BUSINESS ACTIVITY
Kalahari Resorts will open its Spotsylvania County waterpark resort and convention center Nov. 12, the company announced this week. On Friday morning, a caravan of eight trucks will arrive at the resort carrying massive, hand-crafted animal sculptures including one or more crocodiles, elephants, zebras, giraffes and rhinos. The “Safari Migration” is stopping this week in Roanoke, Richmond, Williamsburg and Washington before arriving in Spotsylvania around 10 a.m. Friday. The sculptures will be lifted by crane and installed on the outside of the Spotsylvania resort, which is off U.S. 1 in the Thornburg area.- The Chunky Cup, a bubble-tea shop, has opened at 1211 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg’s Eagle Village shopping center (former Sweet Frog location).
- The following businesses are locating in Fredericksburg, according to the City’s most-recent FXBG Snapshot newsletter: Bonita’s Hair at 1990 Plank Road, Zadran’s Kitchen at 104 Wolfe St., and Glo by G Aesthetics at 2217 Princess Anne St. The owners of Zadran’s Kitchen are also starting a food truck called RaZ Street Eats that will operate 5-11 p.m. at 1411 Princess Anne St. in Fredericksburg.
- The Marshall and Russell former residence halls are being demolished at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) as part of UMW’s new theatre project.
- The children’s-oriented retail store FORT is moving from Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg to 417 William St. (formerly home to Joshua Lawrence Salon). Saturday will be the last day for the Caroline Street store, and the business is targeting a June opening at the William Street location. FORT also has a Richmond store, and a Fredericksburg play space at 202 Herndon St.
- The airport formerly known as Stafford Regional Airport is now officially called Washington Executive — Stafford Regional Airport. The change aims to attract more fuel sales by better communicating to pilots the airport’s services and proximity to Washington.
- FlixBus, an inter-city bus service, is expanding its Greater Washington network with two new stops in Tysons Corner and Fredericksburg starting Thursday. The local stop is at 4240 Plank Road in Spotsylvania. Service is available to destinations including Washington, Richmond and New York.
- The Vakos Companies is making some improvements to the vacant lot next to The Publisher Hotel along William Street downtown. New sod and flower beds will be planted at the lot, which could start hosting events. Eventually Vakos plans to develop the lot.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
UMW President Troy Paino recently wrote an op-ed about the school’s Division III men’s basketball national championship entitled “This is the Basketball You’ve Been Missing.” UMW is planning an event called Fan Fest from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 to celebrate the championship. The team will travel downtown in a trolley for a parade before the event (2:30-3:15 p.m.). People can make posters for free at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center Friday and Saturday.- Longtime Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) President and CEO Fred Rankin is the guest on this week’s edition of the Biz Beat Banter podcast. Fred discusses his time at MWHC and gives his thoughts on what makes for a healthy and happy retirement.
- Eastern Virginia Career College in Spotsylvania and Richmond is the subject of this week’s Biz Beat Clips video.
- UMW’s Continuing and Professional Studies Department is offering a new course for people wanting to become Certified Medical Office Managers.
- The Fredericksburg SPCA has signed local veterinarian and founder of Auravet, Dr. Lindsey Aebli, to serve as interim Veterinarian-in-Charge (VIC). The SPCA previously had to limit animal intake because of the departure of its VIC earlier this year.
- The Historic Fredericksburg Foundation has started a free lecture series on Fredericksburg’s “Revolutionary War Heroes” to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The lectures are at 7 p.m. every other Thursday at the Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4 at 803 Princess Anne St.
- Rotary Club of Fredericksburg plans its annual reverse-raffle event the evening of June 12 at Fredericksburg Country Club to raise money for its scholarship fund for graduating high school students. For tickets, contact Jerry Pederson at pedersongerald10@gmail.com.
- Stafford Hospital recently welcomed 100 Stafford high school students for the third-annual Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Symposium, an immersive, daylong experience designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
REAL ESTATE REVIEW
The median housing price for the 454 homes that sold in March in the Fredericksburg region was $479,500, up 1 percent year-over-year, according to data released this week by the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR). Homes averaged 49 days on the market before getting a ratified contract. There was a 2.2-month supply of homes at the end of March. Stafford County had the highest median sales price ($550,000), followed by King George County ($499,275), Fredericksburg ($490,500), Spotsylvania County ($475,000), Orange County ($414,000), Caroline County ($375,000) and Colonial Beach ($339,000). Here are additional data for March for each locality:
- There were 72 home sales in the Fredericksburg region last week, including one for more than $1 million, according to this week’s report from FAAR. Check back weekly for the past-week data.
- Johnson Realty Advisors reports the following commercial leases in March:
- Compassus, five-year lease for 2,759-square-foot office at 100 Riverside Parkway (Suite 203) in Stafford
- Permaskin Beauty Center, 10-year lease for 2,027-square-foot office at 10712 Ballantraye Drive (Suite 308) in Spotsylvania
- The Clothing Commission, five-year lease for 2,416-square-foot retail space at 1094 Winchester St. in Fredericksburg (Winchester Place commercial space at the corner of Amelia and Winchester streets). The menswear company has locations in Lynchburg, Roanoke and Charlottesville, all operating under different brand names. It’s targeting a September opening locally.
- CMR, 48,000-square-foot industrial lease at 16300 International St. in the Doswell area (adjacent to the 50,000-square-foot space the company previously leased)
- Reyes Fleet Management, three-year lease for 2,567-square-foot office at 1701 Fall Hill Avenue (Suite D) in Fredericksburg
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
