Hampton Roads has not seen the calamitous wave of local restaurant and retail closures found in much of the country, in part because the region was buoyed by both federal military dollars and much stronger summer tourism than in other cities.
Paycheck Protection Program loans and rent deferments certainly also played a part in keeping some local businesses open during the pandemic’s first months. Early figures from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, tallied in June, show that the number of active alcohol licenses for restaurants in Hampton remained relatively steady compared with the previous year — down by about 2%.
Many of the closures that did occur locally have been among chain stores and restaurants, as businesses trimmed their locations for profitability. There were 259 business-related bankruptcies filed between March and September in the Eastern District of Virginia, which includes Norfolk and Newport News courts, compared with 191 during the same period a year prior. Despite the potentially ruinous economic effects of being ordered to shut operations for months at a time, very few of those bankruptcies locally in Hampton Roads have involved retailers or restaurant owners.
But as the coronavirus pandemic drags on, more and more cracks begin to show — and the closures have begun to add up. In Norfolk, for one, the city recorded 1,464 business closures since March 1 compared with 1,262 during the same period (March 1, 2019, to Jan. 4, 2020) and more will likely surface in the coming months as businesses get annual renewal notices in the mail. On top of that, there were 35% fewer new business licenses sought since March.
Even as restaurant and hotel employment figures in Hampton Roads rebounded to within 10% of the previous year’s figures by July — much better than other metropolitan areas nationwide — the story locally has still been one of attrition, as small businesses weakened by the initial shock of economic crisis are slowly worn down.
We’ve cataloged the results here, with a list of restaurant and retail closures during 2020, beginning with the March 12 declaration of a state of emergency in Virginia. The list is loosely in reverse chronological order — whether of the business’s closing date, or our confirmation of its closure.
Not all of these closures can be attributed to the pandemic. We also know that the list of permanent business closures below is incomplete, and that many business have quietly decided to shut their doors without making public announcements. If we missed a restaurant or business closure last year during the pandemic, please let us know at consumer@pilotonline.com.
Bed Bath & Beyond, 3312 Princess Anne Rd., Virginia Beach: The Landstown Commons location of the purveyor of 20% off coupons and, well, everything, is closing by the end of February according to a report and list published by USA Today. It’s among 43 stores slated to close in that time. There are still several locations remaining across Hampton Roads, though, including another in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News and Williamsburg.
Express in Norfolk (MacArthur Center mall): The men’s and women’s fashion brand sold in hundreds of malls across the country, had been holding a store closing sale at its MacArthur Center mall location in downtown Norfolk in December. It wasn’t immediately clear when it would close for good, though. The brand has two other remaining Hampton Roads locations that aren’t closing, one in the Lynnhaven mall in Virginia Beach and another at the Patrick Henry mall in Newport News as well as factory outlet stores in Norfolk and Williamsburg.
Francesca’s in Norfolk (MacArthur Center mall): The women’s boutique with hundreds of mall locations filed for bankruptcy protection in December with plans to sell off the company. It’s location inside the MacArthur Center mall is among those to close. As of early December, it still had more than 500 stores. In Hampton Roads, you can still find it at the Lynnhaven mall and both the Norfolk and Williamsburg premium outlets.
The Walking Company in Norfolk (MacArthur Center mall): The footwear store closed its downtown Norfolk location in the last quarter of the year and its store inside the Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News at some point, too. The shoe store chain had gone through two bankruptcies in the last decade and looks as if it has shrunk considerably based on locations listed on its website.
Pollard’s Chicken, 405 S. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach: 50-year-old fried chicken chain Pollard’s announced Dec. 29 that they would be forced to close one of its locations on New Year’s Eve. Seven other locations remain open. “It is with a heavy heart that we are closing one of our restaurants permanently,” read a message on the Pollard’s Facebook account. “Our location at 405 S. Witchduck Road will close for good on December 31, 2020. We are doing everything we can to relocate all our employees from this location to our other restaurants. This pandemic has been hard on our restaurants and we are asking you to continue to support our remaining restaurants.”
