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Antiques mall expanding, moving up
River Run Antiques Mall will take over the building at William and Caroline streets after Ben Franklin closes
Date published: 6/26/2009 By Cathy Jett THE OLD Ben Frank-lin sign in downtown Fredericksburg will be replaced by one with a familiar name this summer. River Run Antiques Mall, located below Ben Franklin, will take over all three floors of the building at William and Caroline streets after it is renovated in August. "It's one of the critical corners in Fredericksburg," said mall owner Terry Smith. "I'm mindful of that and want to do a good job." River Run Antiques Mall will remain open in the basement while the first and second floors are painted and display windows on the Caroline Street side are extended into the store by three or four feet. Smith will put a black-and-white "River Run Antiques Mall" sign over the front entrance, and display his bedroom sets and office furniture in the windows. "The furniture will be set up to look the way it will look in your home," Smith said. He specializes in refinished furniture from the 1900s to 1950s. Some of the pieces were originally used in the House of Representatives, Library of Congress and Supreme Court. Smith plans to increase the number of vendors leasing space in the mall. Among them could be Ben Franklin owner Charles Britt, who might continue operating his framing business there. Smith also will have a 500-square-foot space on the third floor that can be leased as an office or art gallery. It will have a separate entrance. Meanwhile, the Courtyard by Marriott at the corner of Charlotte and Caroline streets is edging closer to its opening date, and construction of a butcher shop at 405 William St. is about to get under way. Marriott will begin training employees next week, and the hotel should open sometime next month. "I can't put a date on it. I'm targeting end of next week, but can't sell a room on one of those days," said Brian Cook, vice president of operations for two of the hotel's three partners. Abby Construction is about to begin work on Olde Towne Butcher, which will be in the former location of Mind Melds near the Fredericksburg farmers market. "We hope to open sometime in August," said owner Lee Russell, a Caroline Street resident who'd been a butcher for Giant and Costco. He said the shop will have a glass case displaying cuts of beef, buffalo, chicken and other meats, most of which will be organic and/or locally raised. He'll also take custom orders, which most grocers no longer do, and can have things wrapped and ready for customers who call ahead. "I want to remind people of what [butcher shops] used to be," Russell said. "I want people to walk in and smell the garlic from the sausages and stuff like that. You'll be able to go up to the counter and a person is there for you." Cathy Jett: 540/374-5407
Date published: 6/26/2009
Junk?
(posted by
borisw
, July 1, 2009 8:42 am)
I guess you probably would not be able to fit any of that "junk" in your trailer. I have an idea, why don't you all get together and decide what downtown really needs and the YOU open the store(s). Good luck!
Oh, GREAT...More Junk
(posted by
Resident57
, June 29, 2009 9:25 am)
Just what downtown needs to inspire shoppers...another shop filled with useless junk, labeled as "antiques." We have enough junk shops already. The merchants should be pushing to bring true retail downtown and making the area more palatable to more shoppers. Clothing, music, gifts. ANYTHING but another junk shop. On the bright side, I am looking forward to the new Butcher shop opening across from Kybecca. Yeah!
Merchants are not getting the point
(posted by
vamomof2
, June 26, 2009 1:11 pm)
That's all we need is another antique store. The city is not getting the revenue because the stores downtown as a majority do not meet our needs and they close way too early. Please, put some stores downtown that people actually care for and would get more foot traffic downtown. We need drug stores, clothing stores, decent restaurants, nice gift stores, anything but all these antique shops.
Yay for the butcher shop!!. That is a good example of a good and much needed business to downtown.
So excited for the butcher shop
(posted by
WineLover
, June 26, 2009 11:52 am)
I have always wanted to live in a town with a butcher shop, can't wait for it to open.
Oh, GREAT...More Antiques
(posted by
SublymeRecords
, June 26, 2009 11:17 am)
Granted, River Run Antiques is one of the better antiques shops in downtown, the amount of antiques stores is getting absurd! The city is suffering from not being able to attract revenue and instead of backing the types of businesses and establishments that will bring vibrant cutlure and dollars to downtown (such as music, art and haute couture), we get more antiques! Is it just me, or is downtown starting to smell of old furniture and cat urine?
At least the butcher shop is coming! I'll be there daily!
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