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Kennel-Free Kitties

Peyton Humphreys | February 18, 2020

Topics: ace program, animals, cat, cat shelter, community, helen miller, hermitage high school, jerry richardson, local business, nonprofit, Richardson’s Rescue, richmond, richmond nonprofits, richmond va, RVA, rva nonprofit, terry richardson, things to do richmond va, tuckahoe ib

“It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a city to run a shelter.” At Richardson’s Rescue, volunteers care for cats in an open environment, exchanging kennels for a consignment-shop environment.

Upon entering the Richardson’s Rescue boutique, visitors may be greeted by Reese: a stunning calico cat that likes to scale the windowsill of the room. The classic rock of “Hotel California” by The Eagles fills the room, and the smiling face of Helen Miller, Executive Director of the rescue, welcomes new visitors. It’s a comfortable, safe environment, and inspiring that feeling, both for visitors and the cats that live there, is certainly the goal.

“This is a way for them to live in an in-home environment,” said Miller, who is also a retired scientist from Altria. “People can come see them and see how they really are, because most of them cower and hiss in a cage at a pet store.” 

Richardson’s Rescue, founded in 2015 by twins Jerry and Terry Richardson, was originally a home-based rescue that used foster homes to care for local cats. They are a non-profit, entirely volunteer-powered organization that continues to run with communal support and “the kindness of strangers.” Assistance comes from various groups within the Richmond area, including different low-cost veterinary clinics, monetary donations from sponsors, visitors who keep the cats company, and even veterinary science students at a local high school. It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a city to run a shelter. 

“I’ve got a bunch of kids that volunteer for us,” Miller said. “We’ve got the Tuckahoe IB students that volunteer on a regular basis. Hermitage High School’s ACE program has been with us for about four years now. They foster for us in the classroom — it’s a lot of fun. I love working with the kids.” 

PHOTO: Richardson’s Rescue

As Richardson’s Rescue began to grow, they searched for a larger space. They needed an area to house supplies and bring in cats for evaluations, as well as an area for quieter cats to work on socializing in a comfortable environment. For all these needs, they felt that a quaint, apartment-like location would fit the bill. 

Thus, the Richardson’s Rescue boutique was created. Located on Ladiestown Road in Mechanicsville, the space checks all of the boxes. As we toured the facility, Miller described the necessary transition, and the way the new space offered opportunities that were once unavailable. An example of the boutique’s benefit to the shelter is the various items for sale throughout. Cases filled with vintage jewelry and colorful artworks are displayed upon the walls, all available for purchase. 

“We need to make money and keep the lights on,” Miller laughed. “All of the items in here are for sale, and everything is donated.” 

The goal is  to use the shop as a space for hosting events. The organization has big plans on the horizon for future opportunities. 

“We’re going to have belly dancing classes! We’re going to try Family Night and Game Night [as well],” Miller said. “Vendor events on the weekends, we’re not quite sure yet. We are newly opened with this, and we’re going to see what works. But we know this is working for the kitties.”

PHOTO: Richardson’s Rescue

Richardson’s Rescue has hosted many community-centric events, which began long before they moved into the new space. One is their recurring “Kitten Cuddles,” which takes place at various venues around the Richmond area, including breweries, corporations, and festivals. These events bring small cats from the organization to the hands of the grateful public, serving as both the ultimate de-stressor and a way to spread the word about potential adoptions. 

“It gets our name out there, but it also [gives] people who love cats but can’t have them… a way to snuggle a baby,” Miller says.

Every year, Richardson’s Rescue also hosts an annual fundraising auction. Each event has its own purr-fect title, like “Caturday Night Fever” and “St. Catrick’s Day.” Attendees bid on donated items, ranging from gift cards, art prints, and designer items to furniture and even vacations. Miller joked that they would “take anything!” that people want to donate. Last year, local meteorologist Mike Goldberg hosted the event at the beautiful Jefferson Lakeside Country Club, in exciting and comical auction. 

These efforts are important to keeping the business afloat, but money is not the most important thing to the volunteers at Richardson’s Rescue. If you cannot donate monetarily, Miller explains that a donation of your time is just as valuable. 

