Stony Point Fashion Park recently received approval from the ABC to launch an open-container policy to allow patrons to consume alcoholic beverages in to-go cups while they walk around the mall. (BizSense file)
Stony Point Fashion Park recently got the OK from the state to allow visitors to drink alcoholic beverages while they walk around the South Richmond mall.
Its new open-container policy will be initiated on Monday, said Howard Levine of Second Horizon, the real estate investment firm that owns the mall.
Under the program, which is allowed through the Virginia ABC’s commercial lifestyle center license, Stony Point’s restaurant tenants will be able to serve to-go alcoholic drinks to be consumed on the mall premises. People will be able to drink their beverages in the mall’s public areas, as well inside the mall’s non-restaurant tenants that will allow it.
Only the mall’s tenants with ABC licenses will be able to serve to-go drinks and participation is voluntary. Stony Point itself won’t be selling alcohol. The drinks will be served in to-go cups that are branded with the restaurant’s name or logo.
The tenants currently expected to participate are P. F. Chang’s, Latitude Seafood Co., Eggspectation, Stumpy’s Hatchet House, CineBistro and Verseau Bistro, Levine said.
While the program kicks off Monday, Levine anticipated not every restaurant in the mall would be ready to go on that day as some tenants were still waiting on their orders of usable to-go cups.
Second Horizon is betting that the open-container policy will give Stony Point more momentum as it works to reverse the fortunes of the mall that has in recent years struggled to retain tenants and attract customers.
Joe Szymczak, who opened the Stumpy’s axe-throwing range in the mall in 2021, said he was receptive to the open-container policy as a means to drive more visitation.
“I think it’s a very good thing and I’m happy for Stony Point to be going down this path,” said Szymczak. I hope it brings in more foot traffic. We’re happy to be a part of it.”
Stumpy’s offers both wine and beer. Szymczak said he wasn’t sure precisely when Stumpy’s would start to participate in the to-go alcohol sales but that the venue would likely start off by selling beer through the program.
Stony Point submitted the ABC application for the commercial lifestyle center permit in June and received approval last week. The mall’s cross-river rival Short Pump Town Center filed an application for its own open-container permit about a year ago. The Henrico mall’s application was still listed as pending on the ABC’s website on Tuesday.
Second Horizon, which is based in Florida, bought Stony Point for $14.6 million in April 2022. Anchor tenants at the mall are Dillard’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.
In the last few months, art studio space Zero Empty Spaces, restaurant Lyra’s Natural Kitchen and Big Bear Coin & Collectible have opened at Stony Point.
The new open container offering coincides with more event programming being rolled out at the mall by Second Horizon. In August, Stony Point started to host Cars & Coffees, a local car show that makes a bi-weekly appearance at the mall’s parking lot. Coming up is the mall’s annual Howl-O-Ween event in late October, which predates the current ownership.
Stony Point Fashion Park recently received approval from the ABC to launch an open-container policy to allow patrons to consume alcoholic beverages in to-go cups while they walk around the mall. (BizSense file)
Stony Point Fashion Park recently got the OK from the state to allow visitors to drink alcoholic beverages while they walk around the South Richmond mall.
Its new open-container policy will be initiated on Monday, said Howard Levine of Second Horizon, the real estate investment firm that owns the mall.
Under the program, which is allowed through the Virginia ABC’s commercial lifestyle center license, Stony Point’s restaurant tenants will be able to serve to-go alcoholic drinks to be consumed on the mall premises. People will be able to drink their beverages in the mall’s public areas, as well inside the mall’s non-restaurant tenants that will allow it.
Only the mall’s tenants with ABC licenses will be able to serve to-go drinks and participation is voluntary. Stony Point itself won’t be selling alcohol. The drinks will be served in to-go cups that are branded with the restaurant’s name or logo.
The tenants currently expected to participate are P. F. Chang’s, Latitude Seafood Co., Eggspectation, Stumpy’s Hatchet House, CineBistro and Verseau Bistro, Levine said.
While the program kicks off Monday, Levine anticipated not every restaurant in the mall would be ready to go on that day as some tenants were still waiting on their orders of usable to-go cups.
Second Horizon is betting that the open-container policy will give Stony Point more momentum as it works to reverse the fortunes of the mall that has in recent years struggled to retain tenants and attract customers.
Joe Szymczak, who opened the Stumpy’s axe-throwing range in the mall in 2021, said he was receptive to the open-container policy as a means to drive more visitation.
“I think it’s a very good thing and I’m happy for Stony Point to be going down this path,” said Szymczak. I hope it brings in more foot traffic. We’re happy to be a part of it.”
Stumpy’s offers both wine and beer. Szymczak said he wasn’t sure precisely when Stumpy’s would start to participate in the to-go alcohol sales but that the venue would likely start off by selling beer through the program.
