Rocketts Landing Run to the River Part II
Friday, September 25, 2009
Who said raising money was supposed to be a cakewalk? More like an uphill 10K.
The 2nd Annual Rocketts Landing Run to the River on Saturday, October 17, benefits the Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC) of Greater Fulton Hill, a non-profit organization that runs a school and community outreach center.
Their programs include tutoring, Montessori preschool, after school programs, art, music and GED classes. They will also soon open a café, in partnership with Tricycle Gardens, featuring organic food options with many of the ingredients grown in the NRC garden.
“We are very pleased to be building our relationship with Rocketts Landing,” says Bridgette Huff, NRC’s Race Director and Board Secretary. “It’s been very encouraging how the community and residents are reaching out and supporting us in our mission.”
The race is expected to be a larger event this year, with potentially three or four times as many participants. Local musicians will play alongside the courses, and there will be a halfway party at the Park House in Libby Hill Park.
Three different courses are featured: 10k Hill Run, 5k Walk and 1k Fun Run.
The 10K Hill Run follows the same course as last year, beginning in Fulton Hill and continuing through Montrose Heights, Fulton Bottom, Church Hill and Rocketts Landing. Three major hills included in the course are Libby Hill, Powhatan Hill and Fulton Hill, all of which are short and steep, yet should not deter runners from participating. Terrain will include pavement, sidewalks, grass, cobblestones and stairs, with elevation ranging from 170-feet above sea level at the top of the race to 12-feet above sea level at the Rocketts Landing marina.
“If someone’s preparing for the Richmond marathon, this is a great way to practice,” Huff says.
A designated member of Richmond Road Runners Club has measured the course to ensure it meets USATF standards.
The 5k Walk and 1k Fun Run are not nearly as strenuous. The 5k Walk spans Montrose Heights, Fulton Hill and Rocketts Landing, while the 1k Fun Run will take place on Salem Street. Though the latter race is geared toward kids of all ages, parents are encouraged to participate as well. “Dogs and strollers are also welcome,” Huff says.
Upon completing the race, participants will be able to enjoy NRC’s Finish Line Party and Alternative Health Fair with complimentary breakfast, massages, consultations from alternative health practitioners, live music and tours of the NRC.
Additionally, the top two “fundrunners” who raise the most money will receive either a one-year annual membership to Richmond Balance, a personal fitness gym in Shockoe Bottom, or a gift certificate offering a two-night stay at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. Awards will also be presented to the top three men and women in the 10K and 5K races.
To register for the race and to learn more, please visit Runtotheriver.org.
In Good Company
Friday, September 18, 2009
In fact it’s the oldest commercial section of the city and the only commercial district with direct access to the James River. That last part is imperative because Robert Hensley, who has responsibility for leasing the project’s commercial space, takes potential business tenants on a boat ride along the James to gain a unique perspective of the project.
I recently met with Hensley, Vice President/Commercial Division for The WVS Companies, developer of Rocketts Landing, and he led me through the various units available.
“As a business owner, you will have a built-in population surrounding you, as well as additional amenities and restaurants for you to enjoy within easy walking distance,” Hensley says.
He points out some additional benefits to all commercial locations:
Exclusive, urban-inspired riverfront/riverside property
2,000 free parking spaces for employees and customers
Units custom-built to suit your needs by local developer
Commercial spaces available in both Richmond City and Henrico County
There are currently three distinct commercial areas within Rocketts Landing: Cedar Works Warehouse, 210 Rock and prime riverfront property. Let’s break it down.
Cedar Works Warehouse
The renovation of this early 20th century warehouse will convert 33,000 square feet into commercial property. Right now developers are working to obtain firm commitments from enough tenants before construction will begin in earnest. The building is located in Henrico County, and as such, is the closest County location to the downtown CBD.
With three floors of space available — each unit contains from 3,000 to 11,000 square feet — aesthetic amenities will include exposed brick walls and heart pine beams, and up to 10-feet ceilings on the first two stories. Businesses on the third floor will have 15-feet, A-frame ceilings. Each floor will also have three all-glass atriums. You may see retailers go in here since they will get street-front exposure to 11,000 cars passing by daily.