“We would love people to come in,” Miller added with a smile. “You don’t have to buy anything… just come in and see the kitties. We have WiFi, a TV, a radio. Come in and hang with them, they need more attention than just us. You might even find your perfect match.”

The organization has rescued cats from numerous life-threatening situations. In the cozy sitting area of the boutique, a young and cuddly cat named Darla lounged while we conversed. A black cat with patches of white, Darla is one of 28 cats the organization rescued from Hurricane Dorian this past September. 

PHOTO: Richardson’s Rescue

“There was a coastal shelter that was in the direct path where Dorian came through,” Miller said. “There was a guy named Cowboy Jim who went down and evacuated the entire shelter… There were 28 nice cats, and we took them all.” 

While stories like these are particularly impactful, other less dramatic tales are much more common for the boutique’s cats — many of whom have been mentally affected by their environments. One in particular is Goose, a gray female cat who sometimes sends casual growls to visitors as she perches with small toys. 

Goose was one of the first kittens to arrive at Richardson’s Rescue in 2015, and was initially adopted. Unfortunately, the family had a child who was allergic to cats, and had to bring Goose back to the shelter. Upon arrival, she was shattered. 

“She’s not a bad girl anymore,” Miller said. “She was just a product of her environment. Her life was turned upside down, confused.” 

Miller and her volunteers have been working with Goose since the day of her return, making great strides working on her behavior. Despite her improvements, Goose has been the longest occupant of Richardson’s Rescue. Miller hopes to change this soon, promoting her adoption heavily on social media. 

“My daughter says Goose will be here until the walls disintegrate,” she said. “I don’t believe that.” 

Despite the struggles, Miller spoke fondly about all of the current and past cats of Richardson’s Rescue, showing off photos of each successful rescue with obvious love for each cat. She feels the same for all the current residents. Mama, a sweet tabby, makes herself at home upon visitors’ laps with content purrs vibrating throughout her small body. There are many cats that come from different backgrounds, both bad and good.

PHOTO: Richardson’s Rescue

“There are highs and lows,” Miller said. “It is hard. You see a lot of wonderful things, but you see a lot of bad things. You meet incredible people, but you also see the not-so-good people.”

Many of the situations these defenseless animals find themselves within are indeed “not-so-good,” leaving them to find homes at the shelter. Miller described many instances in which she was struck by the mistreatment of these animals. However, she always attempts to keep her composure and remain professional. 

“We try not to judge,” she said. ”We just want to help the animals.”

The state of Virginia recently passed “Tommie’s Law,” which makes animal cruelty a felony in the Commonwealth. Tommie’s Law was passed after the death of a pitbull named Tommie, who was found tied to a pole and set on fire in Richmond’s Abner Clay Park. His rescuers advocated to pass the law, which prohibits “cruelly or unnecessarily beating, maiming, mutilating, or killing a dog or cat,” as well as abandonment. Shelters are especially grateful for this increased penalty, since the majority of their residents come from situations of neglect like Tommie’s.

In spite of the bad experiences many animals have endured, Miller reflected on the highs of her profession with obvious happiness, showing true care for what she does.

“What’s fun is bringing in a super sick kitten, and watching it flourish,” she said. “From being almost dead to turning into this amazing animal, and getting to go to a fabulous family forever. Lifesaving.”

Volunteers who find time in their schedules to create a bright future for cats, and many other animals in need, are vital to this shelter’s upkeep. Meeting the wonderful feline faces at Richardson’s Rescue shows that even though volunteering is, at times, a thankless pursuit, it is still possible to do significant work for the community while saving vulnerable lives in the process. 

As Miller says, “For every cat you foster, two are saved.” 

Find Richardson’s Rescue on Facebook and Instagram at @richardsonsrescue. To support the shelter, visit their Help Our Cats page to donate to their PayPal, bring in supplies, and learn about fostering a cat.

Try Your Green Thumb at Richmond’s PlantBar

Kaitlin Edwardson | February 13, 2020

Topics: bailey ryan, build your own terrarium, environment, events richmond va, fan district, local business, new business, plant bar, plantbar, plantbar rva, richmond events, richmond va, RVA, terrarium, things to do in richmond va, things to do richmond va

Whether you’re an experienced terrarium builder or just starting out, PlantBar RVA is ready to help make your green dreams a reality. 

