Sign In
Free Newsletter
The Pharrell factor
Some celebrities seem to forget their roots. Fortunately for Hampton Roads, Pharrell Williams is not that kind of star. The Grammy-winning musician with a worldwide following has invested in the area repeatedly over the past several years and is poised to continue. Even as his career took a new path this year when he was [&helli[...]
Buc-ee’s buys land for second Va. location
A second Buc-ee’s Super Center is coming to Virginia along a busy stretch of highway in Shenandoah Valley near Mount Crawford. Buc-ee’s Mt. Crawford LLC purchased 21.3 acres located at the intersection of Interstate 81 and Friedens Church Road in Rockingham County from Lispen LLC for $6.6 million, Norfolk-based S.L Nusba[...]
Richmond lodge appeals court’s casino ruling
A Richmond nonprofit organization is continuing its effort to block the city’s do-over casino referendum — even though the measure is already on ballots and early voting is underway. Richmond Lodge No. 1 of the Good Lions this week filed a notice to appeal an August decision by a Richmond Circuit Court judge who ruled [&[...]
Hotel revenue still up, but shows signs of softening
Virginia’s hotel industry revenues remain above pre-pandemic levels but are beginning to show a softening. That’s according to a report from Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy released Tuesday. According to the center’s analysis of data from STR, a division of CoStar Group that provides market data on the U.S. hospitality […]
Fed Fifth District economy grows slightly
The economy in the Federal Reserve’s Fifth District (a multistate region including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland) grew slightly in recent weeks, according to the latest edition of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, released Wednesday. Published eight times per year, the Beige Book is ba[...]
Richmond casino reintroduced with new name
The corporate backers of a $562 million Richmond casino on Thursday unveiled a new name for the resort casino city voters will consider approving this fall: Richmond Grand Resort & Casino. But not much else appears to be new about the proposed project. Many of the features of the proposed ONE Casino + Resort that […]
New federal per diem rates provide bump for hotels
The federal government’s fiscal 2024 per diem reimbursement rates — released Aug. 16 by the General Services Administration — will largely benefit Virginia’s hotels, but not necessarily its restaurants. The continental United States (CONUS) rates — dictating lodging allowances and meals and incidental expenses (M&I[...]
Ruling clears way again for Richmond casino referendum
A Richmond Circuit Court judge issued another ruling Wednesday clearing the way for a Richmond casino referendum to appear on ballots this November. Richmond Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant ruled against the Richmond Lodge No. 1 of the Good Lions Inc., a nonprofit organization that had filed a motion to block the casino v[...]
Va. hotel revenues up, rooms sold still lower than 2019
Virginia’s hotel industry is continuing its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but revenue increases are being driven by high room rates, rather than more travelers. That’s according to a report released Friday by Old Dominion University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy. According to the cente[...]
Henrico County, Markel|Eagle acquire land for GreenCity
Henrico County and an affiliate of Markel|Eagle Partners LLC came to an agreement Thursday to purchase the 110-acre Scott Farm property, which will be a key part of the $2.3 billion mixed-use GreenCity development, for $35.1 million. First proposed in December 2020, GreenCity plans to include what is billed as the nation’s[...]
Richmond casino returning to Nov. ballots
It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court have approved Richmond’s do-over casino referendum to appear on ballots this fall. “I am excited to see the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court approve the referendum for a Richmond destination resort and entertainment[...]
Magic Johnson won’t rule out renaming Commanders
Could the Washington Commanders get a new name? NBA legend Magic Johnson, one of the Ashburn-based NFL team’s new co-owners, wouldn’t rule out the possibility during an interview Friday morning with Craig Melvin on NBC’s “Today” show. “Everything is on the table, right? Especially after the la[...]