Handsome Biscuit, 4200 Monarch Way, Norfolk: At the very beginnings of the pandemic, Handsome Biscuit’s owners routed all of their take-out and delivery orders through their original Norfolk Handsome Biscuit location at 2511 Colonial Ave., letting the ODU location go fallow. In the meantime, they’ve also expanded with a new delivery and takeout business during the pandemic, Regular Ass Sandwiches, across the street from Handsome — and remodeled nearby Toast to include a wine store. But after months with the second Handsome location in limbo, co-owner David Hausmann says they’ve decided to let the ODU location go dark permanently. “After a lot of internal debating we have decided not to reopen the Monarch Way location,” he wrote in response to our inquiries. “We are still working on our strategy of opening more locations in the region, even though little progress has been made with the past year knocking restaurants down several pegs. We are pretty scrappy, so we’ll be sure to build something fun after all this.”
Green Bean, 1952 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach: The children’s party spot, play-place and learning center closed in October, with owners saying they had long struggled to keep the doors open, and that COVID was the last straw. On December 28, they announced they were unable to find a new steward, meaning the closure would be permanent. “We were unable to find anyone who was able to commit to taking over,” wrote its owners on their Facebook page. “Sadly, Green Bean is permanently closed…we hope that in the months to come we find ourselves in a pandemic free world and someone decides to open something similar to Green Bean — all the kiddos in our area deserve it!”
Pretzels Plus, 4554 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach: The Pretzels Plus franchise in Pembroke Mall closed down on Christmas Eve. The phone is disconnected, and the location has been marked by mall management as a sale in progress.
White Oak Lodge, 3533 Kecoughtan Road, Hampton: The more than 40-year old White Oak Lodge, home to generations of “oakaholics,” billed itself as “the oldest and best local bar in Hampton,” a sprawling and rough-and-tumble cabin of cheap snacks and cheaper whiskey — originally built in 1935 as the First Settlers Hunting Club before being reborn as a veteran-owned shrine to bad habits. But the bar succumbed to the pandemic on Dec. 3, 2020, and its owners announced they were selling off much of the bar’s decor.
Memory Lane Sports, Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven Mall) and Chesapeake (Greenbrier Mall): The sports memorabilia shop appears to have closed two locations (email and phone numbers no longer reach anyone and the store is no longer listed on the malls’ directories. A Facebook profile for the store also notes it’s “permanently closed”) and not reopened a third location at MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk. Two of its owners filed for bankruptcy protection in September.
Rebounderz, Newport News: Even as more shopping malls continue to open experience-based fun centers during the pandemic, a long-running indoor amusement park closed in November: After nine years, Rebounderz in Newport News has shuttered its many-square-foot home to trampolines, climbing walls, virtual reality, space-themed bungee-cord climbing walls, and ninja warrior courses.
Play & Co., 11 Hidenwood Shopping Center, Newport News: It’s not clear when, but the indoor kid’s wonderland that opened in 2017 appears to have closed based on city records, a disconnected phone and expired website.
Cafe Rio, 12090 Jefferson Ave., Newport News: The only Hampton Roads location of fast-casual burrito chain Cafe Rio has given up the ghost, as of November. “Sadly, we have permanently closed our Newport News location,” wrote spokesperson Cathy Knowlson. “We just couldn’t make the economics work any longer at that particular restaurant. We do have six other locations in Virginia! They are located in Ashburn, Burke, Fairfax, Falls Church, Herndon and Manassas.”
Seafood Kitchen Janaf, 5802 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk: Fried fish and shrimp spot Seafood Kitchen renovated in 2019 under new ownership, and added new items to its menu, such as customizable poke bowls. But by November 2020, the Norfolk restaurant had closed its doors in bankruptcy.