Stony Point submitted the ABC application for the commercial lifestyle center permit in June and received approval last week. The mall’s cross-river rival Short Pump Town Center filed an application for its own open-container permit about a year ago. The Henrico mall’s application was still listed as pending on the ABC’s website on Tuesday.
Second Horizon, which is based in Florida, bought Stony Point for $14.6 million in April 2022. Anchor tenants at the mall are Dillard’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.
In the last few months, art studio space Zero Empty Spaces, restaurant Lyra’s Natural Kitchen and Big Bear Coin & Collectible have opened at Stony Point.
The new open container offering coincides with more event programming being rolled out at the mall by Second Horizon. In August, Stony Point started to host Cars & Coffees, a local car show that makes a bi-weekly appearance at the mall’s parking lot. Coming up is the mall’s annual Howl-O-Ween event in late October, which predates the current ownership.
There’s nothing like a cocktail to pick up sales of softgoods. That mall could use a lift in many ways. It’s struggled competing with Short Pump but which mall has not? Regency and Virginia Center Commons have reinvented themselves after hitting rock bottom real estate values. It’s time Stony Point does as well. Willow Lawn continually evolves and thrives. Chesterfield Town Center appears to be doing well too.Those three malls—SP, WL, and CTC—and Cary Street in the city—are the four success stories of this millenial in Richmond retail.
Yeah, I like to go to the Habitat for Humanity and my daughter likes the bookstore in CTC so I always look at the parking lots — they tend to look good, not Short Pump good, but good.
I have to admit that I have always been a bit confused about SPFP so I don’t have anything else to say about it or the plans.
Stony Point needs/needed another entrance / connectivity to the real “Stony Point” area. I think they could have done it without affecting nearby neighborhoods. BUT I think that ship sailed a long time ago.
Between residential resistance and engineering issues (remember the mall is lower elevation that surrounding the mall. Plus all the new homes still going in off Stony Point Road and on Carriage Stone and Laura Ct the walking path will always be the only connection.
I like the names they makeup for things,”commercial lifestyle center permit”.
Because they got jealous of all the fun and hilarity the airlines are having with drunk Americans in public spaces?
How exactly can anyone prevent someone from taking a “To Go Cup” and getting in their car with an alcoholic beverage.? If there’s an accident will the restaurant with its name on the cup be held liable?
I doubt this will be helpful in saving the mall.
How can 7-11 or an ABC store prevent someone from opening their purchase and chugging it in their car or while they are driving? They can’t – that’s what the open container and DUI laws are for. Also, in Virginia restaurants can’t be held liable bc “dram shop” liability is not recognized under our laws.
Brian, you do realize restaurants have been able to sell to go alcohol since 2020, right? Just like how it’s easy to mix an alcoholic drink at home and put it in a reusable cup to drink while driving? I give them credit for adding more to the customer experience.
On Black Friday with people camping out overnight waiting for the stores to open they can now serve them alcohol before the mad rush for sale items. What could go wrong? Defund security guards.
Have you been to Stony Point in the last 10 years? They do not have people camping out on Black Friday. The mall is dead.
You’re missing his point.
Pretty sure it wasn’t a missed point, just a bad one.
I always thought this mall had so much potential. It had restaurants and a nice movie theater… it allowed dogs… easy parking, etc. But it was mostly extremely expensive stores… brooks brothers and saks 5th avenue being the only men’s clothing stores for example. needed more stores that people could actually afford while walking around with their dogs and cocktails. Unfortunately, they waited too long and when the expensive stores started closing, the more affordable ones didn’t want to move in anymore.
Signs of desperation. I doubt this will help much. SPFP will be closed in two years.
This mall was doomed prior to the first brick being laid. Nothing is going to help it- the location is the most bizarre one could select within the city of Richmond- it’s not possible to hide it more. I sincerely doubt they would garner more foot traffic if they were giving the alcohol for free…
It almost seemed like Stony Point was doomed from the start – IIRC, their opening weekend was when Hurricane Isabel rolled through RVA. Not a good way to start when there’s no power for 2 weeks! My wife and I used to shop there on a pretty regular basis – I had a corporate discount for Brooks Brothers and my wife liked the Sur la Table kitchen store…We would occasionally eat at PF Chang’s and Brio. We stopped going over time and I can’t remember the last time I was there…Short Pump area eats up most of our shopping time… Read more »
Just by itself the drinks thing isn’t going to save Stony Point. But if they are smart it could do a lot , if they fully commit to it. First, add reliable public transport to discourage drinking and driving. Maybe like the old “TO the bottom and back” bus. Second, go all in. Have some places have dedicated “to go” windows, or have bartenders set up on the patios of some places. You want to make it a seamless experience, not having people waiting around in restaurants. Third, go top shelf and sell drinks that are more likely to be… Read more »