Small Business

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Business
Record stores in Richmond, VA
Find your next favorite band or album at a local shop.
April 16, 2026 06:40 PM
 · 
Elise Steele
Two photos sit side by side -- one of Dot in black and white and one of Cookie in color. Dot sits on a chair with one leg propped up, a striped dress on, and short, curly dark hair. In the second photo, Cookie stands in a light pink button-up blouse and white shorts in front of the original facade of Dot's Back Inn, which is white brick with a striped dark green awning. Cookie has dark hair cut just above her shoulders. She's smiling.
History
Dot’s Back Inn: A love letter to “the quintessential Richmond server”
Learn about the headstrong women who inspired, founded, and shaped Bellevue’s Dot’s Back Inn.
March 25, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
A wall of white shelves display colorful yarn in the local craft store SCRAP RVA.
Small Business
Shop local craft stores in RVA
JOANN closed its doors last week, but what about the Richmonders half-way through crochet projects?
March 3, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
ILYSM owner, Mariela Gavino, leans against a red workshop table. In front of her, a soft-pink sign props against the table's leg and reads, "I Love You So Much" and "Pre-Loved Books" in handwritten, red lettering.
Small Business
ILYSM Books opens storefront in Richmond, VA
Originally a pop-up book vendor, ILYSM celebrates its first week as a Brookland Park resident.
February 24, 2025
 · 
Elise Steele
Two women try on clothes at a boutique store in Fredericksburg.
Sponsored
💕 Sip, shop, and celebrate your gal pals
Sponsored by
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Food
Hop into Richmond: 6 local breweries you should try
Richmond is one of the top beer cities in the US and these locally owned breweries are helping put the beer scene on the map.
January 22, 2025
 · 
Mitch Hooper
A man puts bread into an oven. He's wearing a white apron and placing a tray of loaves into a silver drawer-like oven inside a bakery. Commercial kitchen equipment surrounds the image, with blue sky visible through a window at the far side of the room.
Food
Join the sourdough revolution in Richmond
The bread type is more popular than ever, and we’re here to help you find the best loaves in Richmond, or start making your own.
January 17, 2025
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
The sun is low in the sky over the horizon. We are overlooking the James River, with wintry landscape and trees in covering the far bank toward the sun, and a bridge with rounded arches in the foreground. The sun shines orange and yellow, with a brief patch of sky mirroring those colors, before dark green and blue-looking clouds spot through the rest of the sky.
Wellness
A few ways to make good on New Year’s resolutions in Richmond
Here are some ideas to help get you on your way to some commons goals for the new year in our city.
January 8, 2025
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
A GIF of hands kneading bread, a woman placing bread into a wood-fired oven, and the Science Museum of Virginia.
Sponsored
🥐 Add to cal: Some much-kneaded inspiration
Explore the science behind baking the perfect loaf during this free lecture series at the Science Museum of Virginia.
Sponsored by
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Business
Celebrating Small Business Saturday in Richmond
Richmond is made up of so many wonderful small businesses — here are a few our readers love in honor of Small Business Saturday.
November 26, 2024
 · 
Staff
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Play
12 staycation ideas in Richmond
From private islands to a riverside manor, Richmond is full of special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditional motels and hotels.
November 19, 2024
 · 
Staff
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A graphic from Style Weekly; The background is aqua blue, and a central text bubble shows "Best of Richmond 2026" in pink bubble-letter text; text wrapping around the central text repeats "Readers' Poll" and displays "Style Weekly" in the top right; A zig-zag bubble at the top left of the central text features a pink background and yellow border; yellow text in the bubble says "Vote Now March 9-31"
Culture
Vote for RICtoday in Best of Richmond 2026 poll
RICtoday has been nominated in Style Weekly’s annual Best of Richmond poll, and you can cast your votes now through the end of March.
March 13, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
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Small Business
Local love: RICtoday’s guide to reader-recommended small businesses
Put your money where your community is and help us create a guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local spots and sharing this page with a friend.
March 12, 2026
 · 
Staff
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City
Breaking down the city’s 2026 winter storm report
Crunch the numbers with us, and see what areas of improvement the city noted following Richmond’s double-header winter storms.
March 11, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A grassy area of colorful wildflowers.
Travel and Outdoors
How to turn your Richmond yard into a mini wildlife haven
Help beautify your neighborhood, and become part of a nationwide habit network.
March 10, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
a photo of the patio at union market
Play
Outdoor dining in Richmond
Make the most of good weather by taking your meals al fresco on one of Richmond’s many beautiful patios.
March 5, 2026
 · 
Staff
A hand-painted emblem represents Legend Brewing Company's "My Faire Lady" beer. The painting is in the shape of an oval with two overlaid gold and navy blue banners below the bottom rim of the oval; the first, outer layer of the oval includes the text, "My Faire Lady" and a wreath of greenery; the interier oval includes encompassing greenery over a red background on the top section and a green background on the bottom section; a white unicorn, central to the emblem, rears its front legs upward, and a woman wearing a navy blue dress with red and gold accent + a gold hood sits atop the unicorn, weilding an upward sword.
Events
RVA Ren Faire + Legend Brewing Co. collab on specialty beer + release party
“My Faire Lady” debuts this weekend. Learn about the beer, the party, and the inspiration behind the beer’s hand-painted symbol.
March 3, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A pink pillow with a needlepoint-made patch that reads, "Ask me about my needlepoint."
Culture
Where to find needlepoint supplies around Richmond, VA
Needlepoint is one of the hottest “anolog” hobbies right now. Find our where to find supplies and meet other stitchers.
March 2, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
A collection of sticky notes and pieces of colorful paper pined to a map, laid out on a table; the notes have writing on them.
City
Help shape RVA’s future with these three feedback opportunities
We found three online surveys to help you share feedback on budgeting, parks, and public safety.
February 25, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
RIC_varina_library_FEB
Culture
Library speed dating: Varina Area Library
Fall in love with your local libraries in and around Richmond.
February 23, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele
An exhibit from The Valentine Museum of the lunch counter from Richmond sit-ins
History
Honoring the legacy of the Richmond 34
In February 1960, 34 Virginia Union Students were arrested for a sit-in protest — a pivotal moment in Richmond’s Civil Rights Movement.
February 20, 2026
 · 
Elise Steele