It looks like Pop’s Market will continue on under the tutelage of one of its downtown neighbors.
The market and cafe at 415 E. Grace St., which had reportedly been set to close this month, appears set to be taken over by Kimberly Love-Lindsey and Mike Lindsey, owners of restaurant Lillie Pearl across the street.
The wife-and-husband duo looks to be saving Pop’s from closure after filing an ABC application on Wednesday for the existing Pop’s space using the Pop’s Market brand as its trade name.
Kimberly Love-Lindsey and Mike Lindsey are the owners of Lillie Pearl. (BizSense file)
Pop’s Market has been operating out of the former Cokesbury books building downtown since 2015 under the ownership of son-and-mother duo Josh and Patti Wright. Named for Josh’s late father, the market’s sandwiches on fresh-baked bread and pasta-focused entrees have made it a popular downtown lunch and dinner destination.
But in the spring, the Times-Dispatch reported that Pop’s would be closing sometime this month.
Josh Wright and his mother Patti have owned Pop’s Market since 2015. (BizSense file)
Reached Wednesday, Josh Wright declined to comment on any deal that might be in place. Love-Lindsey and Lindsey couldn’t be reached for comment by press time.
If the Pop’s deal materializes, the restaurant would be a fourth spot for Love-Lindsey and Lindsey. They opened Lillie Pearl last fall at 416 E. Grace St. after years helping lead EAT Restaurant Partners.
In addition to Lillie Pearl, the couple is also opening two locations of their fried chicken concept Buttermilk and Honey — one in Hatch Local, a forthcoming food hall in Manchester, and the other in West Broad Marketplace in Short Pump.
It’s hot….it’s sticky….it’s summer! And what’s the best way to chill and get all cold and frosty? ICE CREAM! Here are some of the best spots RVA has to offer!
COCO + HAZEL 411 NORTH RIDGE ROAD, RICHMOND, VA 23229
Is a description even necessary after you’ve likely just drooled all over your phone screen or keyboard from looking at that feature image? Seriously though, this new-ish specialty milkshake and espresso shop in Richmond’s West End just opened in April 2019 and is already wow-ing customers (and Instagram followers) with their extravagant milkshakes. Named after the owner’s daughters, Coco + Hazel serves single origin roasted coffee from Oaxaca and ice cream from the ever popular Homestead Creamery. Treat yourself to an indulgent milkshake, topped with your choice of delicacies, ranging from a whole slice of cake or pie to a “stack of brownies,” a cookie sandwich, cotton candy, and more! Or you can opt to go all out with The Family Challenge, a banana split big enough for four, with two scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, pineapple compote, strawberry compote, four chocolate dipped waffle cones, hot fudge, rainbow sprinkles, peanuts, whipped cream, cherries, and last but not least, bananas. Sooo…you’ll meet us there in a few hours, right? (Photo credit: Mick Anders Photography/Coco + Hazel)
GELATI CELESTI LOCATIONS IN BON AIR, LIBBIE GROVE, SCOTT’S ADDITION, SHORT PUMP, AND THE WEST END
Heavenly handmade ice cream. That’s what you’ll find at Gelati Celesti, a locally-owned (and local favorite!) ice cream company that’s been operating in Richmond since 1984! Each batch of Gelati Celesti ice cream is made by hand with only the finest ingredients from around the world. Flavors are churned in small batches using special Italian equipment, which minimizes the air whipped into the ice cream, making it uniquely flavorful, thick and creamy.
DeLuca Gelato is a family-owned and operated gelateria, specializing in gelato, sorbetto, and specialty Italian desserts such as fresh-baked tortes, cannoli, Florentine cookies, mascarpone pudding, and European sipping chocolate. The idea for DeLuca Gelato was born during a trip to Rome in April 2004 when the owners realized how much they love gelato and thought that Richmond needed a gelateria. The idea became reality in 2007 and DeLuca Gelato has been making delicious gelato ever since! Stop in for a tasty treat and you can watch the gelato being made fresh each day through the window of the production room.
Coffee, burgers & baking is their passion, but everyone’s raving about their milkshakes. Home of the locally famous “crazy shakes,” Mabel’s Espresso Bakery Cafe is the perfect place to delight your eyes and tantalize your tastebuds at the same time. These amazing milkshakes are edible works of art that will provide a seriously delicious sugar rush. With options ranging from S’more Craziness to Cloud Nine to Cookie Licious and beyond, don’t be surprised if you find a candy bar, donut, or an entire chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich atop your shake. (If you just accidentally licked your screen, we won’t tell).