If your room is looking a little plain and needs a pop of color, look no further than PlantBar RVA. A terrarium workshop and plant store, the colorful shop on Cary Street is an interactive way to make your own terrariums, buy plants, and learn more about taking care of the ones in your home. 

PHOTO: PlantBar RVA

PlantBar began as a plant importing business supplying Amazon, Zullily, and Terrain Garden Centers in 2012. It now has two locations: the flagship store in Virginia Beach, and a newer store in Richmond’s Fan District. The owner, Bailey Ryan, always wanted to expand into Richmond because of the local arts community.

“It had been in planning for over two years, and it took nearly six months to find the perfect space,” Ryan said. “We think we found the perfect home in the Fan!” 

If you’re a first-time PlantBar visitor, Ryan suggests starting with a walk-in appointment. Don’t worry about having a busy schedule; you can walk in anytime, seven days a week, up until an hour before the store closes. Additionally, creating a terrarium to bring home can take as little as 15 minutes if you’re working on a smaller project. 

PHOTO: PlantBar RVA

If you’d like to build your own, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 — just walk in, let an employee know you want to make a terrarium, then grab a drink and start building. With plenty of options, their prices are all-inclusive and range anywhere from $20 to $100. They also host evening workshops for newcomers every Thursday through Saturday from 6:30-8pm, and they cost $35 to attend. 

“You can choose any terrarium from our glass wall. A member of our staff will walk you through the different plant options, care, how to build your terrarium, and give you tips on décor,” Ryan said. “You can use any items on the worktable such as seashells, moss, sand, rocks, and dried florals. We give you the guidelines, but you’re able to express as much of your individual style as you’d like.” 

PlantBar recently started hosting yoga and meditation workshops on Sunday mornings. These typically book to capacity about two weeks in advance, so you’ll want to plan ahead to attend. For larger groups and parties, they also host private events for social and corporate groups. 

PHOTO: PlantBar RVA

While their customers usually ranged from ages 25-36 before moving to Richmond, PlantBar is seeing a wider demographic in their new location. They’re set to open in Charlotte, NC this spring, and with hopeful plans for Raleigh on the horizon, their opportunities for do-it-yourself terrariums are growing for more cities south of Virginia. 

If you’re planning a visit to PlantBar soon, be sure to check out their free potting service and various workshops. Walk-in hours have no age limit, but keep in mind that evening classes are for ages 16 and up — and if you’re feeling thirsty, complimentary beer and wine is available for everyone above 21. 

Visit their website for more information, and find PlantBar on Facebook and Instagram to see more of their lush locations and terrarium varieties. 

SinnerG Brings A Haunting Presence To the Richmond Tattoo Scene

Ethan Malamud | December 20, 2019

Topics: art, gwooki, jorge aguirre, jorge gwooki aguirre, local business, Sabrina Elliotte, sinnerg tattoos, tattoo shops, tattoos

As they gear up for their grand opening, SinnerG Tattoos lets us know what to expect from their haunted-house-style tattoo shop.

As dark arts enthusiasts and intricate artists, local couple Sabrina Elliotte and Jorge “Gwooki” Aguirre look the part — and they’re damn good at what they do. Talented as the pair are, they’re just as friendly as they were when they started working together back in the 2000s. Now, though, they’ve got significantly more body modifications and vintage clothes — and they’re bringing real artistry to their tattoos. 

Gwooki specializes in dark, surreal, and biomechanical tattoos, which are less about the object itself and more about textures. 

“I like doing more blackwork,” said Elliotte, speaking about a form of black and grey realism that is created through use of black ink. 

SinnerG Tattoos‘s brick-and-mortar location, which will soon open at 315 W. Broad Street, is set to bring haunted house elements into the world of the tattoo shop. 

“It’s going to look like a haunted house from the way it’s designed, but it’s not actually going to be a haunted house,” said Elliotte. “It’s going to be more of a walkthrough gallery with scares set up.”

The couple has been collecting the items they plan to decorate the shop with for years, starting around a decade ago. Among other items, SinnerG will have a skull from Borneo, in addition to both a voodoo skull and a skeleton from the 1800s. 

