The Westhampton Commons blended-use development has leased its very last two business spaces. (Jonathan Spiers image)
Marking the completion of its Westhampton Commons development, Thalhimer Realty Partners has leased out the very last of its industrial spaces to two new-to-market elegance sector makes.
The mixed-use enhancement at Patterson and Libbie avenues has signed Vestique, a women’s trend boutique chain, and Drybar, a hair salon franchise.
Along with earlier signed tenants The Pit and The Peel and Conejo, the additions sign the summary of the $73 million job that redeveloped parts of the former Westhampton Faculty home.
The 250,000-square-foot, mixed-use making, which replaces 1 of two buildings that made up the college, contains 128 flats and has captivated 120 applicants for people models, TRP’s Jason Guillot mentioned.
In addition to the maxed-out industrial part, Westhampton Commons also features workplace tenants Raymond James & Associates, Joyner Fine Properties and University of Richmond’s Spider Administration.
“It’s almost the antithesis of Scott’s Addition,” Guillot reported of the 5800 Patterson Ave. house, which consists of a parking deck and a important quantity of greenery. “(It’s a) great put to dwell for someone who’s energetic.”
Continue to in its allowing stage, the new Vestique will be the North Carolina-primarily based company’s 12th brick-and-mortar institution and its to start with shop in Virginia.
Vestique house owners Morgan Lashley and Caroline Dunham. (Picture courtesy of Vestique)
The 1,300-square-foot shop will be staffed by 1 total-time employee, as properly as five to 10 component-timers. Referred to as stylists, workforce assistance customers produce outfits that fit their entire body and aesthetic wants.
In accordance to its web site, Vestique now has in excess of 100 workers and an Instagram with 176,000 followers. The store’s rates for products array from $5 to $50 and up.
The business enterprise was introduced in 2010 by Morgan Lashley and Caroline Dunham. The two owners, each 37, had seemed to increase into Richmond since late 2014, Lashley reported, attracted to the city’s advancement and tiny town ambiance.
Prior to Westhampton Commons, the owners deemed opening in Brief Pump and experienced also looked at the Libbie-and-Grove region and Carytown as prospective choices. They claimed the Westhampton Commons house suited their desires properly. Thalhimer’s Annie O’Connor served as the broker.
“We actually favored the co-tenancy,” Lashley reported of the new location. “The simple fact that Drybar is likely in subsequent doorway is terrific, due to the fact which is our demographic.”
Salon chain Drybar is readying its storefront at Westhampton Commons. (Jonathan Spiers picture)
Yet another new-to-Richmond manufacturer, Drybar is creating its entry into Richmond by way of Christine Verfurth, 52, who has owned and operated the franchise’s Virginia Beach place since 2021. She said loved ones losses prompted her to join the franchise in 2019 as a change from her public accounting career in Norfolk.
A 10 years-lengthy member and afterwards a chapter president of Coastal Virginia’s Professional Real Estate Females (CREW), Verfurth said she was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the girls she encountered.
Like Vestique’s owners, Verfurth also thought of a wide range of spots in Richmond. She observed out about Westhampton Commons by way of CREW Richmond member Danielle Beckstoffer, a Thalhimer agent who related her with colleague James Ashby IV, who assisted in the deal.
At very first, Verfurth nearly didn’t think about the spot, as she explained it did not satisfy her business enterprise and infrastructure wants. Even so, she explained Guillot as a terrific assist in altering the house to accommodate a salon.
Development on the 1,800-square-foot area began in April. With 11 chairs and 4 clean stations, Verfurth said clients will be in a position to take pleasure in a laid-back practical experience complemented with a mimosa or champagne. An ABC license for the site is pending.
Christine Verfurth founded Virginia Beach’s Drybar in 2021 and is expanding to Richmond.
Drybar does not lower or coloration hair but rather focuses on blowouts, an technique Verfurth claimed can help save attendees time and cash. A blowout fees $49 and takes about 45 minutes, according to the franchise’s internet site.
The new Richmond spot will open on July 22 with 12 to 18 qualified stylists. Verfurth explained she’s wanting to employ the service of up to 40 staff.
As for Vestique, Lashley expects the retail store to be prepared someday following fall, pursuing the opening of its 11th retail store in Cary, North Carolina.
Ideas incorporate a ongoing concentrate on e-commerce, a part of the business enterprise that Lashley said grew significantly in the latest a long time — particularly in the course of the lockdown era of the pandemic.
“This year has been a roller coaster,” Lashley said. “We’ve had some great months, we’ve had some terrible months. We’re just hoping to end the calendar year flat.”
Present-day shipping charges and predictions of an impending economic downturn have prompted some adjustments to their enterprise model, these types of as a reduction in inventory. On the other hand, Lashley sees this as possibly valued by clients, lessening the likelihood of identical outfits concerning shoppers.
Drybar’s Verfurth also acknowledged pandemic-brought on pains to her business enterprise, but pointed out ambitions to grow with several areas throughout Richmond as well as southeastern Virginia.
Of the Westhampton Commons opening, she explained, “The buzz is excellent. I’ve had a large amount of enthusiasm from other nearby business enterprise, from folks on Instagram.”