SCOOP RVA 403 STRAWBERRY STREET, RICHMOND, VA 23220
This small-batch ice cream shop opened in June 2018 in the Fan District and quickly became a hit with locals and visitors alike. With flavors including roasted strawberry, croissants & jam, and sweet corn & blackberry, you’re likely to find a new flavor you’ve never tried before, and it just might become your new favorite! We highly recommend trying one of their profiterole sundaes – a french pastry puff (baked fresh from sister store Whisk bakery) filled with your choice of ice cream, topping, sauce, and fresh whipped cream. Yes please!
The rolled ice cream craze arrived in RVA when NarWhals opened a sidewalk stand in Carytown several years ago. The popularity spread and you can now enjoy these rolled tubes of ice cream deliciousness at storefront locations in Carytown and Stony Point Fashion Park. Pick your base and mix-ins and watch the magic happen before your eyes as liquid ice cream is poured onto a freezing cold slab, tasty toppings are mixed in, then the yummy mixture is spread out and rolled up just for you!
KING OF POPS 3001 WEST CLAY STREET RICHMOND, VA 23230
King of Pops serves up yummy all-natural ice pops, handcrafted at the Pop Factory in Scott’s Addition since 2012. The ice pops are made with as many local ingredients as possible, such as milk from Homestead Creamery and berries from Agriberry. Enjoy the tasty pops at the King of Pops patio or look for their carts with rainbow umbrellas at various locations and events throughout the city.
CHARM SCHOOL 311 W BROAD STREET, RICHMOND, VA 23220
Since opening in December 2016, Charm School has quickly become a favorite spot for sweet treats in the Arts District. This cute gourmet ice cream shop on Broad Street was formerly home to an art gallery. After you savor every bite of your scoop of choice (we recommend ordering it with the signature house-made marshmallow-fluff topping, hand-torched to order), head outside and take a picture in front of the very Instagrammable “Greetings from Richmond” mural by local artist Mickael Broth and Ross Trimmer of Sure Hand Signs. Delectable ice cream and a photo op for the win! Oh, we almost forgot a very important detail: they also offer delicious vegan options! (Photo credit: Charm School)
THE DAIRY BAR 1602 ROSENEATH ROAD, RICHMOND, VA 23230
A Richmond tradition since 1946, The Dairy Bar was a local institution long before Scott’s Addition became the bustling craft beverage district that it is today. They offer a full (and delicious) breakfast and lunch menu seven days a week, but since we’re focusing on the sweet treats here, you need to know about their milkshakes, old time ice cream sodas, sundaes, and banana splits. Also, they’re still going strong after 72 years of business, so that pretty much speaks for itself.
Located in the heart of Jackson Ward, this gelato shop was certainly a welcome addition to the neighborhood when it opened in July 2016. Don’t let the name fool you though – Stoplight Gelato Cafe serves up all sorts of tasty treats! In addition to a variety of unique gelato and sorbetto flavors, soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, floats, sodas, milkshakes, and smoothies, they also serve up sandwiches, soups, handmade pizzas, a selection of homemade pastries, breakfast bites, and robust coffee options.
La Michoacana has been serving up a delicious variety of ice cream, smoothies, and paletas (Mexican dessert popsicles) since 2010. All of their frozen treats are made with natural fruit, which provides a rich flavor in every bite.
A Carytown staple, Bev has been making ice cream in Richmond since 1998. Beverly Mazursky graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1988 at age 49 and opened up the first Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream in Lenox, Massachusetts in 1989. Bev set her sights on Richmond in 1997 while visiting her son here. She moved to Richmond and opened her Carytown shop the next year, and the rest is history.
It’s no secret that many industries are suffering from supply chain issues. The pandemic panic caused people and businesses to buy an abundance of items (hello, toilet paper!). In addition, production decreased due to a decreased demand for certain products. The restaurant and food industry has been one of the biggest victims of this crisis – many establishments are being forced to change menus, hours, and more due to supply AND staffing shortages.
According to Forbes.com, “initial consumer shelf shortages in 2020 were the result of many consumers wrongly believing a food production crisis was imminent, and buying up everything they could. Over the past year, however, production—particularly production targeting restaurants—diminished due to reduced demand.
With states now reopening, people are flocking to restaurants again, and most suppliers did not anticipate how rapidly customers would return. This has led to restaurant supply chain disruptions, from chicken parts to restaurant workers. Wages for restaurant workers are rising due to worker “return” shortages, caused in some cases by employees collecting unemployment benefits that may be higher than their previous wages, or else due to delayed re-openings for daycares and schools, which have forced many parents to stay home and care for children instead of returning to work. And as an example of how interconnected everything is in business today, the restaurant industry is also being harmed by the computer chip shortage. In addition, rising gasoline prices have resulted in increased transportation costs (refrigeration truck pricing has risen over 20% from February to May), leading to increased food prices.”
