RECENT COMMENTS
Runway Couture brings new fashion to Venable Street
Chrissy Crawford’s Runway Couture offers a variety of men and women’s fashion by an array of designer and independent brands, including tailor-made bowties from Richmond’s Albert Miller Collection, t-shirts from RVA local Intrepid Genius, jewelry by Baltimore’s New Vintage by Sam, and accessories from The Bureau
In addition to the retail, Crawford also offers her own one-of-a-kind designs, alterations, styling and personal shopping services.
The vibrant 29-year-old is a whirlwind of entrepreneurial spirit. Excited to be in the former church at the corner of Venable and 21st Streets, Crawford hit the ground running way before she had the brick&mortar location. She has been running Runway Couture as an online boutique since 2012, organizing Sip & Shop Soiree traveling boutiques in the area, and is co-hosting a regional fashion show next month.
After a soft opening on September 14, Runway Couture is now open 6 days a week (with a grand opening set for later this month).
Runway Couture and Le’La Mone’ are hosting the upcoming FASHION NIGHT OUT at The Mix Gallery, a night “showcasing the talent of aspiring and established designers and stylist from across the East Coast.” (11/15 TICKETS)
Runway Couture
801 North 21st Street
shoprunwaycouture.com | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | tumblr
HOURS
Monday: Appt only
Tues-Friday 1-7 PM
Sat-Sun 12-5 PM
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Welcome to the neighborhood and let us know if you need anything!
The clothes and the store look great! This is a great addition to the neighborhood. Venable Street is now fashion avenue!
Was there a re-zoning and I missed it? I am excited to have any kind of non-convenient store retail on the street, but I do not understand how this complies and a vintage furniture store that tried to locate on the same street with the same zoning did not less than a year ago.
@3 ah–good point. This explains why Union Hill might want to re-visit the limited uses currently within R63. I can’t imagine that anyone would not want either a clothing store or a home decor/furniture store on Venable Street.
Maybe the city has quietly expanding the “allowed uses” and we didn’t realize it? One way this new clothing store might be able to comply with current uses is that their business is primarily online.
If Urban Set Bride can sell wedding dresses just up the street in Church Hill North, it doesn’t seem fair that one couldn’t do the same in Union Hill.
Corner lots in that zone are “intended to be primarily residential in character, but includes non-residential uses that serve the day to day conveniences for residents”. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Let’s not be a wet blanket here. I wish Chrissy the best of luck and will be stopping by to look around soon.
@Tim H – I’m totally with you. It’s just bad for business generally when there is a lack of regulatory certainty. A wonderful vintage furnishings store was told it could not locate on an identical corner parcel on Venable without going through an expensive and arduous special use permit process. This is one of those “Why, Richmond, Why” moments.
Welcome Chrissy
The corner units are zoned commercial/ residential use. Absolutely nothing wrong with having a store in bottom level, completely within current acceptable zoning restrictions. Corners can be no more than two residential units or one residential and one commercial per corner as they were intended originally.
Too many haters on this site. This type business is exactly what we want and need on this block in this community. Young women of color trying to conduct a service, make a couple dollars and provide fashionable clothing for us all (Please pay your taxes Chrissy). No problem, I hope more shops of this nature open in this immediate area. As for the haters, please give her a chance before you start calling the city or it’s representatives for their share. We keep saying we are diverse and caring! I live across street at 800 and we neighbors have nothing but support and admiration for this shop and it’s owner!
Year, 1920
Thomas Curd Pharmacy
800 N. 21st Street
Richmond Va
Family consisting of Thomas, his wife and daughter, Elizabeth lived above Pharmacy.
My wife and I purchased property from Elizabeth 2002
I think you missed my point. I want Chrissy’s store there very, very much and five or 10 just like it on the street. However, it does not comply with current zoning, and that should be fixed immediately. That her use does not comply with current zoning is not a debatable fact. It is not about her age, race, hairstyle, or whether she prefers paper or plastic at the grocery store.
The always welcoming East End sure didn’t take long to start rolling out the red tape.
Richmond’s municipal code is very clear about ‘permitted principal uses on corner lots’ in R-63 districts. What the city doesn’t seem to be clear about is what to do with these same corner lots.
Given the city’s recent history (at least along Venable Street), whether a business is ‘permitted’ is not actually a question of the code but how an employee happens to feel on any given morning the issue is raised.
“Sec. 114-419.3. – Permitted principal uses on corner lots.
(a) In addition to principal uses permitted by section 114-419.2, the following principal uses shall be permitted on corner lots in the R-63 district subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (b) of this section, provided that drive-up facilities and facilities for dispensing motor fuels shall not be permitted in conjunction with any such uses, and provided further that a plan of development shall be required as set forth in article X of this chapter:
(1) Art galleries, including custom framing in conjunction therewith.
(2) Barber shops and beauty salons, including manicure, spa, tanning and similar services in conjunction therewith.
(3) Grocery stores, convenience stores and specialty food and beverage stores, including bakeries where products are sold principally at retail on the premises.
(4) Laundromats and laundry and dry cleaning pick-up stations.
(5) Restaurants, tea rooms, cafes, delicatessens, ice cream parlors and similar food and beverage service establishments, including catering businesses in conjunction therewith, but not including establishments providing live entertainment.”
Refreshing, and exciting. There always seems to be a vibe of negativity, and seperation in churchill. If the buisness owner had a different face..I’m sure no one would be commenting on the zoning.Is it hurting anyone? My friend will be modeling for the event, and I wish this young woman the best of luck with her endeavors.
Actually, Monaie, the City itself wouldn’t give zoning approval to someone of a different face than this business owner. For once the injustice flows the other way.