborhood, including the Ukrops’ Quirk Hotel.
It currently leases 5,000 square feet in the building, which includes a 3,000-square-foot, ground-level retail space. The company occupied more than twice that square footage in the building when it first moved there, but has since trimmed its footprint.
Ledbury has 17 employees, and Trible estimated the workforce is split about 60-40 between remote workers (some based locally and others out-of-town) and people who regularly work on-premises.
Currently, Ledbury’s Richmond store is its only brick-and-mortar location. In the past it has operated stores in Westhampton, Short Pump Town Center, New York City and the D.C. area.
In July, the company launched its so-named made-to-order service for shirts. The program offers online sales of customizable shirts but stops short of the higher level of personalization offered through its bespoke, made-to-measure shirt making service.
Ledbury also plans to introduce in the spring a new collection of loafers and other footwear under its Tangier shoe brand, which launched last year. New boots are expected to follow in the fall.
Might as well say “pre-riot levels.”
It would be more accurate to say “pre Pulse construction levels” since that killed the area for walk up and drive up business.
Bingo. Most Richmonders would rather pretend like the reason Broad Street has been wound back on the clock to the glorious 1980s is for some reason other than the 2020 riots. Just keep telling yourselves that.
They get an “A” for effort; amazed they located the store here in the first place- a huge disconnect between target customer and location.
Peter Blair storefront?
The apartments won’t be done in the Arts District for another 2-3 years. It will be our greatest asset again in due time. Anything but Short Pump.
They have store at Short Pump Town Center; it has been open over a year and is listed on their website. So they would be closing and consolidating that store if they move to Short Pump?
That store has been closed for over a year in Short Pump
This is the real “Richmond Real” example of the fine work of the City administration and its policies. Don’t forget City has, during and since Covid, continued to increase meter parking areas and increased parking costs too I hope they at least stay in the City.
First, I’d like to thank Ledbury for opening and operating in the Arts District. I enjoyed having them as a tenant and neighbor. We are sorry to see them leave. Regarding Broad Street, yes there have been some challenges the last few years. But, things are moving in the right direction! Just on the 200 and 300 blocks of West Broad, retailers such as Verdalina, Mod and Soul, Jolene, are doing just fine. Galleries include Quirk, Candela, 1708, ADA and Black Iris. Hospitality is ever present with Quirk Hotel (and The Lobby Bar), Common House (and Birdies), Lift Coffee and… Read more »
I’m sorry to see Ledbury leave too but retail landscapes change and yes, Ted, we are resilient and most importantly, committed. Being a native Richmonder, I love contributing to the renaissance of downtown and being Quirk’s neighbor.
Folks have been talking about the promise of Broad Street for about 35 years now….
It seems to me that many people seem to actively root for the City of Richmond to fail. The city government has it’s issues and problems, but I believe they do want what is best for the city. As for demonstrations and riots, there is no better choice than a city center, any city center of that matter. I hardly think demonstrators would take to Midlothian turnpike or Parham road. Odious as riots are, they happen in cities. Without the city of Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield wouldn’t be a quarter of the size they are now. What’s good for Richmond… Read more »
I am so sorry to hear this. They opened on S. 14th about the time I moved to Richmond and I have always loved the shirts, the service, and the setting. The Broad Street store was a wonderful addition to the neighborhood/city and done remarkably well. A storefront that would be right at home in a NYC or Chicago. They will be missed.
so you don’t mention that they got looted? you don’t mention the arson along broad street? you don’t mention the shootings and crime along that stretch of broad? you don’t mention the motorcycle gangs tearing up and down broad? great reporting.
There are shooting in Hanover and on Parham Road, so if shooting bother you then promote gun control and don’t worry about downtown.
Also “motorcycle gangs” is a huge stretch to call a bunch of kids joy riding. They also ride up and down Broad in Henrico.
They did not loot the Ledbury though they did smash the window. It was surprising to see merchandise within inches of the open window untouched.
may not have been the business casual crowd out there 😉
Thank goodness there was no violence or destruction of property during the riots!
He could mention hurricanes, floods and pestilence but if it didn’t factor into the reasons they are moving why would it be relevant? How bout you leave the reporting to the reporters and you stick to Fox News talking points?
How dare you result to reason and common sense in the RBS comment section!