“It’s going to look like you’re in a haunted house — it’s not going to be just a store,” said Gwooki. “It’s going to have walls that look like catacombs, and [a dark atmosphere]. It’ll be like a haunted-house gallery where we sell art, have installations, and also a work area where we tattoo.” 

They’re adding a museum-like context to the gallery, providing historical and evolutionary facts about their artifacts. 

“We’ve got a French bulldog skull,” said Gwooki, “and we’re going to have the skull of a [natural] dog next to it, so people can see how deformed their skulls are because of the way humans have bred them.” 

Having heard all of that, you might expect some supernatural aspect to be present in the shop. However, the couple are not superstitious. Not even a little bit.

“Maybe that’s why, because I’m not scared of it. It’s like, challenging it. I think that I try to get people to be less superstitious, actually,” said Gwooki.

“For me, it’s very liberating,” said Elliotte. “I don’t find it dark — to me, it’s beautiful. Other people, they see these skulls and think of death, but to me, it’s just a cycle of life. You’re celebrating life, almost, or seeing a part of history. A lot of people are into antiques, so when I see a skull from Borneo, I think, ‘Whoa, this is interesting! I want to know why these people did this.’ It makes me want to do research, versus someone seeing a skeleton and thinking, ‘I don’t want to touch that, that’s a dead person.’”

They may not believe in fate or superstition, but SinnerG’s owners have had some pretty wicked events happen to them. Gwooki got a chance to tattoo one of his personal heroes (and a Richmond legend), Dave Brockie of GWAR, before he passed away.

“That was a huge honor,” said Gwooki. Gwooki explains that GWAR’s entire presence as a band was a major formative influence, one that helped lead to his tattooing Brockie in the first place.

“I’m a big fan of GWAR. They changed my life since I was a kid, in a sense of feeling more comfortable of who I was. Seeing their costumes and seeing them perform helped me [feel comfortable being myself],” said Gwooki. “At one of their shows, I saw him walk by in the crowd, and I asked if I could take a picture with him. He said sure, and before he left I left I gave him a flier of my whole portfolio printed.”

As for the supernatural side of things, Gwooki’s thoughts have evolved over time. 

“When I was a kid — when I did believe in it — supernatural stuff did happen to me,” he said. “Then as I got older, I took psychology classes and started second-guessing it. Now, I think it was just chemicals in my brain making me believe something that wasn’t actually happening.” 

Nonetheless, spooky tales and imagery retain an undeniable hold over him.

“I’ve always liked dark stuff, since I was a kid. In cartoons, I always liked the bad guy more,” Gwooki laughed.

“I personally believe that a lot of the dark things that people see usually aren’t [dark], and the things that are supposed to be presented as ‘good’ are secretively more evil than the things presented as dark,” said Elliotte.

“It’s like any other superstition,” Gwooki said. “It works for people who believe in it, but when you don’t believe, it doesn’t work.”

SinnerG’s brick-and-mortar location isn’t open yet, but you can get in contact with them via their website, sinnergtattoos.com. Or you can call them on the phone, at (804)429-9666 — and no, the last three digits were not a coincidence.

“We just asked if, by any chance, we could get a different number ending in 666,” Elliotte said with a grin. “Somebody’s got to have it. It was funny to us, just a little touch. It’s just a number, right?” 

If you agree, SinnerG just might be the tattoo shop for you.

Photos via SinnerG Tattoos

Unicorns & Steampunk: Bryant’s Cider Crafts Their Own Path

Noelle Abrahams | October 17, 2019

Topics: apple cider, bars, bryants cider, cider, community, craft beer, craft cider, Jackson Ward, jerry thornton, Local, local business, restaurants, shockoe bottom

Ahead of their move to Shockoe Bottom, Jerry Thornton of Bryant’s Cider talks new recipes and future plans for the family-owned cidery.

“We’re the new beer,” says cidermaker Jerry Thornton, owner of Bryant’s Cider. It’s a bold statement, but it fits the vibe of their Jackson Ward tasting room. On its graffiti-covered walls, “Change the rules” is spray-painted in all caps below an image of a black cat and skull.

There may be some truth to Thornton’s words in regard to popular dietary trends. Bryant’s Cider produces small batches of uniquely-flavored hard ciders that are sugar-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, and made with whole, organic ingredients that are local whenever possible. Everything currently on tap at the Jackson Ward tasting room is also vegan and gluten-free.

