A U.S. Senate panel is considering tobacco legislation today that would ban certain cigarette flavorings including cherry, chocolate and cloves. In what may be a surprise to some, leading tobacco product producer Altria supports the ban. The company has negotiated with anti-smoking advocates and lawmakers to reach a compromise on the bill. The ban exempts… Read more »
Al Harris
Study says city support needed for ballpark
After reviewing the results of a $100,000 economic feasibility study, Mayor Dwight Jones still isn’t quite ready to greenlight a $318 million mixed-use project in Shockoe Bottom.
Monday Q&A: Why are local banks merging like crazy?
Within the last month, six Virginia banks have paired up faster than high schoolers on prom night. For the Monday Q&A, RBS sits down with two banking consultants and asks what the mergers may mean for local business, and whether local banks have buyer’s remorse about taking TARP money.
Area sales still slipping
Local spending is still in the doldrums, down about 6.4% in the first quarter compared with the same time a year ago. But some sectors of the consumer economy are seeing a sales increase, and a few others are showing signs of improvement.
Two local Chrysler dealerships part of nationwide cut
Two of the area’s Chrysler dealerships will be closed by the automaker, according to a list of 789 that appeared Thursday morning as part of Chrysler’s bankruptcy proceedings. And the pain is going to get worse. GM is announcing today dealerships it will close. One source has said that could be three to five in… Read more »
The Pipeline: Commercial Real Estate Round Up for 5.15.09
Beadletter LLC purchased the 5,000-square-foot office/warehouse at 10994 Leadbetter Road in Henrico from Arbor Recycling Company. Dora’s Brazilian Grill leased 2,900 square feet at 1323-1333 E. Cary St. in Richmond.
Foreclosure at Midlothian development
A lender is forcing a foreclosure sale for part of a massive mixed-use project in Chesterfield County.
Dry cleaner goes pro bono for jobless
If you can’t find a job, at least you can have a clean suit. Puritan Cleaners is offering free dry cleaning to unemployed workers through the end of August. Customers who bring a letter from the Virginia Unemployment Commission or their previous employer can have a suit and two dress shirts, or two regular dresses,… Read more »
New lease on life for Cold Storage plant
The first of five turn-of-the-century industrial buildings to be turned into apartments is six weeks away from completion. The development is a $50 million project of Historic Housing, the same group that developed 17th Street Lofts and The Lofts at Canal Walk. The apartments start at around $900 a month.
Circuit City back on-line?
Systemax, Inc. has won a bankruptcy auction to acquire Circuity City’s intellectual property and its e-commerce business, according to a Reuters. The deal is still subject to approval by the bankruptcy court in Richmond, which is scheduled to decide tomorrow. Systemax, which also owns CompUSA and TigerDirect, originally offered a bid of $6.5 million plus… Read more »