The Point at Phoebus, 30 E. Mellen St., Hampton: Comfort food spot The Point at Phoebus has shut down after seven years, an apparent victim of the pandemic — with multiple temporary closures since dining rooms were restricted in March. The dense restaurant neighborhood has been in heavy flux this year, with multiple formerly vacant properties home to businesses that hope to open this year. The Point shut its doors in August. In October, the restaurant posted a sign on the door saying it was closed for good, directing would-be diners to seafood spot Fuller’s Raw Bar a block south.
Doraldo Ristorante Italiano, 1915 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg: Longtime Williamsburg restaurateurs Charlie and Maria Messina closed their much-loved Italian restaurant Doraldo at the end of September, after 23 years in business — a victim, they said, of the closure of their shopping center. The Messinas also announced Doraldo would return in a new location; but in the meantime, the Messinas’ fans can pick up New York slices at their much newer New York-style pizza restaurant, Little Charlie’s Pizza, at 4511 John Taylor Hwy., which opened in early 2020.
Hardee’s, 3360 Commander Shepard Blvd., Hampton: After decades in business, the Hardee’s at Commander Shepard Blvd. has been closed since September, and has been scrubbed from the corporate website. Seven other Hardee’s locations remain in the city of Hampton.
Brixx Wood-fired Pizza, 801 Eden Way N., Chesapeake: The Chesapeake location of Brixx returned its liquor license as of September, and has been scrubbed from the corporate site. There is one remaining location in Hampton Roads, in Virginia Beach.
Barr’s Pharmacy, 201 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach: Barr’s Pharmacy — an independent, family-owned business that has stood in the resort area for nearly a century — shuttered its doors Aug. 12. “It was not an easy decision, and it’s taken me four years to come to it,” said owner Carol Hall, 63, whose husband, Rick, died in 2016. Hall said Rick’s death combined with the financial challenges of increased prescription costs, decreased insurance reimbursements and incentives for mail order prescriptions made it too difficult for her to hold on to the store. The pharmacy was built in the 1920s on the south corner of 17th Street and Atlantic Avenue, and was originally was owned by a man with the last name Barr.
Skazka Eastern European Market, 1309 Fordham Dr., Virginia Beach: Mannon Abdulloev’s tidy Mediterranean store — home to pickles, fish, sausage, caviar and frozen pierogies — closed after a bit more than four years this summer, one of few sources for Eastern European food in the region. At least two other small Eastern European stores remain in Virginia Beach: Polish-centric Kielbasa European Food at 857 S. Lynnhaven Road, and Russian-forward European Grocery Market at 178 Boggs Ave.
Confetti Cafe and Gelato, 233 Market St., Virginia Beach: After more than a decade in business, little Town Center gelato shop Confetti — a neighborhood favorite for fresh gelato, hot coffee and sandwiches — announced on its website that it would close its doors in August. The website has since been taken down.
Famous Uncle Al’s Taphouse, 918 Mediterranean Ave., Virginia Beach: The combination beer hall and multifarious hot dog stand, which opened in 2018 from the owners of Scotty Quixx, gave back its beer license in July 2020, and the phone now stands disconnected.
Philip Michael Fashion for Men, 12551 Jefferson Ave., Newport News: The location that opened at the end of 2016 closed in the summer of 2020. The local men’s apparel chain still has locations in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and in North Carolina.
Copper and Oak Craft Spirits, 739 High St., Portsmouth: The local craft distiller, which spent much of the past couple of years with its tasting room closed, returned its distilling license in June 2020. Some bottles of their spirits still remain in ABC stores, at close-out pricing, as of January 2021.
Pizza Hut, 1640 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach; 800 London Blvd, Portsmouth; and 1611 Richmond Road, Williamsburg: At least three local Pizza Hut locations — owned by prolific Kansas franchisee NPC International Inc. —appear to have shut, and were removed from Pizza Hut’s site during the summer. The franchisee filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July, and closed 300 Pizza Hut locations nationwide during restructuring. In the case of the closures in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, there was another Pizza Hut on the same street.
