Williamsburg Downtown, a nonprofit economic development organization that started in 2021 as a way to promote the downtown community and businesses, recently held a ribbon cutting for its new office.
The new office will enable the organization to continue to grow, as well as expand some of its events, including its signature Santa photo fundraiser, which Williamsburg Downtown hosts during the holiday season, said interim director Katherine Bailey.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on June 25 for the new office, which is located located at 218 N. Boundary St. near Skinner Law Office. Leslie Skinner is the new board president of Williamsburg Downtown.
The new space will offer more room to work on the organization’s local history project and to conduct board and staff meetings, as well as provide space for storage for Williamsburg Downtown’s seasonal events. Additionally, the new office will be transformed into a house for Santa when the photo fundraiser begins in November.
Williamsburg Downtown also recently hired Ashley Morris as chief of staff and Stephanie Sanchez-Aguilar as web designer. Bailey, who has been a part of the organization since nearly the beginning, said she’s excited for what’s to come for Williamsburg Downtown.
“I started as part of this board as a long-time community member and mother of five who really just wanted to help create some community events for the benefit of this small part of the universe that I love so much,” she said.
For more information, visit williamsburgdowntown.com.
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Goodwill opening second location in Williamsburg
Goodwill will open a second location in Greater Williamsburg this fall. The new store will be located at 4501 News Road in the space that was formerly occupied by a Rite Aid pharmacy.
According to Laura E. Faison, a spokesperson for Goodwill of Central & Coastal Virginia, the new store will offer a drive-thru for donations, as well as 10,000 square feet of retail space. It will employ more than 20 workers.
Goodwill’s original Williamsburg location at 1310 Richmond Road will remain open. An exact opening date has not been determined, though a ribbon cutting and grand opening event is in the works. For more information on Goodwill of Central & Coastal Virginia, visit goodwillvirginia.org.
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En Pointe Dance Academy relocates to new studio
En Pointe Dance Academy has expanded with the recent opening of a new studio space in Victory Village Shopping Center off Mooretown Road. The new studio is 1,000 square feet larger than its previous location on Richmond Road.
“This location is convenient for our dancers traveling from New Kent or West Point, as it is right off of the 64 or 60 interchanges,” owner Rebekah Keese said. “It’s easily accessible to our Williamsburg and James City County dancers. It also boasts opportunities for our parents who sometimes spend a few hours waiting for their child to complete their classes to run errands without leaving the general area of the studio.”
The new studio will offer more room for dancers, as well as a lobby area for parents who wish to stay on-site, Keese said.
“Having more space means we can welcome new dancers into the En Pointe Dance Academy family,” she said. “We can offer new and different classes. We can reach and teach more children. For my entire career as a studio owner, I have dedicated myself to the overall health and well-being of my dancers, and I think this updated space gives us so many more opportunities to explore how we can continue to keep our dancers safe, healthy, happy and thriving.”
The studio’s new dance season starts in August. For more information, visit enpointedanceva.com.
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Edmarc opens location in Williamsburg
A ribbon-cutting event was held July 9 for Edmarc’s new facility on Monticello Avenue. The Portsmouth-based nonprofit organization provides services to terminally ill children and their families. Edmarc, which has been in operation for more than four decades, first announced plans to open an office in Greater Williamsburg two years ago due to demand on the Peninsula.
Edmarc provides a variety of services for families, including support for expecting parents whose child is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness before birth, in-home care for sick children from infancy through the age of 18, nursing, social and volunteer support, bereavement and other services. The organization was established in 1978 by Dr. Allen Hogge and his wife, Joan, who needed hospice care for their terminally ill son.
Edmarc’s new office in Williamsburg is located at 5220 Monticello Ave., Suite 201. For more information, visit edmarc.org.
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Dots & Dashes
- A ribbon cutting was held at the end of June for Shear Excellence, a new family barber shop. The business, owned by Stephanie Ravillos, is located at 5242 Olde Towne Road.
- Williamsburg Winery will host a Christmas in July indoor vendor market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The event will feature local vendors for early holiday shopping, light bites, spiced wines and other treats as well as a visit from Santa. For more information, visit Williamsburg Winery’s Facebook page at facebook.com/events/474070045235053.
- Williamsburg Launchpad is accepting applications for its Venture Acceleration Program, a six-week cohort program designed for early-stage businesses that have already achieved initial traction with revenue and customers and are poised for significant growth. Deadline to apply for the program is July 25, with the program starting Aug. 1. For more information, visit wm.edu/offices/entrepreneurship/explore/launchpad.
- Strangeways Brewing is hosting a “Business and Brews” business networking event on July 25 starting at 5 p.m. The event will feature complimentary tastings and raffle prizes. For more information, visit the Strangeways Brewing Facebook page at facebook.com/events/450283627901279.
- Virginia Peninsula Community College will host a lunch-and-learn session on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the college’s Trades Center in Toano. The session will focus on marine skilled trades, manufacturing trades, transportation , allied health and information technology (cybersecurity). VPCC’s Trades Center is located at 236 Industrial Blvd. For more information, call 757-825-4070 or email [email protected].
Brandy Centolanza, [email protected]
