December 25, 2024

The entrance to Strangeways Brewing from the High Street parking lot. Wilford Kale/freelance
Richmond-based Strangeways Brewing has opened its fourth brewing tasting room in Williamsburg in the High Street shopping area.
Although it operates breweries in Richmond and Fredericksburg, no beer will be brewed locally.
In addition to Strangeways’ own products, the Williamsburg tasting room on Richmond Road will offer more than 36 beers, including IPAs, Lagers, Belgians, Stouts, Porters, Sours and Wilds. Also available will be specialties and non-alcoholic beers, along with cider, spiked sparkling seltzer and wine.
Strangeways founder Neil Burton has always been interested in beers and traveled the world tasting them. Initially, he wanted “to create a new brand of beer utilizing another’s existing brewing facility, often referred to as alternating proprietorship,” according to the company’s history. However, he found out that the law would now allow for such an arrangement.
So, he worked to change the state law and it worked. However “by the time the bill had passed Virginia’s mushrooming craft beer industry had experienced historic growth and breweries no longer had the capacity to make their space available to others,” the history said.
After more than three years of research and business planning Burton decided it was time for him to open his own brewery. So, in 2013, Strangeways Brewery opened its first Richmond location. In 2017, the company’s second brewery opened in Fredericksburg. A Strangeways Tasting Room opened in 2019 in in Richmond.
The Williamsburg tasting room, managed by Scott Collett, and an outdoor biergarten will be open from 2-9 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 12-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12-8 p.m. on Sunday.
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After nearly 60 years in business, Master Cleaners at 1012 Richmond Road closed its operations on Sept. 15, according to a company employee.
It is not known what the owner, Demetrios Florakis, plans to do at the site. Mark Griggs sold the land and business to Florakis in August 2021 after working since 1978 with the cleaning operation begun by his father, Bill, in 1963.
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Child Development Resources (CDR) has received a $5,350,000 grant for support and targeted services of the Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network, according to a news release.
The Virginia Department of Education awarded the competitive grant with federal funds from the Administration for Children & Families, Department of Health and Human Services.
“The funding helps empower and strengthen care and education programs to enhance the healthy social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth and development of infants and toddlers through collaboration with families and the community,” the release said.
Funding is designed to support the existing Infant & Toddler Specialist Network’s training, technical assistance and coaching of families, child care programs and family child care homes across the state.
Initially the grant is for one year, ending June 30, 2023, but could be extended annually through June 30, 2025.
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· Chick-fil-A restaurant in Monticello Marketplace has opened in its its new building, but for drive-thru business only. Inside seating will be available when new parking has been constructed.
The former Burger King property was purchased by Chick-fil-A and earlier this year the building was torn down and a new, larger Chick-fil-A restaurant was built. In the plans approved by James City County, the old Chick-fil-A building was to be torn down and a new greatly expanded parking lot constructed to facilitate the increasing drive-thru business.
· Construction is underway for the expansion of ALDI, a discount grocery store at 1504 Richmond Road in Williamsburg..
The 2,542-square-foot addition required additional parking spaces, which were secured under an agreement with the adjacent Discount Tire store.
· Excell Fitness, a franchisee of Planet Fitness, has announced the acquisition of 14 Planet Fitness locations in the Hampton Roads area from the KSMA group, owned and operated by Ryder family.
Among the Planet Fitness’ assets is a New Town project in James City County that was originally American Family Fitness, which closed in mid-June. The 26,357-square-foot space is now being totally renovated into a Planet Fitness center and could be open before the end of the year.
· Maidenform, a women’s undergarment store, is closing and will merge with another shop, Hanes Brand, in the Premium Outlets in James City County. Hanes is the parent company of Maidenform. The difficulty of obtaining staff is one of the primary reasons for the closure, company officials acknowledged.
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Nate Johnson of Yorktown, a senior vice president, wealth management advisor and senior retirement benefits consultant for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, has been recognized among the nation’s 1,000 next-generation wealth managers in the 2022 Forbes “Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors” list.

A 2006 graduate of Virginia Tech, he earned a master’s in business administration from William & Mary. He also completed the Investment Management Theory & Practice program through the Yale University School of Management.
He is a member of the Norfolk State Foundation and the Hampton Roads Workforce Foundation.
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* Ivy Rehab For Kids has leased 3,689 square feet of office space at 457 McLaws Circle in James City County. Eric Stanley of Cushman & Wakefield | THALHIMER handled the lease negotiations on behalf of the tenant.
* The Academy of Dance and Gymnastics has leased 6,300 square feet of retail space at Washington Square Shopping Center in Grafton in York County. Neal Sadler of S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. represented the landlord.
* Subway has exercised its option on 1,290 square feet of retail space at Cedar Valley Shopping Center in James City County. Neal Sadler also represented the landlord.
Wilford Kale, ka*******@ao*.com
Copyright © 2022, Daily Press
Copyright © 2022, Daily Press

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