Pembroke Mall to get makeover
Hanging out at the mall may soon take on new meaning in Virginia Beach. Within a few years, Pembroke Mall could be home to thousands of apartment dwellers as part of a $200 million makeover of the vintage 54-acre retail property announced in November 2021. “All we’re doing is changing with what the customer desires,” [&hel[...]
Italian olive oil company to open first U.S. facility in Newport News
Certified Origins, an Italian producer of extra virgin olive oil, will invest $25 million to establish its first U.S. production facility in Newport News, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced in a news release Wednesday. The move is expected to produce 30 jobs. The company’s operations in the city’s Oakland Industrial Park [...]
Super Chix to open 10 locations in Va.
Super Chix Chicken & Custard, a Dallas-based chicken sandwich franchise, plans to open 10 locations in Virginia, beginning with one in Williamsburg, the company announced March 23. Virginia Beach-based management and development company S2K Hospitality will open the first restaurant in Williamsburg’s Midtown Row in the[...]
Perdue AgriBusiness plans $59M Chesapeake expansion
Perdue AgriBusiness will invest $59.1 million and expand operations in the city of Chesapeake, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office announced Thursday. The company, an affiliate of Perdue Farms Inc., will modernize facilities and increase production of high protein soybean meal, soybean oil and hulls. The expansion will position P[...]
Norfolk Tourism Foundation names new director
The Norfolk Tourism Foundation and VisitNorfolk announced Thursday that Kelsey Backe is the foundation’s new director. “I am thrilled to be able to join the Norfolk Tourism Foundation and to put my skills to use supporting our current hospitality workers, our future hospitality workers and tourism research initiatives that w[...]
Smithfield Foods donates $2M to Ukraine relief efforts
Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc. announced a $2 million donation to relief efforts in Ukraine Monday. The nation’s largest pork processor and hog producer donated $250,000 each to the Global Red Cross Network, Mercy Chefs, Save the Children and World Central Kitchen. “Like the rest of the world, we are humbled an[...]
CowanGates opens Williamsburg office
Richmond-based law firm CowanGates has expanded to Williamsburg and opened a new office, the firm announced March 17. The new office is located at 439 W. Duke of Gloucester St., and will initially focus on real estate law, including contract and closing negotiations, construction and permanent financing, easement agreements, cov[...]
Va. Beach insurance agency taps CFO
Shawn McArdle is Choice Financial Group’s new chief financial officer, the Virginia Beach-based insurance agency announced Wednesday. “Shawn’s ability to provide financial leadership allows Choice’s senior management team to focus on identifying the right partners for the platform,” Choice President Ric[...]
ODU and IALR to launch manufacturing engineering tech degree
Old Dominion University will launch Virginia’s first four-year degree in manufacturing engineering technology (MfgET) at its Norfolk campus and a satellite campus at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, the university announced Thursday. “This partnership reinforces Old Dominion University’s[...]
Action sports festival coming to Va. Beach
One of Canada’s largest action sporting events, the Jackalope Festival, will make its U.S. debut in Virginia Beach in June 2023, Mayor Bobby Dyer announced Wednesday at the annual State of the City address. “Get ready for Jackalope!” Dyer shouted enthusiastically before a crowd of about 1,000 people gathered at[...]
Smithfield Foods division makes new medical device
Smithfield Foods Inc.’s Cincinnati-based porcine-derived medical products unit, Smithfield BioScience, and Atlanta-based medical device company BioCircuit Technologies announced Wednesday that the two will produce a medical device for nerve repair after traumatic injuries. The device, called Nerve Tape, will allow nerve repair[...]
New VP named at Huntington Ingalls Industries
Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries has named Paul C. Harris as its executive vice president and chief sustainability and compliance officer. The move represents an expanded role for Harris, who has served as the shipbuilder’s chief compliance officer since 2020. In his new role, Harris will oversee the compa[...]