PHOTO: Bryant’s Cider

With chalkboard paint atop tables that customers are encouraged to decorate, along with board games, card games, and adult coloring books, Bryant’s has a quirky (but edgy) vibe that marketing director Vanessa Gleiser maintains in their social media presence.

But days at the quaint Adams Street tasting room are numbered. Bryant’s just announced their purchase of 2114 E Main St. in Shockoe Bottom, where they’ll be relocating their Richmond tasting room to a mixed-use building that will also serve as a production facility. They hope to make the move in January 2020.

Right now, all of Bryant’s production happens in their other tasting room location, at Edgewood Farm in Nelson County, VA. The 386-acre property has been passed down through Thornton’s family since as early as 1850. His grandmother was born and raised there, and Thornton spent some time growing up there as well. After taking care of his grandmother for several years until her passing in 2014, Thornton took over the farm, because no one else in the family wanted to deal with it.

“For about four years, I didn’t know what to do with it,” says Thornton. At the time, he was working downtown at BB&T, in budgeting and forecasting analytics — “douchey stuff,” as he describes it. So while affording the farm wasn’t an issue, having the time to care for it was. Thornton is a single dad who raises his five-year-old daughter half of the time, so it wasn’t possible for him to work 80 hours a week, between the office and the farm, while also parenting a young child.

PHOTO: Bryant’s Cider

Nelson County is in an apple-dense region, so Thornton started growing cider apples at the orchard on his farm and quit the corporate-suit life to experiment with making cider. He got Bryant’s off the ground out of pocket, with not a single investor. “I still think I’m crazy,” says Thornton. As his family likes to remind him, he had a good job making good money with a guaranteed comfortable retirement, and he threw it away to make alcohol.

But he did so for honest and relatable reasons. “I’d just like to be human,” he said. “My objective isn’t to get rich. I just want to take care of my kid and my farm and not… hate life.”

Thornton went to cider school in upstate New York, but considers himself mostly self-taught. He likens cider making to cooking — you learn by experimenting, by trial and error. And what’s on tap at Bryant’s is certainly experimental: some batches on regular rotation are the chai-spiced Chaider, the cucumber- and habanero-infused Coolbanero, and the cold brew coffee-infused Red Eye.

Thornton is always playing with new flavors and testing them out in small batches. Right now, you can try the seasonably-appropriate Punkking, a pumpkin-spiced cider, and Still Swingin, which is infused with bourbon and peach. There’s an Old Fashioned-inspired batch in the works, and their next autumnal special planned is the Bryant’s Dirty Chai, a pairing of the Red Eye and the Chaider.

Their best-selling cider in retail is Bryant’s Unicorn Fuel, which has garnered somewhat of a cult following among customers. “I feel like more people know the name ‘Unicorn Fuel’ than ‘Bryant’s,’” says Thornton, which doesn’t necessarily bother him, but he cites the current location of the Richmond tasting room as to why they haven’t become a household name yet. “Jackson Ward is a great neighborhood, but no one knows we’re here,” says Thornton. “I could put a fucking unicorn suit on and stand on the corner, and maybe that would get a couple people in, but I don’t want to do that.”

PHOTO: Bryant’s Cider

The hope the move to Shockoe Bottom will expand their customer base since they’ll be in an area with higher foot traffic, right off the beaten path, and surrounded by popular bars and restaurants. “It’s an up-and-coming neighborhood, and really dense in terms of housing — just loft after loft,” says Thornton. “Whenever I’m down there, I see all these people walking their dogs and just hanging out. It’s the right type of people for us.” (Yes, both tasting rooms are dog-friendly!)

Bryant’s will also be preserving their safe distance from Scott’s Addition, where the only other craft cideries in the River City are located: Blue Bee, Buskey, and Courthouse Creek. Generally, the crowds in Shockoe, Church Hill and the East End don’t want to travel all the way to Scott’s Addition for a hard cider, so Bryant’s is hoping to corner that market geographically.

They considered moving to The Fan, but the historic quality of the building in Shockoe Bottom helped seal the deal. Built in the 1850s, Bryant’s liked that it’s about the same age as Edgewood Farm. “It’s super old and super cool. It fits our vibe,” says Thornton. “I didn’t want some generic, super-modern place because that’s boring.”