“Companies such as a dry cleaner and smoothie shop would do great in the first floor,” Hensley says, and could cater to the 3,500 residents who will complete Rocketts Landing, in addition to clientele from the surrounding communities. Hensley envisions the second and third floors working well for “creative spaces” such as architectural firms, law offices and ad agencies. Businesses could be able to move into the space in late 2010.
210 Rock
A restaurant and home builder/development firm are in the process of moving in, and the building also has an array of high-end residences. 210 Rock is a modern, six-story building offering street-level retail spaces, luxury condominiums and structured parking. In total, there are 12,000 square feet of retail space, and the units are between 1,000 to 3,000 square feet each.
“Storefronts offer great foot traffic from residents, and are just a step away from the river,” Hensley adds, “making this the perfect location for an outdoorsy professional,”
Prime Riverfront Property
The first restaurant to take off is The Boathouse, and word is they are experiencing a two-hour wait. While it may be two years before most of the other six to eight restaurant lots will be available, the fantastic skyline view, modern architecture and direct river access will probably make this highly sought-after. But for now that’s speculation.
The contemporary, three-story buildings will also offer retail and office spaces, and the future available space will total several hundred thousand square feet. Hensley points out that the size of each unit “really depends on what size space the client wants. We [can] accommodate just about any need from the smallest office to a large corporate headquarters.”
There is also a lot available for a high-end riverfront hotel, though it will probably be a few years before the space is available.
“We are happy to begin speaking with clients now,” Hensley says.
Businesses interested in Rocketts Landing commercial spaces get a river tour. The pontoon boat accommodates up to 15 people at a time.
Experiencing the full vision of Rocketts Landing is important, Hensley points out, since only the first four blocks out of the full twenty are currently in development. In an already exciting development, there is still so much more than meets the eye.
“We’re less than a mile from downtown, have a fantastic view of the city, offer convenient parking, and are only steps away from the river,” Hensley says. “This is only the beginning of a great destination.”
If you are interested to take a tour of Rocketts Landing’s commercial district, as well as the complimentary boat ride, you can contact Robert Hensley at robert.hensley@rockettsvillage.com or 804-536-5597.
A Hot Welcome to Ronnie’s
Friday, September 11, 2009
If you haven’t been down to Ronnie’s Ribs yet, you don’t know what you are missing.
Located in a parking lot at the corner of 25th and East Main Streets, the storefront is an unassuming trailer, but the food is out of this world — and quickly gaining quite a following. In the two years they’ve been in operation, including just one year at their current location on Main, Ronnie’s Ribs has gained significant national exposure. The Food Network featured Ronnie’s Ribs in their Best Thing I Ever Ate: Bar-B-Que show, and The View recently dished them up on one of their episodes.
When I asked owner Ronald Logan, a Varina native who’s lived in the area his entire life, what he thought was the secret to his success, he immediately had a one-word answer: love.
But it didn’t take much longer for his deeper meaning to come out.
“To a lot of folks, it’s my attitude and how I feel about my food,” Logan says. “The way we set up in the parking lot, people can come right up to us and talk to us, can see the meat cooking, can smell it and have the interaction. I get to know customers by their first names.”
Logan also loves cooking.
His passion started when he was much younger and cooking with his dad. So when Logan lost his job at a local banking firm after 29 years of employment, he began looking for the next step.
He was smoking meat at his home, and his son would bring dishes in to work events. Requests quickly came from people who wanted to buy a slab of ribs. Before long, his son asked him if he could cater a work event for 95 people. Logan agreed. And word spread from there. In fact, to this day, Logan says he’s barely advertised his company.
“The smoker uses indirect heat and hickory wood,” Logan says. “The flames don’t hit it. That helps a lot. And the meat is slow cooked. Ribs take 3 ½ to 4 hours, and wings might take an hour and a half. There’s a lot of love going into it before, during and after.”
