The Flat Hat November 14, 2017

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Vol. 107, Iss. 23 | Tuesday, November 14, 2017

WILLIAMSBURG

The Flat Hat The Weekly Student Newspaper

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of The College of William and Mary

’s rg u b s m a li il W g in k a m Re shopping district

Broad Street Realty announces purchase of Monticello Shopping Center SARAH GREENBERG // THE FLAT HAT

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road Street Realty, a realty firm out of Bethesda, Maryland, is moving forward with its plans to redevelop the Williamsburg retail market with its impending purchase of the Monticello Shopping Center. Following this purchase, expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, the firm will renovate the shopping center’s existing buildings in conjunction with the redevelopment of the nearby Williamsburg Shopping Center. The firm is planning for primarily surface changes to the Monticello Shopping Center, renovating the exterior of the buildings to give it a more modern, updated look. According to Broad Street Realty CEO Michael Jacoby, these changes are part of the firm’s larger redevelopment project that it calls Midtown Row, which includes both the Monticello and Williamsburg Shopping Centers. Unlike with the Williamsburg Shopping Center, the firm will not have to acquire a special use permit to carry out its redevelopment plans for the Monticello Shopping Center. This is because Broad Street Realty intends to make major structural changes to the Williamsburg Shopping Center and to add residential areas that require approval from the City Council. “If they would like to

keep the property as commercial property, they do not have to go to City Council,” City of Williamsburg Principal Planner Erin Burke said in a press statement. “Any exterior changes would go to the Architectural Review Board.” Demolition has already begun on the Monticello Road side of the Williamsburg Shopping Center. According to Jacoby, construction on the Monticello Shopping Center is expected to begin not long after Broad Street Realty’s purchase is finalized. Jacoby said he predicts that the entire project will take a little more than two years to complete. Midtown Row will include space for both retail and residences, and potentially a hotel later on. Jacoby said that the Food Lion, Sal’s by Victor and a few other retailers currently in the shopping centers will remain in their current locations, while others will be relocated within the complex. For example, Marshalls will be moved to the front side of the building facing Richmond Road and Ace Hardware, along with other existing tenants like FedEx, will move to where the Monticello Shopping Center currently stands. The remaining tenants that do not remain in Midtown Row will either close or move to other properties in Williamsburg not affiliated with Broad Street Realty. Midtown Row will also include new retailers in addition to the preexisting shops, which in total will make up 240,000 square feet of retail space. According to Jacoby, all but about 60,000 square feet of retail space is untaken. “At this point we have very strong interest in pretty much all of the space that’s available at the Monticello Shopping Center piece of Midtown Row and pretty much all of the space but for the former Ace Hardware building on the Williamsburg Shopping Center side,” Jacoby said. “It’s significantly spoken for. What we will have available is all of the new space, which won’t be delivering for a while because we have See MONTICELLO page 3

GRAPHIC BY MEILAN SOLLY / THE FLAT HAT

WILLIAMSBURG SHOPPING DISTRICT

Williamsburg outlets welcome two stores Master Craftsmen Shop closes Candy, books join offerings of Williamsburg Premium Outlets After 35 years, Holly Shields decides to retire

The Williamsburg Premium Outlets announced the opening of two storefronts last week in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. The Outlets, which are located in James City County alongside Richmond Road, welcomed See’s Candies and Book Warehouse as the newest additions to the mall’s repertoire of shops, boutiques and eateries. Brandy Coffee, the general manager of the Outlets, embraced the new openings for their relevance to the approaching winter holidays, saying she believes they will enhance the shopping that often accompanies the weeks preceding Hanukkah, Christmas and the New Year. “We are pleased to announce these new options for our guests, [which are] perfect for stocking up during those holiday shopping

We are pleased to announce these new options for our guests, [which are] perfect for stocking up during those holiday shopping sprees.

OUTLETS GENERAL MANAGER BRANDY COFFEE

has since expanded to over 200 stores across the United States. See’s Candies’ storefront in Williamsburg is the company’s 11th location in Virginia, and the third in the Tidewater region following existing branches in

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sprees,” Coffee said in a press release. See’s Candies specializes in candy, chocolate and other confectionary products. The company started in a small shop more than 90 years ago, and

ETHAN BROWN FLAT HAT STAFF WRITER

Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Book Warehouse offers customers a wide variety of literature at discounted prices, and also sells traditional bookstore wares such as magazines, calendars and organizational tools. Book Warehouse has more than 40 locations nationwide, and the company’s Williamsburg outlet is its second franchise in Virginia. The arrival of See’s Candies and Book Warehouse brings increased employment opportunities for residents of Williamsburg and James City County. Lisa Jones, the director of marketing and business development at the Outlets said the new storefronts would bring job opportunities for the holidays. “Both [See’s Candies and Book Warehouse] are looking to fill all staffing levels, from entry level to management,” Jones said in an See OUTLETS page 4

MAGGIE MORE THE FLAT HAT

Thursday, Nov. 2, after 35 years of business in the Williamsburg community, the Master Craftsmen Shop on North Boundary Street announced that it will be closing its doors. The shop, which sells bracelets to the College of William and Mary’s sororities annually, is closing due to owner and operator Holly Shields’ decision to retire. “I’ve tried to sell it for a while and not had any takers, and just had to make the decision of whether to continue or retire,” Shields said. “And I am just ready to spend more time with friends, and travel, and enjoy what’s left.” Shields opened the store in 1982, when she and her then-boyfriend — who worked as a swordsmith in Colonial Williamsburg — decided to start their own business. Her then-boyfriend’s job provided contacts with pewter spinners, making jewelry an easy business to expand into. The idea, and the store, continued after the relationship ended,

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and the business has succeeded. “It’s kind of a fun job,” Shields said. “And, you know, the pay’s not bad.” Shields grew up in Williamsburg and knew that she wanted to open the business near the College. “I’ve always wanted to be near the College,” Shields said. “All the times I’ve moved, it has to be near the College.” The shop changed locations three times over the years. It began near the Flower Cupboard, also on North Boundary Street ; it then moved to Richmond Road, near Tribe Square, before settling on its current location in 2007. It was the College and the locals that provided the main draw for placing the shop in Merchants Square rather than another area of Williamsburg, such as New Town. Chair of the Economic Development Authority Adam Steely believes that the Master Craftsmen Shop is a great example of a unique local business. “They’re a strong representative of

Ethan Brown ’ 21 discusses this experience finding fun, stress-relieving activities — like ballroom dancing at the Wren building — that are specific to the College’s scenic campus. page 6

A farewell to Adventure Games

Kinesiology lecturers reflect on careers of guiding students through the great outdoors. page 7


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