A Classic Richmond Shopping Institution – Regency Mall

When Short Pump Town Center and Stony Point Fashion Park opened several years ago, we thought it was curtains for Regency Mall.  Despite it’s central location, the stores inside it were failing, business was bad, and the Taco Bell even pulled out of the food court.  I actually don’t remember if there was a Taco Bell at Regency Mall. But trust me, it was that dire.  With the demise of Cloverleaf and the creepy dwindlingness (yes, I made that word up) of Willow Lawn, I feared for my favorite mall in a big way.

Today, however, Regency Mall is doing a lot better.  It’s hard to find a place to park near my favorite entrance (which is not, incidentally, The Food Court), I almost get mowed down by octogenarians in sneakers on a per visit basis, and the Chick Fil A always has a line.  Ah, commerce.

Some of the anchor stores are still the same as they were in 1975, when the mall opened its doors.  The JCPenny and Sears are still kicking, and Richmond Biz Sense reported in 2008 that Regency had the second-lowest vacancy rate among Richmond shopping centers.

With the addition of Texas de Brazil and Charming CHARLIE, I have real hope that this mall is going to thrive.  Granted, I am not anywhere near the age of 21 (and  XXI Forever just opened a huge store there), but there is always Macy’s, Williams-Sonoma, and The Body Shop to keep me happy.

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Paul’s Place – A Delight For The Antique Shopper

A while back I received an email that something to the effect of:  “Your website is great.  It would be even better if it had a review of our store.”  Since I absolutely love those kinds of emails (they mean people are reading and that they like the site enough to want to be on it – WOOT!) I responded that I would be happy to.

Little did I know that the place was one of (I’m not kidding) the coolest places I’ve been in Richmond.  The place is Paul’s Place, and it’s an antique shop, an architectural salvage yard, and THE place to buy restored vintage lighting.  The entire ceiling is loaded with chandeliers that owner Paul Ferramosca has lovingly restored by hand, getting them up to code and safe for use in modern homes.

One Saturday I asked my Mom to run over there with me, and right away I knew it was the right day to come.  They were having an outdoor yard sale, of sorts, a way to separate the wheat from the chaff, as it were, and they had tables and tables full of goodies.  I had my eye on one gorgeous weirdo thing in particular:

This thing was only $20, so I bought it and hung it on the sole enormous blank wall in my house.  I’d waited a year to put anything there, because I was looking for the exact right thing.  I found it at Paul’s Place.

Everyone that works at Paul’s is fantastic, and the inventory inside the store is unmatched in quality and aesthetic appeal.  Paul’s not only collects fantastic items that can be considered antique, architectural salvage, and restored valuables, but they are environmentally conscious as well.  They believe that reusing beautiful old items is a way of staying “green” and I can’t agree more.  Check them out on the web, or like them on Facebook, and get thee to Paul’s Place as fast as your checkbook and your pickup truck can carry you!

Paul’s Place – 1009 Overbrook Road Richmond, VA 23220 – (804) 228-9999 – Open Weekdays 9:00AM -4:30PM

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Going Antiquing

Richmond has many stores to satisfy any antiquing trip, but personally I think that the few on Cary Street are most promising.

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