Logan points out that he makes his own sauce and his own rub — a truly defining feature.
Menu items are very well priced and include staples such as his famous hickory smoked ribs, North Carolina-style pulled pork barbeque, jumbo wings and beef brisket. Combos include a side dish and a drink, or you can order a la carte.
In looking to the future of Ronnie’s Ribs, Logan says he hopes to open a restaurant in Rocketts Landing within the next couple of years. They are planning to add dinner delivery that would service downtown Richmond and Rocketts Landing residents. They will also soon expand their operating hours in order to meet increased demand.
“To do what you have a passion for and squeak out a living, it’s not easy,” Logan says, “but we’re a family-run business, and when you love to do something, you don’t mind doing it.”
Ronnie’s Ribs is currently open Thursday – Saturday, Noon to 8 p.m. You can visit them online at Ronniesribsandwings.com.
Dinner Is Served
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing has finally cast off into the Richmond restaurant scene, and after cutting through all the red tape, owner Kevin Healy and his staff are now ready to crank it into high gear.
"It is very exciting and rewarding at the same time,” Healy said. “Pulling together all the permits and the 'prepermits' was a little stressful. But I'm glad that part of the opening process is over. Now I am able to do what I know and love, and that is run a restaurant."
To celebrate the Boathouse’s opening, Healy threw several preliminary parties with many of the restaurant’s closest friends invited. These parties – more like staff-practice sessions – were for the purpose of testing the restaurant’s new equipment, Healy told me, including the state-of-the-art computer system installed in the kitchen.
Each cooking station is equipped with its own computer monitor. That tells the cook exactly what he needs to do to keep track of preparation time, eliminating the confusion and disorder that usually causes food delays.
Simply put, it’s fine dining meets fast food tech. And so far, Healy said, everything has been running up to snuff.
Anyone who has started a business can tell you how nerve-racking it is. And even though Healy has a successful restaurant in Chesterfield, those butterflies never disappear entirely.
But his hunch is proving dead-on.
“Business so far has been very good and met all my expectations,” he said. “It’s exciting to see people taking family photos on our balcony. One man even came up to me and said, ‘Thanks so much. You’ve made Richmond a better city.’”
Such an aura and service was apparent the other night when a date and I decided to escape the August heat down by the river and dabble in what the Boathouse had to offer.
Upon ascending the steps surrounding the restaurant’s smokestack, we were greeted not only by a friendly hostess, but also a massive wine display.
I decided on a Pinot Grigio and began to deliberate over the menu.
Tempted by the Mojito Glazed Duck, I opted to mix and match the Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer with half a Crunchy Shrimp Roll, while my date chose the Crab and Artichoke Dip and Chesapeake Oysters on a Half-Shell.
The glow of the fire place and brick pizza oven fills the restaurant’s spacious dining room with a warm energy. Moreover, the pulsating hum of the crickets and katydids seeping through the restaurant’s bay windows and patio accompanies the lively chatter from the surrounding tables.
Though at times, the dining area got a little noisy, this is not something that Healy hasn’t taken into account.
"We are actually dealing with two issues that most of our patrons have probably already noticed,” he said. “The first one is the restaurant is a little louder than we would like. So, we are going to install some sound absorbers on the ceiling of the dining room. Secondly, the sun is kind of annoying at sunset. As fall approaches this will be less of an issue. But nevertheless, we are in the process of getting a quote on some blinds to remedy the situation. Both these issues we anticipate will be resolved by September."
To say the least, the restaurant’s energy cuts the already short wait for your food seemingly in half. The appetizer portions were perfect for sharing, for those who cannot decide between all the choices, and there is always something to be said about having the convenient excuse to come back for the Mojito Glazed Duck.
Healy is also still putting the final touches on the restaurant’s tented, outdoor pavilion. He recently met with the landscape architect and anticipates that it will be finished by September as well.
Photo: Captain's Blog
are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change. All measurements are approximate.