City tire store opens on Princess Anne St.

A business that specializes in selling and installing used tires has opened at 2000 Princess Anne St. in downtown Fredericksburg.

Tire Zone is in the former location of F.A.S. Automotive, which is moving to the Four-Mile Fork area of Spotsylvania County. Tire Zone also has a store in Stafford County, four in Manassas and three in Maryland.

Tire Zone's owner is in the process of purchasing the Princess Anne Street facility, said listing agent J.R. Burdette of Silver Commercial Brokerage. For now, the company is leasing the space.

Spotsylvania hires firms for marketing

Spotsylvania County has hired two companies to help brand itself to potential visitors and employers.

The Board of Supervisors last week approved a three-year contract worth up to $750,000 to Dana Communications and Management Analysis Inc.

The two firms will review all economic development and tourism activities undertaken by the county, including incentives, websites, events, social media and marketing. The goal is to attract employers, visitors, jobs and tax revenue.

Restaurant now open in Celebrate Virginia

A restaurant that pays homage to heroes from real life and comic books has opened at 560 Celebrate Virginia Parkway off U.S. 17 in Stafford County.

Bam Hero's, burgers, & wings opened about three weeks ago in a strip shopping center near the Giant Food grocery store in Celebrate Virginia North. The restaurant, which is in a space formerly occupied by Buffalo Philly's, is open every day for lunch and dinner.

Longtime area resident Robert Schaul, a former teacher and coach, owns the restaurant with his parents, Barbara and Robert Schaul, and friend John Hickey.

The younger Robert Schaul loves comic book superheroes, and his father is a retired police officer. One side of the restaurant is decorated with comic book characters and classic arcade games, and the other with photos of real-life heroes. Firefighters, police officers, nurses, teachers and other "community heroes" get 10 percent off.

--Bill Freehling