Thornton wants to do a steampunk theme at the new tasting room, which should gel nicely with the vibe of Shockoe Bottom, with the Canal Walk and Great Shiplock Park just a block or so away. He’s nervous about the move, but excited that he was able to buy instead of rent, because he has complete creative freedom in how to use the space. “There’s no landlord. If I want to break things, I can break things,” says Thornton. “Which I do, frequently.” He already has an idea for a light fixture: he wants to build a spider web chandelier across the entire ceiling using iron piping and Edison bulbs.

PHOTO: Bryant’s Cider

Byrant’s long-term goal is to split production between the farm and Shockoe Bottom. First, they’ll work to get more distribution and build the brand so Thornton can operate on a regular production schedule. Currently, Bryant’s has 85 active accounts in the Richmond area. “It’s getting there,” says Thornton. “We’re on rotation at a lot of places, but it takes time to build up.”

While Bryant’s is a young, independent business, they’re also an intimately small one. Thornton makes all of the cider himself and works on sales when he can. The only other full-time employees are the respective managers of the two tasting rooms, Afton Massie at the farm and Vanessa Gleiser in Richmond (who also directs marketing operations).

If you’re curious about where you can buy Bryant’s, they update their retail locations weekly. But what they really want is for you to visit the tasting room, and try some ciders that you wouldn’t normally order from a bar or buy in a six pack.

“We do weird stuff,” says Thornton. “You gotta come down and try it.”

Top Photo via Bryant’s Cider

Richmond Book Shop: A Time Capsule in the Heart of Broad Street

Ethan Malamud | September 24, 2019

Topics: book store, books, broad street, local business, posters, reading, richmond bookshop, stores, Vintage

Since 1969, Richmond Book Shop has thrived, keeping its original vintage feel alive for a new generation of Broad Street literati. 

For the vintage-holic — or frankly, anyone who appreciates culture — walking into Richmond Book Shop is like being a beer enthusiast walking into your favorite brewery. Bob Marley and Ralph Steadman posters decorate the glass window facing busy West Broad Street, along with other vintage postcards and prints. Across from Rumors Boutique and next door to Alchemy Coffee, Richmond Book Shop has been a staple in the River City since 1969.

What keeps customers coming back to the shop is undoubtedly the collage-like aesthetic of both old and new art, literature, and all-around cool shit: at the back of the store, a mannequin with a skull as a head can be seen lounging atop a bookcase. A sun-faded hula-girl outfit hangs on a mannequin at the front of the store, by some cardboard boxes. Categorized glamour shots and pin-ups of living and dead (but mostly dead) celebrities fill the corner.

Big, comfy chairs are strategically placed at the intersections of the different book genres. The flair of Richmond Book Shop speaks to an understanding for the human experience — an existence that feels akin to the wisdom and zen experienced in the back of a hippie’s van. The store has, somehow, managed to garnish wisdom with age. The feel and aesthetic is old-fashioned but not overbearing — and it provides lots of things to read and look at.

“It’s been here,” said Kathryn Pritz, who co-owns the store with her husband. “It started on Main Street as Cuckoo’s Books in 1949, and then the owner at the time moved the store here in 1969 and changed the name to Richmond Book Shop.”

The Pritzes have owned the shop for about 25 years. “They were selling it in 1995, and at first my husband was just buying tons of stuff,” Pritz said. “I was like, ‘Why don’t you just buy the whole business?’ And we discussed it and he did.” She laughs.

The husband and wife pair have successfully managed to navigate the fluctuating economy, VCU’s expansion attempts, and, most impressively, the digital age.

“We have more than the usual bookstore, with posters, prints, records, and tapestries. We had to expand, because at the time, the digital world was taking off. Everyone was like ‘Oh, I’m gonna buy it on Amazon,’” Pritz reflected. “But over the years, it went from people being enthralled with e-readers to ‘I can’t stand reading a book online, it hurts my eyes.’ Besides, there’s just something about actually holding something in your hand and being able to examine it, and know that this is what you’re gonna get.”

