Ted Ukrop – C-VILLE Weekly

Cross-pollination: C’ville to RVA and back

Is love in the air? It appears so–at least between the cities of Richmond and Charlottesville, as witnessed by the number of businesses that have decided to open locations in both cities. Charlottesville, with its beautiful setting and college town vibe, has long made lists of best places to live and work. And in the past few years, Richmond has experienced a renaissance of sorts, with praise seemingly pouring in weekly for its long-underrated, still burgeoning arts, dining, and entrepreneurial scene. So it’s not surprising that a mutual admiration society has developed between the two cities.

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and Sugar Shack donuts, both born in the River City, added Charlottesville locations on West Main Street–Hardywood in February 2017 and Sugar Shack in June 2018 (bringing with it sister business Luther Burger not long after).

Also coming to Charlottesville in early 2020: Quirk Hotel, which first debuted in Richmond in 2015. Why are they interested in C’ville? “First and foremost, the numbers indicate that Charlottesville is a stronger hospitality market than Richmond,” says Quirk Hotel co-owner Ted Ukrop. “Second, UVA is a major and sustainable economic and cultural engine. Having said that, there are also plenty of innovative companies, organizations, and people that align with Quirk’s brand.” The proximity to Hooville–just an hour away–also made a second Quirk location appealing, Ukrop adds.

Meanwhile, Richmond has already experienced an influx of Charlottesville-based businesses, like Roots Natural Kitchen (opened July 2018 in the VCU area), Three Notch’d Brewing Company (opened in 2016 in Scott’s Addition as the RVA Collab House), and Citizen Burger Bar (also opened in 2016, in Carytown). The city’s developing reputation as a supportive, destination craft beer scene was a big draw for Hunter Smith, who founded Champion Brewing in Charlottesville and opened a Richmond location in January 2017 on Grace Street downtown.

“The two cities and their respective governments operate quite differently, which was informative from a business perspective, and has helped me to evaluate additional locations,” says Smith. “I appreciate [chef] Jason Alley from Pasture and Comfort for introducing me to the beautiful former bank space we’re now lucky enough to occupy.”

Up next? Starr Hill Brewery, which is opening Starr Hill Beer Hall & Rooftop in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition this summer. Also coming soon: Common House, the “contemporary social club” that opened in C’ville in 2017, will make the RVA’s Arts District its home sometime in 2019. You’ll be able to find the newest Common House at 305 W. Broad St., just steps away from the original Quirk Hotel.

“Richmond feels like it’s in the midst of a cultural revolution that we are anxious to participate in,” says Common House co-founder Derek Sieg. “The food is world-class, the art scene is electric, and the energy in the entrepreneur community rivals that of any city its size.” While Sieg says his team has been looking at other creative markets in the Southeast in anticipation of growth, the proximity to Charlottesville helped clinch the second location.

“We have a lot of Richmond-based members who use Common House as a landing spot when they’re in Charlottesville, and vice versa, so we see this cross-pollination firsthand and look forward to being a fruit of that pollination ourselves,” he says.

Quirk-y: Deluxe hostelry underway on West Main

Another development planned for West Main Street comes in the form of a Richmond-based, 75-room boutique hotel and art gallery called Quirk. On August 30, an application for the project was presented to the Board of Architectural Review, and neighbors were there to voice their concerns.

“It’s an inevitable thing that the piece of property is going to be used for something,” says Pat Edwards, who was at the work session meeting in which the plans for the four-floor hotel with a rooftop bar were discussed. “We are just desperately trying to protect our corner of Starr Hill.”

The character of historic West Main Street and its surrounding neighborhoods has oft been discussed as brand new hotels and apartment complexes continue popping up along the avenue. Quirk would incorporate two historic structures at 501 and 503 W. Main St., the latter parcel known as Paxton Place, a home built in 1824.

“[Starr Hill residents] don’t really want a building that has its back facing the neighborhood,” says BAR member Carl Schwarz. “They want it to fit in on Commerce Street,” unlike the CenturyLink building that sits with its back to Starr Hill and, as Schwarz puts it, “looms over everything.”

Though Schwarz is in favor of the plans, he says realizing that the hotel needs “two fronts” to please those living nearby will be one of the most challenging parts for developers, and they likely won’t receive the neighborhood buy-in they need without it. The BAR is less reluctant to give its approval if the neighbors also like the project, he says.

Edwards says the city has been “shortsighted” in planning for the boutique hotel and art gallery. “If you build it, they will come,” she says. “If they come, they’re going to need services.”

Those already available aren’t enough to support larger crowds of visitors flocking to the area, she says, and she fears that taxes will skyrocket.

“We’ll be like Albemarle County soon with a tax referendum for $30 million,” Edwards says. “I’m not sure if they really thought long-range about what they’re doing.”

Quirk is owned by Katie and Ted Ukrop—members of the family that operated the Ukrop’s Food Group and upscale grocery store chain in Richmond. The building’s architect is Danny MacNelly, who designed the first Quirk.

But those behind Quirk aren’t the first to attempt to build on that spot.

A previous proposal by local architect Bill Atwood to develop a mixed-use residential and commercial building was approved by the BAR in April, pending additional information that he never brought back. Atwood has, however, voiced his support for the space’s newest venture and says he has been involved with planning the art gallery.

Kelsey Sharp, a spokesperson for the hotel, says no new information will be released at this time.

Down the street at 1106 West Main, progress is well underway on the Marriott Autograph Hotel, anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2018.

Developer Carr City Centers secured a $25.8 million loan from SunTrust Bank in August to construct the hotel. Michael Wilson, the group’s senior vice president of construction, says the demolition of the existing structure and adjoining parking lot is complete. Temporary supports for excavation will be installed and foundations will be poured in December. The majority of the construction will be completed by the end of next year, he says.

“It’s a constant struggle,” Edwards says about the nearby construction. “Hopefully city officials will be mindful to the character of our neighborhood.”