BurgerIM, 215 W. 25th St., Norfolk, and 8135 George Washington Memorial Hwy., Yorktown: Two local franchises of beleaguered Israeli burger chain BurgerIM permanently closed as of summer 2020. The chain announced it may file bankruptcy in early 2020, leaving franchisees in perilous limbo, and is currently being sued by Florida franchisees in a class action lawsuit over alleged deceptive sales practices. The Yorktown franchisee, Jeffrey Nguyen, bounced back, opening pho restaurant Pho Diner in its place. The owners of Virginia Beach’s Union Alehouse took over the Ghent location, and are in the process of opening a taco and tequila restaurant called Union Taco.
Gordmans (formerly Peebles), Norfolk, Hampton and Smithfield: It was a short-lived revival for department store Gordmans which replaced its sister-brand Peebles in three Hampton Roads storefronts in March. By May, its parent company Stage Stores had filed for bankruptcy and began closing all of its locations.
Tuesday Morning, 4421 Virginia Beach Blvd. and 2346 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach; 1501 Sentinel Dr., Chesapeake: Discount store Tuesday Morning announced in May that it would close 132 stores across the country as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, including one in Virginia Beach. Now it appears that at least three Hampton Roads stores have gone under, all removed from the company website and marked as “permanently closed” on social media.
Catherines Plus Sizes, in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Hampton: As part of the fall-out from the bankruptcy filing of parent company Ascena Retail Group — which also owns Justice, Lane Bryant and Ann Taylor — all 300-plus locations of Catherines are closing this summer, though retail will continue online. The Norfolk location closed on Aug. 30 after a clearance sale.
Justice, in Chesapeake (Greenbrier), Newport News (Patrick Henry), Norfolk (MacArthur), Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven): As part of that same Ascena bankruptcy filing, most of Justice’s tween-focused stores across the country are also folding and holding clearance sales. Multiple locations spread out across Hampton Roads have already sold their last jumper, though the company will continue to sell apparel online.
Lane Bryant, at 1420 Merchant Lane in Peninsula Town Center, Hampton: Also part of the same Ascena bankruptcy filing, a single Hampton Roads location of Lane Bryant closed. There are still five stores in the region.
J.Jill, at 300 Monticello Ave. at MacArthur Center, Norfolk; and 1660 Merchant Lane in the Peninsula Town Center, Hampton: The women’s fashion retailer announced in July that it planned to close 11 stores this year. On the list? Both of its Hampton Roads locations, which closed Aug. 28. In announcing the store closures, the company noted that, “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pace at which there are new developments, locally and globally, has created a great deal of uncertainty.”
Men’s Wearhouse, at 300 Monticello Ave., Norfolk; 4200 Portsmouth Blvd., Chesapeake; and 701 Lynnhaven Pkwy., Virginia Beach: The chain of men’s fashion stores has closed its store at the MacArthur Center mall in downtown Norfolk and locations in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. Three locations remain in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Newport News.
Stein Mart, in Virginia Beach (Pembroke Mall and Hilltop), Chesapeake (Greenbrier Parkway), Newport News (Marketplace in Tech Center), Williamsburg (Settler’s Market shopping center): The discount department store filed for bankruptcy in August and announced it would close all of its 279 stores, including five in Hampton Roads. All stores are expected to close before the end of the year.
New York & Company, in Chesapeake (Greenbrier), Norfolk (MacArthur), Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven), and Hampton (Peninsula): After filing for bankruptcy in June, New York & Company is liquidating all of its clothing stores, with all purchases final as of Aug. 11.
The Barrel Room, 437 Granby St., Norfolk: As of Aug. 2, The Barrel Room’s downtown Norfolk location shut down as a result of “the current COVID-19 pandemic and additional restrictions,” its owners announced in a Facebook post. But they’re not down for the count. The Barrel Room plans to re-open in Chesapeake, although the location was still under negotiation as of late August.
