1/21/21
Meet the Faces of Your Downtown
During these trying times, supporting small businesses and shopping locally has never mattered more. They’re your friends and neighbors, and they’re the faces of your Downtown. #MeetMeDowntown
1. Computer Cave
11 S. 15th Street
Computer Cave's Andrew Kimberlin and Shane Lacks specialize in Apple repairs. Screen cracks, logic board fixes, liquid damage and more – you break it, they fix it (fast). “We both went to VCU for Computer Science and liked the city. It’s good for walking and public transit. We’re the only store that does board repair and data recovery. We felt being in a central area where people could easily get fixes done while they are at work was important.” Over the past year, Computer Cave has helped a lot of families fix and update old computers as people work and learn from home during the pandemic. Turnaround time for computers is typically 24-48 hours, and screen repairs take only 20 minutes! Schedule your appointment with Computer Cave today.
2. Journeyman's Adventure Co.
115 N. 18th Street
Meet Glenn Amey, the owner of Journeyman's, a bicycle and adventure shop in Downtown Richmond. Glenn has owned a business in Shockoe Bottom for more than 20 years. In the 90s, he started out with a custom jewelry shop designing wedding bands and other trinkets. He always told customers they could stop by anytime, but if he wasn’t there, he was probably riding his bike. In 2018, he opened Journeyman's. Said Glenn: “Richmond's a really great place for commuting, recreation and bikes. There are so many different types of riding that you can do in Richmond.” Journeyman’s is a neighborhood bike shop with a wide variety of bicycles and accessories. If you can weasel your old bike out of the shed, they fix bikes, too. Stop by Monday-Saturday on your next downtown adventure or find more information about Journeyman's here!
3. LaDIFF
125 S. 14th Street
Looking to use that unused vacation budgets to refurnish your home? Lucky for RVA, LaDIFF offers more than 55,000 square feet of space and three floors making sofa shopping and social distancing easy! LaDIFF has called downtown Richmond home (and furnished thousands of homes) for almost 30 years. Located at 14th and Dock Street, LaDIFF is the former home to Watkins-Cottrell Co., a wholesaler of hardware from 1867-1972. Said Sarah: “We wanted to put a stake in downtown. We draw in Richmonders and people from Williamsburg, DC, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach and other areas. We’re just easy to get to right off the highway.” The LaDIFF team is taking a lot of precautions during the pandemic. In addition to social distancing and scheduling private tours before and after store hours, online browsing is available via their website and associates have given virtual tours and texted with clients. And, remember: when in doubt, buy the sectional.
4. La Bodega
104 N. 18th Street
Find the authentic tastes of NYC in Shockoe Bottom at La Bodega, a melting pot of Puerto Rican, Dominican and Colombian cuisine. La Bodega's owner and Queens native, Carlos Londoño says the purpose of the restaurant still holds true to the meaning of a real bodega that you find in New York, "… It’s a gathering space, a place for the community.” Enjoy an intimate atmosphere and signature dishes like pupusas, homemade horchata, churro french toast and more! Follow La Bodega on social media here.
5. Urban Farmhouse Market & Café
1217 E. Cary Street
Urban Farmhouse just celebrated its 10th anniversary after being founded in 2010 with a mission in mind: Bring the farm to the city and suburbs and provide area residents with local, wholesome food in a warm, rustic environment. Founder Kathleen Richardson said, “Richmonders have shown they want good, straight-from-the-earth food where they know where and how it’s been grown.” Shockoe Slip provided the perfect opportunity to bring their mission to life and a former storefront in a historic warehouse, just blocks from one of America’s oldest farmers markets, represented the ideals of urban renewal, eco-friendly design, and healthy dining options, all in the heart of the city. Enjoy their endless options of locally sourced and organic foods, fair trade coffees and teas, and a cozy and comfy atmosphere to find peace and refuge at in the middle of RVA's bustling downtown. Explore their menu online here!
6. Shockoe Bottom Clay
1714 E. Main Street
Susan is the one-woman show behind Shockoe Bottom Clay, Richmond’s only studio and gallery focused solely on ceramics. The shop, located at 1714 E. Main, showcases and sells the work of over 30 local and regional ceramic artists. In addition, it houses ten affordable studio spaces (with five more that just opened up next door!). Said Susan: “I do it to have a community and help artists get traction. It’s our passion for the arts and this community that keeps us going.” From handmade lamps and vases to rice bowls and mugs, Shockoe Bottom Clay has the perfect ceramic piece waiting for you to find! Learn more about Shockoe Bottom Clay here.
7. Soul Taco
321 N. 2nd Street & 1215 E. Main Street
"Jackson Ward is a gem. You see the history, the people who lived here were able to make something out of nothing; it has this feeling of this is where I'm supposed to be." In 2018, owners Ari Augenbaum, Nar Hovnanian and Trey Owens opened the original Soul Taco at 321 N 2nd St. with a mission to support cultural diversity and inspire workers. From cornmeal crusted catfish tacos to roasted buffalo cauliflower tacos, these are the tacos dreams are made of (and Guy Fieri approved). During the pandemic, Soul Taco has opened two new downtown ventures: handling food operations for Kabana Rooft and a series of pop-up concepts at Belle RVA. Explore all that Soul Taco has to offer its downtown patrons here!