This week’s edition of Biz Beat Roundup unveils a new format that categorizes weekly business news into three sections: Business Activity (news about businesses/organizations opening, expanding, contracting and closing); Movers & Shakers (news about individuals and established organizations/businesses); and Real Estate Roundup (review of real estate activity such as sales, leases, etc.). We hope you enjoy the new format!
BUSINESS ACTIVITY
- A new restaurant and bar called Stockyards is planned at 407-409 William St. in Fredericksburg. The owner is Darell Hertenstein, whose Hertenstein Investment Group has done several developments in King George and Westmoreland counties. An interior renovation is under way, and Stockyards is targeting a February opening. The business will feature a bar and restaurant, a mechanical bull, dancing and live music. The William Street space was formerly home to Jay’s Downtown Sports Lounge, which closed this year after losing its license to sell alcohol.
- Work could start this winter on improvements to the Mary Washington Monument and Caretaker’s Lodge on Washington Avenue in Fredericksburg. Local landscape architect Sally Harman laid out the plans for the property at last week’s annual meeting of Washington Heritage Museums (WHM), which owns the property. A new, wider entrance door will be installed as the staff entrance along Hitchcock Street in preparation for WHM moving its headquarters there next year. Improvements to the Monument/Meditation Rock property include handicap-accessible ramps, a new patio and pergola on the side of the Lodge, erosion stabilization and a new retaining wall for the cemetery, tree plantings, interpretive signage, and landscaping featuring the color purple (Mary Washington’s preferred color).
- Paris Baguette, which describes itself as a “neighborhood bakery cafe,” has leased the 4,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by Cicis Pizza at 1859 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Fredericksburg’s Central Park, according to Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer. The business has multiple locations around the Washington area.
- Rental Equipment Investment Corporation has leased 40,480 square feet of industrial space at 216-218 Central Road in Fredericksburg, according to Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer. The space is for the company’s Specialty Rental Group, which provides heating and cooling equipment for job sites.
- The new River & Roots Collective in Falmouth is the subject of this week’s Biz Beat Clips video.
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Red Dragon Brewery at 1419 Princess Anne St. in Fredericksburg
Red Dragon Brewery announced this week that it will close its Fredericksburg brewery on Dec. 31 following a decade in business. Building owner John Van Noy said he is weighing options for the space and has some interest in keeping a brewery there. Inquiries about buying the business can be sent to sale@reddragonbrewery.com. If the business is not sold, all of the contents will be auctioned.
- The Barking Barley will officially open its Fredericksburg dog-friendly bar on Wednesday. It is at 1515 Olde William St. This business will be featured next week in Biz Beat Clips.
- Smugglers Cafe, which features coffee and cookies, opened last week at 604 Caroline St. in downtown Fredericksburg.
- Mu Cha, which offers various tea-based drinks and dessert bowls, recently opened at 1005 Princess Anne St., second floor, in downtown Fredericksburg.
- Happy Times Playland has opened at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre next to Park Lane Tavern. The 11,000-square-foot indoor playground is designed for children ages 1-12. The space includes game areas, inflatable bounce-houses, trampolines, a Merry-Go-Round, an imaginary village, a jungle gym, slides, a giant ball pit and more.
- Mary Washington Primary Care recently moved its practice at 120 Executive Center Parkway in Fredericksburg just down the street to 130 Executive Center Parkway.
- The Google profile for the planned KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot restaurant at 1791 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Central Park is listing a Dec. 31 opening date.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
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Anne Darron
Anne Darron will retire from her role as executive director of Washington Heritage Museums effective May 15 following 12 years at the helm of the preservation-focused organization. A search for a new executive director is expected to start soon.
- Lorton-based United Air Temp is coming up on its two-year anniversary of acquiring heating and air company Robert B. Payne. United Air Temp, which is a portfolio holding of Charlotte, N.C.-based investment company Summit Park, acquired Robert B. Payne in January 2024. The company continues to operate locally as Robert B. Payne from its Lafayette Boulevard office in Fredericksburg.
- The Fredericksburg Clean & Green Commission recently honored downtown businesses with the 2025 Sustainability Awards, which recognize businesses “that show environmental leadership within the community.” Businesses honored included: Riverby Books, Blue Sage Massage Studio, River Rock Outfitter, Collage Spa, Phosphene Studio, Anita’s Cafe & Dessert Bar, Orofino, Foode, Fillagreen and Original Grinds.