Second Chance Thrift, 5193 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach: While there’s now a new thrift store in the same space at 5193 Shore Dr. called Second Chance Community Thrift, the original Second Chance Thrift that supported the Virginia Beach SPCA closed in March with the onset of the pandemic closures and never reopened. The new Second Chance Community Thrift opened in August and is the second location for the owners of the JCOC Community Thrift which is affiliated with Judeo Christian Outreach Center.
Victoria’s Restaurant, 5269 John Tyler Hwy., Williamsburg: After the passing of her husband and business partner, Doug Bryant, in March, Doris Bryant has placed 15-year-old Victoria’s for sale, property and all — and the business’s former website now functions as a for-sale sign. She has no plans to re-open. But as she told The Daily Press in August, if she doesn’t get a serious offer on the restaurant, she may have to re-open anyway: “I’m not a rich woman and I’m not ready to retire,” she said. “I’m weighing all my options. If nothing happens (about the sale) and I’m running out of revenue, then I may say, ‘get yourself back to work.'”
Tervis, 312 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach: The Laskin Road gift store for all your liquid-containing needs shuttered on July 26. The Virginia Beach shop was the only location in Virginia.
Queen’s Way Soul Cafe, 1144 Big Bethel Road, Hampton: After eight years of turkey wings, live music and sangria, Queen’s Way Soul Cafe has gone dark, and the phone lines have been disconnected.
Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, at 12551 Jefferson Ave., Newport News: Off Broadway has closed its Newport News outlet at the Jefferson Commons shopping strip, confirms staff at the Virginia Beach store — however, the Virginia Beach location is still open, and has no plans of closing.
Victoria’s Secret at Chesapeake Square in Chesapeake, MacArthur Center in Norfolk: After announcing this year that up to 250 stores might close, Victoria’s Secret closed at least two of its outlets in Hampton Roads. Both the Chesapeake Square and MacArthur Center locations are gone, leaving four locations in Hampton Roads: one apiece in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, and two on the Peninsula.
Cafe Maru, 2605 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach: After 3 years of serving both classic American diner fare and Korean bulgogi and kimchi, Cafe Maru is no more. Its owners sold the business in June. As of late August space is now home to a new restaurant called Soul & Sea Cafe, serving seafood, burgers and other comfort fare.
Laura and Lucy’s, 223 Main St., Smithfield: Bob and Laura Redlin’s collection of “exquisite junk” is no longer on display in Smithfield. The shop closed in late spring, and its owners auctioned off their stock Sept. 5-7.
Moe’s Southwest Grill, at 12368 Warwick Road, Newport News: No more burritos at the Warwick Boulevard Moe’s; the restaurant has been closed since late spring, and the phone number is disconnected.
Walgreen’s, at 235 E. Mercury Blvd., Hampton: This location of Walgreen’s has been closed since March 9 and will not re-open. As of summer, it was still being used as a Walgreen’s COVID-testing station. Walgreens has said it plans to close about 200 stores this year and a company spokesman said there are no other closures expected in the Hampton Roads market. The Hampton store was part of a 2019 round of closures.
Ruby Tuesday, in Williamsburg, Hampton, Yorktown, Norfolk on Hampton Boulevard, Portsmouth on Victory Boulevard: The quiet contraction of Ruby Tuesday seems to be continuing apace. Though the company has not responded to requests for confirmation, the restaurant chain has closed more than 150 locations since January, Business Insider reported in April. Seven locations in the region have been removed from the company’s website, and their phones have been disconnected. This includes every Ruby Tuesday on the Peninsula. Six locations remain: Tidewater Drive and Military Highway in Norfolk, Greenbrier in Chesapeake, Pembroke in Virginia Beach, and Harbour View and Centerbrooke Village in Suffolk. At least five closed locations of Ruby Tuesday are now serving as ghost kitchens for Canada-based Viet-Cajun restaurant The Captain’s Boil.
Save-A-Lot, 720 Church St., Norfolk: The Save-A-Lot grocery store in St. Paul’s closed June 20, leaving a food desert behind in one of Norfolk’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, home to around half of the city’s public housing.