Old-school retail stores like Richmond Book Shop have become more and more of a rarity in the area as VCU has grown, but Pritz doesn’t see the university’s increased presence in the area as entirely bad.

“There’s pros and cons,” she said. “VCU tends to want to buy everything in sight and not everybody wants to sell. But compared to 1995, it’s a lot safer. You didn’t walk down the back streets here at night. You just didn’t do it. They came in, between all the different agencies, local and feds; cleaned it up — right up. And a bunch of students started moving in.”

The shop seems to be one of the rare stores that have actually benefited from the expansion of VCU. Students and young adults can be seen, at any given moment, poking their heads in to see what’s up with the cool posters in the front, thumbing through old postcards and fashion magazines, or browsing the shelves; not exactly looking for anything, but interested in everything. Perhaps the specificity of the store, along with its quirkiness, was what helped it weather the changes of the city.

They say niches get the riches, and niche is Richmond Book Shop’s specialty.  

Although the shop continues to maintain good business (despite odd hours), Pritz is adamant that Richmond Book Shop is still a “passion” project. “[Like] a lot of the book sellers, we don’t do it to make a huge profit or anything,” she said. “It’s more of a love for it than you’re going to make a lot of money. You don’t — it’s a tricky business.”

Richmond Book Shop may be surviving, but in the age of the internet, things are a bit more tenuous than they once were. “It can be very rough during the summer and Christmas breaks, but I think there will always be a love for the actual physical book,” Pritz said. “I don’t think that will ever go away. If it does, that will be a very sad day for mankind.”

With carpeted floors and eclectic decorations, the vibe of Richmond Book Shop feels almost like the vibe of a store that would sell healing crystals instead of books. One can’t help but feel serendipitous when browsing — that whatever you pick up, somehow, was meant for you to pick up.

So when you browse at Richmond Book Shop, follow your instincts. After all, that’s the way the store was set up in the first place.

Photos by Ethan Malamud

Rooted & Rising: Richmond Thrives With BLK RVA

Norrin Nicholas | September 11, 2019

Topics: addis ethiopian, afrikana film festival, amy wentz, art, big herms kitchen, black history museeum, black owned business, Black Restaurant Experience, black rva, blackrva, blkrva, C'est le Vin, chesterfield, Elegba Folklore Society, hanover, henrico, hippodrome, History, local business, mecca williams, music, nadira chase, new kent, Nickelus F, samantha willis, sheep hill bistro, tourism, treat shop rva

“It’s more than just what’s in your history books.” BLK RVA showcases the booming black cultural scene that’s made Richmond what it is today. 

In the last 10 years, Richmond has exploded as a creative hub — in a good way. As someone who was born and raised here, I understand the potential culture this city has to offer, and recently it has acted on that potential. Now more than ever, creative spaces are being opened, small festivals are spread out across the city throughout the year, and even small indie and underground artists are gaining an increase in recognition.

But as natives, this is something we’re all used to; we’re almost unbothered by some of these things, because they happen so often. Yet as we reach 2020, the city has grown into a creative hub not many would have believed possible looking back on it years ago. It’s not the largest hub there is, but it’s definitely there — and it’s definitely working. 

Photo via BLKRVA

Inside of the gears of the City of Richmond, the black community has been working tirelessly to bring more attention to the cultural efforts they’ve produced in our home. What they’ve produced is nothing short of amazing, and it’s been influential to the culture of the entire River City. 

The black community has helped complete an unfinished circle in the perfect Virginia experience: one that many people who call themselves Virginians have never truly seen before. Luckily for them, a platform that emphasizes this black Richmond experience is here, and sits at our fingertips at this very moment. 

BLKRVA is a platform that highlights black spaces and black faces. It showcases Richmond to travelers from all around the world, working to spread the history and culture of the city to the extent that it deserves. 

Its central base is a tourism website, which features a plethora of black-owned businesses, events, and artists — ultimately it’s everything you’d want to see in Richmond, that you’d never know is right around the corner. 

“We’re the only ones in the Commonwealth to do something like this, and I believe we’re the second in the nation, behind Philadelphia,” said Amy Wentz, Member of BLKRVA Action Team. 

