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Capital Ale House has been drawing crowds since it opened last month in downtown Fredericksburg.
Its success, aided by a $100,000 incentive package from City Council, is one of the bright spots in a year when retailers and restaurant owners have been hard-hit by the economic downturn.
The hope is that the bar and restaurant, along with Kybecca's new wine bar and the just-opened annex of the Fredericksburg Area Museum, will give people more reasons to patronize downtown businesses.
But those attractions, along with the new Courtyard by Marriott being built at Caroline and Charlotte streets, may be too late to give some downtown retailers a boost.
E.E. Smith, known for its colorful array of handmade gift items, has announced that it will go out of business early next year; and The Write Touch, a stationery store, is moving into a smaller shop next door to its current location at 1006 Caroline St.
Fredericksburg also is losing the old Roses in Park & Shop shopping center. It will be torn down in March to make way for the first phase of Eagle Village. The University of Mary Washington has purchased the 21-acre shopping center
Spotsylvania Towne Center has been affected by the downturn as well. While it has gained several new shops, including a Starbucks and Teavana, the only business close to opening in its new Village at Towne Centre section is The Fredericksburg Pub. It should be ready to open at the beginning of January.
Cafaro Co., which owns the mall, originally said the new lifestyle center would begin opening in November, and the list of tenants would include Barnes & Noble, J. Crew and Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill. They still plan to come, according to Cafaro spokesman Joe Bell, but corporate officials are moving cautiously due to economic uncertainty. Most probably won't start opening until spring.
Central Park has had its share of woes as well. Two major chains--Tweeter and Linens-N-Things, are going out of business, and Circuit City has filed for Chapter 11, which allows the Richmond-based company to reorganize its debt and to try to re-emerge as a healthy organization.
Independents in the big-box retail center were hurt as well. Bangkok Boulevard and El Agave closed, and Bella Boutique is shutting down.
Next door at Central Park Town Center, Ambiance Day Spa and Salon caused a flurry of concern among gift-certificate holders when it filed a Chapter 7 petition for bankruptcy. They were unable to get their money back, but a number of other day spas in the area stepped in and offered them discounts.
Even some longstanding area businesses such as Gallahans Furniture have been affected by consumers' unwillingness to spend. Severegn Furniture Management, which bought the struggling Spotsylvania County business's name and lease about two years ago, is liquidating the business. Although sales were up 8 percent over last year, Gallahans fell short of its performance requirements, according to Jim Shrawder, Severegn's CEO and majority stakeholder.
Still, all was not gloom and doom this year. The popular Globe & Laurel restaurant moved from Prince William to Stafford County, a Lowe's opened in Celebrate Virginia North, Offenbacher's Patio Recreation Spa opened in Chancellor Center and Harbor Freight Tools opened in Westwood Shopping Center.
Several new restaurants have opened at Massaponax, including Pollo Campero and Mexico Restaurant in Cosner's Corner and Scooter's Roadside Grille and Chipotle Mexican Grill in the plaza in front of South point I. Plus, Iverson's Restaurant just opened at Ladysmith.
More businesses are headed this way next year, including, most notably, the Wegmans being built in Celebrate Virginia South. It will begin hiring in mid- to late January, according to store manager Chris DePumplo. Those who apply early should initially go to 1340 Central Park Boulevard, Suite 206. Resumes will be taken at the grocery store starting four weeks before it opens this summer.
Cathy Jett: 540/374-5407
Email: cjett@freelancestar.com
