Westhampton Commons fills out with women’s boutique, hair salon

Robert Hundley

The Westhampton Commons combined-use improvement has leased its last two professional spaces. (Jonathan Spiers picture)

Marking the completion of its Westhampton Commons growth, Thalhimer Realty Partners has leased out the past of its professional spaces to two new-to-market place natural beauty industry manufacturers.

The mixed-use growth at Patterson and Libbie avenues has signed Vestique, a women’s vogue boutique chain, and Drybar, a hair salon franchise.

Alongside with beforehand signed tenants The Pit and The Peel and Conejo, the additions signal the conclusion of the $73 million challenge that redeveloped sections of the former Westhampton School assets.

The 250,000-square-foot, combined-use developing, which replaces a single of two buildings that created up the university, consists of 128 residences and has captivated 120 candidates for individuals models, TRP’s Jason Guillot explained.

In addition to the maxed-out professional part, Westhampton Commons also consists of business office tenants Raymond James & Associates, Joyner Great Properties and University of Richmond’s Spider Administration.

“It’s just about the antithesis of Scott’s Addition,” Guillot mentioned of the 5800 Patterson Ave. property, which consists of a parking deck and a major total of greenery. “(It is a) good position to dwell for an individual who’s active.”

Nevertheless in its permitting phase, the new Vestique will be the North Carolina-dependent company’s 12th brick-and-mortar institution and its initial retail outlet in Virginia.

Vestique entrepreneurs Morgan Lashley and Caroline Dunham. (Picture courtesy of Vestique)

The 1,300-sq.-foot retailer will be staffed by one comprehensive-time worker, as properly as 5 to 10 portion-timers. Referred to as stylists, staff assistance consumers make outfits that match their human body and aesthetic requirements.

According to its web-site, Vestique now has above 100 personnel and an Instagram with 176,000 followers. The store’s charges for merchandise selection from $5 to $50 and up.

The business enterprise was launched in 2010 by Morgan Lashley and Caroline Dunham. The two entrepreneurs, the two 37, experienced looked to expand into Richmond considering that late 2014, Lashley said, attracted to the city’s growth and little town environment.

Before Westhampton Commons, the owners thought of opening in Shorter Pump and had also seemed at the Libbie-and-Grove region and Carytown as probable choices. They mentioned the Westhampton Commons room suited their desires perfectly. Thalhimer’s Annie O’Connor served as the broker.

“We definitely liked the co-tenancy,” Lashley reported of the new area. “The reality that Drybar is heading in subsequent door is wonderful, due to the fact that’s our demographic.”

Salon chain Drybar is readying its storefront at Westhampton Commons. (Jonathan Spiers picture)

Yet another new-to-Richmond model, Drybar is building its entry into Richmond by way of Christine Verfurth, 52, who has owned and operated the franchise’s Virginia Seaside place due to the fact 2021. She mentioned spouse and children losses prompted her to be part of the franchise in 2019 as a adjust from her public accounting vocation in Norfolk.

A 10 years-prolonged member and later a chapter president of Coastal Virginia’s Industrial True Estate Women of all ages (CREW), Verfurth explained she was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of the girls she encountered.

Like Vestique’s proprietors, Verfurth also viewed as a range of locations in Richmond. She discovered out about Westhampton Commons by means of CREW Richmond member Danielle Beckstoffer, a Thalhimer agent who related her with colleague James Ashby IV, who assisted in the offer.

At first, Verfurth pretty much did not look at the location, as she stated it did not meet her organization and infrastructure requires. However, she explained Guillot as a fantastic aid in altering the place to accommodate a salon.

Development on the 1,800-square-foot area started in April. With 11 chairs and 4 wash stations, Verfurth reported prospects will be equipped to get pleasure from a laid-again working experience complemented with a mimosa or champagne. An ABC license for the spot is pending.

Christine Verfurth set up Virginia Beach’s Drybar in 2021 and is increasing to Richmond.

Drybar does not reduce or coloration hair but instead focuses on blowouts, an strategy Verfurth explained can conserve friends time and money. A blowout expenses $49 and normally takes about 45 minutes, according to the franchise’s internet site.

The new Richmond place will open on July 22 with 12 to 18 qualified stylists. Verfurth reported she’s looking to employ up to 40 workers.

As for Vestique, Lashley expects the retail outlet to be completely ready sometime next drop, subsequent the opening of its 11th keep in Cary, North Carolina.

Plans involve a ongoing target on e-commerce, a part of the small business that Lashley mentioned grew noticeably in new several years — especially during the lockdown era of the pandemic.

“This 12 months has been a roller coaster,” Lashley reported. “We’ve had some fantastic months, we’ve had some poor months. We’re just hoping to stop the 12 months flat.”

Present delivery fees and predictions of an impending recession have prompted some improvements to their organization model, this kind of as a reduction in inventory. Having said that, Lashley sees this as perhaps valued by shoppers, lessening the likelihood of similar outfits involving customers.

Drybar’s Verfurth also acknowledged pandemic-induced pains to her small business, but famous ambitions to increase with multiple destinations across Richmond as properly as southeastern Virginia.

Of the Westhampton Commons opening, she explained, “The excitement is very good. I’ve had a whole lot of enthusiasm from other area enterprise, from people on Instagram.”

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