A brewery, a consignment store and a bubble tea shop will soon call Midtown Row home.
Last week, Midtown Row announced that national chains Voodoo Brewing Company, Plato’s Closet and The Whale Tea signed leases to occupy spaces within the mixed-used development located at Richmond Road and Monticello Avenue.
Voodoo Brewing Co., founded in 2005, is a Pennsylvania-based craft beer establishment with locations in 11 states. The company recently opened its first brewery in Virginia in Virginia Beach. Michael Davis, who lives in Yorktown, owned a truck company in Chesapeake and was looking for a change when he decided to open a franchise in Williamsburg.
“I wanted to do something different, something that was fun, exciting and sociable,” Davis said. “I really liked the concept of Voodoo Brewing Company.”
Voodoo Brewing specializes in a variety of beer, including seasonal brews, as well as cocktails and wine. The Williamsburg brewpub will also serve food including flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and other items. Davis is targeting an early spring 2025 opening of his brewery near Super Chix Chicken & Custard in Midtown Row.
“Midtown Row is a very unique place and I thought it would be a good idea to have some place for the college kids and the residents to go, some place where they can walk to and have fun,” he said. “I am looking forward to bringing some place different to Williamsburg for people to gather and enjoy themselves.”
Meanwhile, Plato’s Closet will occupy a 4,792-square-foot space adjacent to Cook’s Burger Bar. Geared toward teenagers and young adults, the store buys and sells gently used clothing, shoes and accessories. The chain has 19 other stores in Virginia, with the closest in Newport News.
The Whale Tea, a national bubble tea store, will open at 101 College Row, Suite 4017. The chain also has locations in Newport News near Christopher Newport University and in the Kiln Creek area of York County.
No official opening dates have been announced yet for the three new businesses. For more information on Midtown Row, visit midtownrowwilliamsburg.com/directory.
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New Lego store opening at Williamsburg Premium Outlets
Williamsburg Premium Outlets will also welcome a new tenant soon — Bricks & Minifigs Williamsburg.
The new store, which will be located near Under Armour and Build-A-Bear Workshop Outlet, is an aftermarket reseller for Lego minifigures, sets, bricks and accessories. Customers will be able to trade in used Lego built sets, retired sets and minifigs.
“Whether you are a dedicated Lego collector, a casual builder or just looking for a fun family outing, our store will have something for everyone,” owner Clint Rhine Jr. wrote in an Instagram post.
Rhine said he became interested in the franchise after he and his daughters developed an addiction to Lego sets a few years ago. He anticipates opening his shop by the end of the year or early next year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the excitement of this store on people’s faces,” he said. “The number of people who have already reached out has been incredible. I think it’s going to be a destination. I also want to create a place where my employees feel excited to come to work. One of my big goals is to employ people well and give opportunities as we grow.”
For more on Bricks & Minifigs Williamsburg, visit instagram.com/bamwilliamsburg.
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Shorty’s Diner opening second location in York County
Shorty’s Diner, a popular breakfast and lunch spot in James-York Plaza, is set to open a second restaurant in on George Washington Memorial Highway in York County.
In a social media post on Wednesday, owner Tony Short confirmed that Shorty’s Diner will be taking over the space that previously housed Bay Haven Grille at 6500 George Washington Memorial Highway. Bay Haven Grille permanently closed on Oct. 12.
“The rumors are true. Everybody knows we’ve been trying to open an additional location in Yorktown for years,” Short’s post read in part. “We are proud to announce that we have acquired the location formally known as Bay Haven Grille and should be opening by the end of the year, bringing the wonderful goodness and everything you’ve known and loved from the original location to the people of York County.”
Shorty’s Diner’s first location opened in 2012 at 627 Merrimac Trail just outside of the city of Williamsburg. The restaurant also has a location in Richmond. For more information on Shorty’s Diner, visit shortysdinerva.com.
Brandy Centolanza, [email protected]
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