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VCU foundation buys former Ukrop’s for $9 million

The VCU Real Estate Foundation purchased the former Ukrop’s store and parking lot at Grace and Harrison streets for more than four times what a previous investor paid in 2002. The purchase price is three times the property’s assessed value, according to city land records. The purchase was completed Dec. 23. The foundation is a… Read more »

Interns take financial message to the web

Virginia Tech student Ben Jones, 21, said he has made many financial mistakes in the past.  His grandmother once gave him a gift of $200. He spent it all in a day. “If I had put in the savings account … I’d be better off today,” Jones said. Now an intern at the Richmond-based investment… Read more »

Ukrop’s puts brakes on gas promotion

In an unusual newspaper advertisement, Ukrop’s supermarkets told shoppers Monday that it was reducing its fuelperks! promotion, which allowed motorists to get a discount of $.10 a gallon when they flashed their Ukrop’s card at participating gas stations. Now motorists can get only get $.05 off a gallon of gas. The full-page ad first appeared… Read more »

The key to success in 2009

This might just be the year of the small business, but buckle up: Things will likely get worse before they get better. Economists often say that each high-paying job at a manufacturing plant or corporate headquarters creates three other jobs. After all, someone has to do the dry cleaning and cook the restaurant meals. So… Read more »

Business owners look forward to ‘09

Before the bubbly started flowing, BizSense asked a few local business owners about their resolutions were for 2009. Here are the responses:

Contractors awaiting payment for work in Short Pump

Work continues at the mixed-use complex of West Broad Village in Short Pump, but several contractors have filed liens to make sure they get paid. Since October, seven companies have filed nine mechanic’s liens totaling more than $3.7 million against property owned by Unicorp National Development, the Florida-based developer of West Broad Village.

UR business dean leaving for GMU

Three and a half years ago Jorge Haddock became the dean of the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond, but he won’t be there much longer. Haddock accepted an offer earlier this month from George Mason University in Fairfax to become the new dean of their School of Management. The GMU board… Read more »

Liquor sales up, but more drink at home

For many Virginians, it looks like hard liquor isn’t considered discretionary spending. Sales at Virginia ABC stores are up 6.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago, according to fiscal year-to-date (July-November) sales figures from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Most searched car: Still a Honda

CarMax released a list of the 10 most-searched vehicles on its website for 2008. The Honda Accord was No. 1 for the third year in a row, followed by the Honda Civic. Three vehicles made by U.S. companies made the list: the Ford Mustang at No. 4, the Chevrolet Tahoe at No. 6 and the… Read more »

Shockoe Bottom firehouse part of block-wide plan

A derelict block in Shockoe Bottom is about to get a major makeover. A group of local developers plans to turn the block into a mixed-use development with more than 200 residential units, 12,000 square feet of retail space and a restaurant. Construction could start next month. Developer Marcus Galt has spent the past two… Read more »