Zoe’s Kitchen, at 2099 Sun Harbour Ave., Suffolk, and 801 Eden Way N., Chesapeake: The Suffolk and Chesapeake locations of the Mediterranean food chain have been removed from the corporate website, and list themselves as permanently closed on Facebook. Zoe’s was bought by Mediterranean spot CAVA, which recently moved into the area. In Virginia Beach as of July 7, the Hilltop location of Zoe’s lists itself as temporarily closed.
Stencil & Knot, 9651a 1st View St., Norfolk: Local artist boutique, homewares, and DIY craft studio Stencil & Knot announced in June that they would close their retail space by the end of the month. Virtual workshops and the Etsy store will continue.
Yu-Mi Sushi, 1320 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake: The little sushi spot closed temporarily in early March, just before the governor’s emergency orders, and then kept delaying its re-opening. On June 8, they announced they would be closing for good. Yu-Mi Sushi at 940 Cedar Road in Chesapeake remains open, and can be found here.
Steve’s Steakhouse, 11847 Jefferson Ave., Newport News: After decades serving the people of Newport News, Steve’s Steakhouse closed its doors for the last time. “After much thoughtful consideration, it is with a heavy heart that we are formally announcing the permanent closing of Steve’s Steakhouse effective Sunday, June 14, 2020,” wrote owner Marcella Lolos on Facebook. “The restaurant is currently for sale. We hold close to our hearts the love and support you have shown our family for the past 29 years. We will always treasure the friendships and memories made in this restaurant…. We will miss you all and we are forever grateful for you.”
Harry & David, 5715 Richmond Road, #63-A, Williamsburg: The 86-year-old fruit basket shop announced in April that it would be removing all of its brick-and-mortar gift-basket stores except its flagship location in Oregon, and would concentrate on online sales.
Yoder’s Cafe, 3600 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach: The owners of panini and soup spot Yoder’s Cafe announced via Facebook video that they would have to close their cafe on June 6, saying the coronavirus had made untenable an already difficult balance among work and family.
Primo Cigars and Coffee, 435 Monticello Ave., Norfolk: Downtown Norfolk lost its trolley-car cigar bar almost as soon as it arrived: Owner Michael Vecchione announced June 3 that he did not plan to reopen his coffee and cigar shop in the Percolator space, as Virginia moved toward Phase 2. This may not be the last Hampton Roads has seen of the trolley, however. Vecchione said he hopes to move the trolley car to Chesapeake, to his other business, Pale Horse Coffee.
Checkmates Buffet and Catering, 6031 High St., Portsmouth: Homestyle buffet and catering spot Checkmates sold its equipment on June 23.
Egg Bistro, 5860 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk: The Egg Bistro is a 13-year breakfast institution in Hampton Roads. But as of Father’s Day, June 22, the Suffolk location is no more. The egg-centric local brunch and lunch spot has three more locations locally: in Chesapeake, and in Strawbridge and Haygood in Virginia Beach.
Zeafood Boil, 5802 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk: The Asian-influenced seafood boil announced May 26 that it would not be able to continue as a result of the pandemic, saying the restaurant was for sale.
Thai Spice, 1937 S Military Hwy., Chesapeake: Thai Spice closed in the spring, but by May 28, the space had been taken over as the second location of Sawasdee Thai restaurant, and has been open for pick-up and delivery.
The Cave, 217 17th St., Virginia Beach: Amid the pandemic and a crumbling economy, The Cave nightclub’s new owners Breanna Henderson and Cory Daniel abandoned their plans to renovate the Oceanfront club, WTKR reported in September; the owners instead worked to open a new branding firm in Norfolk called Unity Lab Studio. The liquor license for The Cave was surrendered in May.
Pier 1, multiple locations from Virginia Beach to James City County: Five local Pier 1 locations have already begun their closing sales — the chain had filed bankruptcy, and will soon liquidate all of its assets.
