Retaining walls
With COVID-19 limiting travel and site visits for companies considering coming to Hampton Roads, economic development officials focused on shoring up existing businesses in 2021. That strategy appears to have paid off, judging by the number of companies expanding throughout the region. “2021 has been a banner year for us,” says Norfolk Economic Development Director […]
Tilting toward windmills
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy S.A.’s October 2021 announcement that it will build the nation’s first offshore-wind blade factory at Portsmouth Marine Terminal has put Hampton Roads on a trajectory to become a supply chain hub for the country’s nascent offshore wind energy industry. The Spanish wind turbine company is investing $200 million to build the […]
Virginia Beach medical building sells for $21M
A medical office building in Virginia Beach sold for $21 million, Nashville, Tennessee-based buyer Montecito Medical Real Estate announced Thursday. Located at 1717 Will O’ Wisp Drive, the two-story Beach Medical Pavilion has 52,000 square feet. Its tenants are Gastroenterology Ltd. of Virginia Beach and OrthoVirginia. The property is across the street from Sentara Virginia […]
Va. Beach shopping center sells for $5.9M
The Indian River Shopping Center in Virginia Beach has been sold for $5.9 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Wednesday. JFS Real Estate LLC purchased the 89,189-square-foot shopping center from Indian River Shopping Center Land LLC as an investment. The shopping center, which includes a Food Lion and Burlington, is located at 880 S. […]
DroneUp taps former NFL exec as board chair
Virginia Beach-based DroneUp LLC announced Tuesday that former NFL executive Eric Grubman is the company’s new board chairman. “Eric is incredibly respected across many business sectors for his tremendous vision, insight and passion for technology,” DroneUp CEO and founder Tom Walker said in a statement. “We are truly fortunate to have him as our chairman […]
Va. Beach launches small biz loan program
The Virginia Beach Small Business Capital Access Program is offering loans of $15,000 to $25,000 to small businesses, with no payments required for the first six months. The program, which is a collaboration between the Virginia Beach Economic Development Department and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC) of Hampton Roads, provides $400,000 in zero-interest loans […]
Va. Beach industrial building sells for $6.79M
An industrial building in Virginia Beach has sold for $6.79 million, Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer reported. The 69,120-square-foot industrial building is located on 3.93 acres at 5740 Bayside Road, near Norfolk International Airport in the Airport Industrial Park. It was built in 1975 and renovated in 2015 and has six loading docks. 5740 Bayside […]
The Visionary
The online version of this article includes additional material from Virginia Business’ interview with Pharrell Williams. Pharrell Williams is a 13-time Grammy winner, an Oscar nominee, a fashion designer, a film producer, a music superstar and innovator. He’s also a native Virginian — a point that comes across strongly when he discusses his business ventures […]
Hilb Group founder to lead acquisitions for Virginia Beach firm
Robert “Bob” Hilb will lead mergers and acquisitions at Virginia Beach-based insurance agency Choice Financial Group and continue to serve as a senior adviser and board member, the company announced Wednesday. “Bob’s experience and knowledge assisted my agency in achieving 700% growth from 2018 to 2021,” Richard Braun, Choice president and founder, said in a […]
Ore. vacation rental company buys two Va. Beach businesses
Portland, Oregon-based vacation rental management company Vacasa announced Monday it had acquired two Virginia Beach companies: Sandbridge Realty and Beach Pros Realty. Vacasa did not disclose financial details of the transactions. The acquisitions mark Vacasa’s entry into Virginia. “Virginia Beach is a highly sought-after East Coast vacation spot. …The homes managed by Sandbridge Realty and[...]
Breeden Co. names new president and CEO
More than 60 years after Ramon W. Breeden Jr. founded his Virginia Beach-based real estate development company, The Breeden Co. has new leadership. Chief Operating Officer Timothy Faulkner has been promoted as the company’s next president and CEO, after more than 20 years with the Virginia Beach-based company, and Breeden, who founded the company in […]
Va. Beach vacation company acquired by Calif. company
Mill Valley, California-based Vacatia Inc. has acquired Virginia Beach-based hospitality and vacation ownership company VSA Resorts, the timeshare owner and property management services provider announced Jan. 3. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. VSA owns three Virginia Beach properties: Ocean Key Resort, Atrium Resort and Ocean Sands Resort. The company also manages wholly-[...]