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New life for an old laundromat
12/13/2011 4:05 PM by John M
The former laundromat at 27th and Marshall sold in November of this year. Renovation work has already begun on the property, though no specific tenant has been announced for the commercial/restaurant space on the bottom floor.
The new owners are the same folks behind the Golden Hammer-nominated renovation at 2824 East Broad Street, and the owners of the buildings that house both Captain Buzzy’s, House of Homemade, The Roosevelt.
Maybe this is the spot for the pie place?
they can call it the PIE HOLE!
I have a fabulous idea for a store there with a friend – any investors interested?
If you’re the Bev that owns the ice cream shop in Carytown, I’m sure we can find some investors 😉
These corner buildings off the beaten path are a bit tricky because of parking. I personally would like to see a grocery store (general store) in it as we have missed the neighborhood ones.
When Walter York wanted to put a restaurant at the historic 401 (Wills Grocery Store) building a couple years back, zoning required due to change of use and square footage requirements, and additional 13 “off street” parking spaces within 300-feet of the building. That was impossible so never happened but wasn’t the only reason.
The upstairs of this current building is being fixed up as a 3-bedroom apartment for a member of the owner’s family to live in. There are no plans for downstairs yet.
The building was built in 1926 as Fleshman’s Pharmacy and was Hord’s Drug Store in 1934 until about 1955 when it became Brown’s Restaurant. At that time Charlie was becoming interested in the 4-corner buildings and started to work at the 27th Street Inn with his wife across the street where the Sandwich Shop is at now. All later became Laundromats. The original wood frame house that sat on that lot facing N 27th is still there… was moved to the back of the property and now faces Marshall St (yellow house with the brick porch).
Eric
I wish that the Kellman’s would buy the historic 401 building across the street from Walter York and restore it to the way it looked back in 1815. Remove the stucco, open up the windows bricked in, and move the entrance back to the front center of the building facing N 27th. I have a artist rendering of how the building should have looked nearly 200-years ago and it would be GREAT if these professionals can preserve one of Richmond’s rare treasures… the oldest commercial building in Richmond! The current owners and the city doesn’t have a clue about historic buildings.
bev’s ginger ice cream was my salvation last night. we buy nothing else now. we would LOVE to see bev’s in church hill, preferably served on top of a slice of proper pie!
I agree — they serve Bev’s at Crossroads and the ginger is THE BEST.
I had the opportunity to check out the inside of the laundromat a couple of months ago, and whoever is renovating it sure has their work cut out for them — I’m glad that the building found a buyer because it might not have lasted much longer otherwise.
There is a rumor going around that a Wine and Cheese shop is moving in but the “for lease” sign is still up on the building and no one has verified this yet. Has anyone?
They are making a lot of progress here but so far I can not find out what or if anyone is scheduled to move in downstairs?
There was rumor of a Wine and Cheese shop but I contacted the ABC Board Rep for this area and there are no license applications for this address. That is probably why the For Rent/Lease sign is still on the side of the building?
Has anyone heard anything about new tenants?
The whole situation with this building is a bit discouraging. True, they are doing a great job on it even though those outside lights don’t fit in on a commercial building erected in the 1920s.
Originally the upstairs was to be a private 3-bedroom apartment for the owner’s daughter. Guess that fell through? Then there was a Wine and Cheese Shop rumor for the downstairs… I guess it was just that, a rumor? So, as of right now there doesn’t seem to be anyone lined up for upstairs or down.
Does anyone have anything else on this one?