- The University of Mary Washington will add a Master of Science in Nursing degree, with enrollment starting in 2026-27.
- Mary Washington Healthcare this week announced the “advancement of neurological care at Mary Washington Hospital, with the Primary Stroke Center adding thrombectomy capabilities to treat strokes.”
- Jayne Johnson will retire from her role as executive director of Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity (GFHFH) effective Feb. 1. Johnson will be succeeded by Mimi Mitchell, who will join GFHFH from Volunteer Hampton Roads, where she currently serves as CEO.
- University of Mary Washington seniors Karla Bonilla Lizama and Evelyn Centellas won the Fall 2025 College of Business Case Competition — titled “Reel Choices: The Crossroads of a Movie Studio’s Destiny” — for their ideas, presentation and polish.
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Susan Spears
The guest on this week’s edition of the Biz Beat Banter podcast is Susan Spears, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.
- Stafford Regional Airport is seeking to officially change its name to Washington Executive — Stafford Regional Airport. The new name would appear in pilot-oriented publications, but not on public-facing signs. The change would aim to attract more fuel sales by better communicating to pilots the airport’s services and proximity to Washington, said Stafford Regional Airport Authority Chairman Chris Hornung. The City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County, which both have representation on the Airport Authority, have endorsed the change. Hornung said the name change should take effect next year.
- Longtime Fredericksburg Parent owner Leigh Anne Van Doren and The Healing Station Executive Director Dr. Denise L. Willis both received the Laurie A. Wideman Enterprising Woman’s Award on Tuesday from the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.
REAL ESTATE REVIEW
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This Lake Anna home sold last week for $2.05 million. See the link in the text for a full list of homes that sold in the region last week.
There were 94 homes sold this past week in the Fredericksburg area, including a $2.05 million sale on Lake Anna, according to the weekly sales list from the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR). Check back weekly for the new list.
- Fredericksburg’s Planning Commission on Wednesday will hold public hearings on two proposed development projects in the City:
- A rezoning and special-use permit to allow a data center project on the 84-acre Hylton tract on the east side of Interstate 95 between Plank Road and Cowan Boulevard. The project could include four data-center buildings totaling 2.1 million square feet, along with an electrical substation. The City staff report recommends that the Planning Commission hold the public hearing and “formulate a recommendation for the City Council and a determination on the proposed substation’s conformance with the Comprehensive Plan.”
- A special-exception and special-use permit for a 1.9-acre, mixed-use development at 2015 and 2105 Princess Anne St. that could include 21 townhouses and a renovation of the existing commercial building on site. The project would also include a pedestrian connection to the Caroline Street river trail. The City staff report recommends approval.
- Five Stafford data center projects that were approved — or could be built without county supervisors’ approval — before the locality enacted stricter regulations were grandfathered last week. Also, the Spotsylvania Planning Commission last week endorsed a 300-foot buffer and 400-foot setbacks from structure to structure for data center developers looking to build near residential properties, hospitals, childcare facilities, public and private schools, parks and places of worship.
- Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer reports the following additional recent leases:
- House of Cars relocated to a new space totaling 4,300 square feet at Plank Road Plaza, 3940 Plank Road, in Spotsylvania
- Scafa’s Inc. renewed its lease of 3,250 square feet of retail space at Millgarden Plaza, 10341 Courthouse Road, in Spotsylvania
- Burke & Herbert Bank and Trust Company renewed its lease of 2,400 square feet of office space at Cowan Retail Center Condominiums, 2535 Cowan Blvd., in Fredericksburg
- Colony Tire & Service leased 2,176 square feet of retail space at 248 Warrenton Road in Stafford
- Apex Automotive leased 1,450 square feet of industrial space at 33 McWhirt Loop, Suite 113, in Stafford
- Namak Mirch LLC leased 1,320 square feet of retail space at The Shops at Lee’s Hill, 10601-10635 Spotsylvania Avenue, in Spotsylvania
Biz Beat Roundup runs every Wednesday and includes a roundup of business news from around the Fredericksburg region. Send submissions to: bill.freehling@fredericksburgfreepress.com