Jones’ Restaurant, 5811 W. Norfolk Road, Portsmouth: After 34 years, Portsmouth’s Jones’ Restaurant, known more familiarly as Jones’ Barbecue, has closed and its phone is disconnected. “For lease” signs now adorn the doors of the longtime family restaurant known for North Carolina barbecue, fried chicken and seafood. The restaurant was founded in 1986 by Irving and Frankie Jones.
Logan’s Roadhouse, at 1020 N. Military Hwy., Norfolk: After its parent company declared bankruptcy in March, Logan’s Roadhouse temporarily closed hundreds of locations across the country. According to the outgoing phone message at Hampton Roads’ sole location, the closure in Norfolk will be permanent.
Quaker Steak and Lube, at 12832 Jefferson Ave., Newport News: The Quaker Steak and Lube in Newport News — the only location of the wing chain within hundreds of miles — is no more. The nearest locations are now near the border with West Virginia.
Fruitive, at 1501 Colley Ave., Norfolk: The Ghent location of plant-based lunch-and-smoothie shop Fruitive is no more, owner Greg Rozeboom said. The downtown Norfolk location on Main Street is closed temporarily, but plans to reopen when hotel business improves. And in early June, both D.C. locations shut temporarily after damage during protests. As of early June, the only open Fruitive is the original location, at Hilltop in Virginia Beach.
But Rozeboom says big-picture projections are still looking good for the smoothie chain, which plans expansion and signed on its first franchisee just before the pandemic. “This situation definitely hit us hard. We’re trying to be smart and look at the bottom line. … When we factored everything in, (Ghent) was the one that we couldn’t keep.”
Schakolad Chocolate Factory, 401 N. Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach: While the Virginia Beach franchise of Schakolad Chocolate Factory closed May 1 as a result of the pandemic, that was not the end for local franchisee Julie Keller’s confections. Keller now sells her chocolate as a new online and catering business under the name of Sweet Madelines, named after Keller’s aunt. Customers who miss Keller’s chocolate can order online, and pick up at Schakolad’s former neighbor, Yiannis Wine & Food at 401 N. Great Neck Road.
Dock of the Bay, at 103 Constitution Ave., Portsmouth: The Portsmouth location of Dock of the Bay restaurant announced they would be calling it quits on May 1. “It deeply saddens us to have to do this,” they wrote, “but it’s what we have to do to make it through.” The Carrollton location is still in business.
Fleming’s Gym, 305 High St., Portsmouth: On April 28, Fleming’s announced that the gym would be closing after 16 years in Olde Towne, and that the owner would be selling off all the weights and cardio machines.
Mermaids’ Porch Bed & Breakfast, 497 North St., Portsmouth: The Mermaids’ Porch, which opened in 2014, announced on April 27 that it would not re-open after the pandemic. “I have truly enjoyed meeting my guests, many of whom I count as friends,” wrote innkeeper Dawn Richardson on Facebook. “My next milestone is a hip replacement once the ORs in VA reopen.”
Funky Fresh Food Truck 757, Newport News: Since late 2018, the Funky Fresh Food Truck has been serving comfort food on the Peninsula — from wings to waffles to croissant sandwiches — often at military bases or the shipyard. But on May 14, after closing temporarily, the truck announced it would not re-open. As of October 5, the truck was for sale.
Mustard Seed Child Care Center, 6901 Newport Ave., Norfolk: The daycare connected to Royster Memorial Presbyterian Church closed in March with the onset of the pandemic. Leaders of the center told parents on May 13 it would not reopen. The center had operated for 30 years.
DW’s Mongolian Grill, 1932 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach: The buffet, all-you-can-eat sushi bar and Mongolian grill closed its doors, and auctioned its equipment in May.
Smooth: A Skin and Waxing Boutique, at 3168 N. William Styron Square, Newport News: The Norfolk and Virginia Beach locations have reopened, but the Newport News location did not survive.