Photo via BLKRVA

Because of our city’s history with slavery and as the capital of the Confederacy, outsiders may have cringed at the thought of visiting Richmond. But with the light in our dark history, we’ve grown with the past, and Richmond is more now than just a scarred city. Much of that is thanks to the very people who were scarred by that history. 

While the black experience is not all there is in Richmond, it’s a major part of the overall Virginia experience. BLKRVA has given this experience a louder voice, telling the public, “It’s more than just what’s in your history books, and you’ll never know until you see it.” 

Their key tagline, “Rooted & Rising,” serves as both a reminder and realization: a reminder of their rich history in the state of Virginia, but also a “call to action,” rising against the negative connotations that come with it. 

Richmond is a hot spot in commemorating the history of America, and with that comes a commemoration of enslaved Africans. Over time, they helped advance Richmond into what it is today, despite the hardships they faced in their lives. 

Though the BLKRVA campaign was only launched earlier this summer, the organizers have been working behind the scenes on this plan for years. They have seen success working with larger black-owned events, such as the Afrikana Film Festival and The Black Restaurant Experience, which brought crowds of people nationwide to see the new cultural perspective Richmond has to offer. As time went on, the members of the campaign noticed a surging trend in foreign visitors coming to appreciate the efforts of black Richmond culture. This led them to reformat their work, bringing a focus to black-owned businesses that are staples of the city. 

Photo via BLKRVA

From there, the BLKRVA campaign was created with Richmond Region Tourism as a one-stop-shop, categorizing all the different black Richmond events for visitors and residents alike. 

Their listings include well over 100 restaurants, attractions, and events that take place across the city throughout the year. Listings include Addis Ethiopian, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Big Herm’s Kitchen, Treat Shop RVA, C’est Le Vin Art & Wine Gallery, the Hippodrome Theater, Elegba Folklore Society’s Cultural Center, Sheep Hill Bistro, and many more.

Along with highlighting these black spaces in Richmond, BLKRVA also tells the stories of black citizens in the city, focusing on black creatives and writers. With this platform, creatives can explain their day-to-day activities to tell the story of a day in the life of a black Richmonder. Their interviews and features put the spotlight on public figures like Mecca Williams, Nadira Chase, Nickelus F, and Samantha Willis. 

Photo via BLKRVA

“If you want to be as a local would be, these interviews will give you everything you need,” said Wentz. 

It’s not often that people like this are given a voice, which makes their recommendations even more special than before. Ultimately, it fills the visiting experience for those who want to see our city from a different perspective. 

“It’s time for us to start celebrating and uplifting the black experience here; because of the easier access to travelling now, it’s up to us to change that connotation about Virginia,” Wentz said. “And it starts with things like this.”

PHOTO: BLKRVA

A decade ago, Wentz started “BlackRVA” single-handedly, as the original plan for showcasing black events and black-owned business in Richmond. With the help of her action team, she was able to manifest BLKRVA into the large, influential position it’s in today. 

“When I first started it, I had so much going on. I could hardly manage it how it should be… how it is now,” said Wentz. “So I’m very grateful to be able to work with so many different creatives, and bring out the true potential that BLKRVA had to offer.” 

As BlackRVA grew into BLKRVA, a Richmond Region Tourism platform, the potential to highlight the black culture scene in Richmond has grown along with it. They’ve expanded their coverage beyond the Greater Richmond area, and further into surrounding counties like Hanover, New Kent, Henrico, and Chesterfield.

Because of the innovative boom in the city, a new atmosphere has grown. It has allowed BLKRVA to flourish and prosper into successful platform — from one woman’s idea to the powerhouse of a team it is today, time has treated BLKRVA well, and given the team the tools they needed to build the organization up. 

“It feels great to know that these places are trusting us with what we do, because it’s never been done before. If we don’t make these places noticeable, they may never get the recognition they deserve,” said Wentz. “It’s one thing to do your own advertising, but to work with a cohesive brand and a team of other businesses just makes the impact more effective.” 

If you want to get involved with BLKRVA, check out their website to become a part of their upcoming events in the 2019 season, or message them to talk about volunteer or donation opportunities. 

Whenever you’re thinking about how to change your Richmond experience, I’d advise paying BLKRVA’s website, at visitblkrva.com, a visit. You may find exactly what you’re looking for. 

Top Image via BLKRVA

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