Subway, at 259 Granby St., Norfolk: The downtown Norfolk Subway location did not endure and will become a wine and cappuccino spot, according to landlord Bobby Wright.
Saint Germain and Pourhouse, 255 and 257 Granby St., Norfolk: Bohemian fine-dining spot Saint Germain, and its more raucous sister bar, Pourhouse, both shut their doors early in the pandemic. On May 22, the restaurants’ owners announced that the closure would be permanent, making them the first high-profile casualties of the pandemic in downtown Norfolk.
Applebees, 612 Grassfield Pkwy., Chesapeake and 1640 Richmond Road, Williamsburg: Two Applebees locations, both owned by the same franchisee, gave up their liquor licenses in late spring and summer, and have not re-opened their doors. Both have been removed from the Applebees website.
McCormick and Schmick’s, at 211 Market St., Virginia Beach: The Virginia Beach Town Center location of the Portland-founded seafood and steakhouse shuttered in May, announcing its closure with a small sign on its doors.
Multiple IHOP locations, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg: One of IHOP’s biggest franchisees, Florida-based CFRA Holdings, announced in May that they were filing for bankruptcy, and have closed more than 49 locations across the Southeast. This includes four locations locally: 1412 Richmond Road, Williamsburg; 747 E. Rochambeau Drive, Williamburg; 1540 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach; and 817 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach.
Rice Restaurant, 12300 Jefferson Ave. (Patrick Henry Mall): This sushi spot from the owners of Osaka Sushi opened in 2019, but was apparently unable to gain a foothold as the pandemic hit, shutting down the shopping mall where the restaurant was located; its owners closed temporarily in March, and quietly handed back their liquor license in April.
Taste Unlimited Larchmont, 6464 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk: Taste Unlimited cafe and specialty food store announced in April that it would not reopen its Larchmont location when pandemic restrictions were lifted. “The global crisis has already indelibly changed the hospitality business. We are not immune and have to rethink our priorities and reshape our vision of the future,” said Taste president Jon Pruden.
Fuzion Ink, 729 Granby St., Norfolk: The new ownership of the tattoo shop that was being rebranded as Granby Street Tattoo announced in April that it would not be able to reopen when restrictions lifted. Gabriel Cece, owner of Studio Evolve Tattoo Parlor in Virginia Beach, which reopened with the introduction of the governor’s Phase 1 guidelines, told The Pilot that closing Granby Street Tattoo “was a very difficult decision to make, to err on the side of caution, and likely for the first time in my professional career, actually put my health and well-being in front of tattooing,” he said. “In the end, I know I made the right choice, for myself, my children, the existing Studio Evolve, and likely, the happiness of the rest of my days. Just as I stumbled into this, I have serendipitously stumbled out.”
Goldworks, 521 N. Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach: The sole proprietor of Goldworks, goldsmith Theresa Parsons, is now working from a private studio by appointment only. Two years ago, she was uncertain about what the future may hold for her storefront because of changing consumer habits. The pandemic, she said, brought that future into clearer focus. She decided to close her store in mid-April. Parsons said she “couldn’t be happier with the change.” She’s leased a small space in a gallery a couple doors down from her store where she can host events and appointments.
Oyster Point Academy, 766 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News: The private school closed permanently on April 11.
The Pita Pit, 300 Constitution Dr., Virginia Beach: The Pita Pit announced March 27 it would close and not reopen in March, after the executive order to shut down dining rooms in Virginia. The business had been for sale for more than a year. As the pandemic began, owner Anthony Rivera said, business dropped precipitously, and he decided to close rather than take on debt to keep operating. “We just can’t continue to move forward,” Rivera told The Pilot in March. “We don’t even have even have enough money to order food.”
Nipa Hut, 3456 Holland Road, Virginia Beach: Among the first Hampton Roads closures of the pandemic, the Virginia Beach karaoke bar, dance club and turo-turo Filipino restaurant announced March 23, days into pandemic dining restrictions, that they would not re-open. The liquidation sale took place within the month.