Fortunately, Forbes has some ways to protect your business from the fallout of the crisis.
1. Invest in the right technology
Within your secure and up-to-date digital network, you need integrated data from customers, sales, suppliers, and producers through “state of the art” inventory management systems connecting you to your suppliers, your production facilities, your warehouses, and your sales organization.
Invest in inventory management software that can provide real-time, detailed visibility into inventory control and supply chain management, including inventory levels, stock on order, and supplier on-time performance. Knowing the inventory levels at your vendors and raw materials at your suppliers will help you avoid volatility in your supply chain.
TAKEAWAY: Technology investments are relatively cheap when compared to the lost sales caused by a lack of inventory.
2. Diversify suppliers and manufacturing partners
Do not count on environmental, social, and political (ESP) stability. Follow your business instincts, not a simplistic, cost-focused software algorithm. Case in point is the political and economic issues between China and the United States, which have led many large manufacturers to use multiple suppliers—even at marginally higher costs—to avoid losing business and customers from potential supply chain disruptions.
TAKEAWAY: Hedge your bets—don’t rely on one supplier for a key component of your product.
3. Incorporate risk management into your supply chain management
Supply chain management is not just the sourcing of raw materials. It involves the end-to-end flow of goods and services, and includes all processes that transform raw materials into final products. It involves the active streamlining of a business’s supply-side activities to maximize customer value and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Make sure you understand where you might have supply chain disruption that could affect product quality, pricing, and availability.
TAKEAWAY: Develop a supply chain risk matrix that allows the assessment of probabilities of supply chain disruption, and use it to mitigate and monitor risks.
4. Create a procure-to-pay purchasing system
Many functions in a business are not well integrated. Excel spreadsheets and manual processes are still common in many middle-market businesses. Procure-to-pay is a business process cycle spanning from procurement functions for goods and services needed, to receiving procedures (including verification), to accounts payable and accounting functions. Payables duties include vendor invoice matching to purchase orders and receiving reports, getting invoice approvals, paying approved invoices, recording transactions, and generating reports.
TAKEAWAY: Move from manual, paper-based purchasing to lower-cost, higher-control automated purchasing that links all relevant functions across your business.
5. Focus on the basics—cash is king
While thinking about supply chains, think about the supply chain involved with your cash flow. Do you conduct effective cash-flow forecasting? For example, how long can you last if there is a disruption and you cannot move your product? Is “just in time” inventory of materials and parts still a dependable theory? Do you have a line of credit or documents prepared to obtain a short-term loan if necessary to secure backup inventory? What is the cost of lost customers from not being able to sell your product due to shortages?
Good cash management is your ace in the hole, especially if your competitors lack this expertise. Successful businesses practice effective cash conversion cycle (CCC) management. CCC is a business measurement that expresses the time (measured in days) it takes for a company to convert its investments in inventory and other resources into cash flows from sales. Essentially, if your cash is tied up more days in inventory and raw materials than in days to collect on sales, then you could be “growing your company into the ground.” The more you grow, the more cash you will need from your bank.
TAKEAWAY: Focus on how long it takes to convert inventory to cash. Implement practices to accelerate cash collection from customers.
Coordination and cooperation are critical to avoid supply chain disruptions
Effective management of your supply chain provides several opportunities for your company to improve your profit margins and retain customers, but coordination and cooperation with all contributors to your supply chain is critical. Genuine engagement with those contributors is a win-win for manufactures and supply chain partners. Know this: your suppliers are ready (and in many cases eager) for change with you—this is a margin-increasing opportunity for them, too.
It’s hard to believe it, but Independence Day is this weekend! Wasn’t it just spring? Where has the time gone?! If you’re like us, you’re probably itching to get out and do something fun (FINALLY!). Check out some happenings going on this week and weekend to celebrate our freedom – and America’s birthday!
Sun. July 4, 2021 – Richmond Flying Squirrels – Independence Day Celebration & Dueling Fireworks – An annual Richmond tradition, celebrate the 4th of July at The Diamond and enjoy one of region’s largest firework shows after the game. | Gates open at 4:30 PM.
SUN., JULY 4, 2021 AT 5 PM – 10:30 PM – Fourth of July Celebration presented by Virginia Credit Union – Chesterfield County Fairgrounds
July 4th Parade & Celebration in Ashland, Virginia You are invited to join in Sunday, July 4 at 11am for the best small town July 4th Celebration around! Parade, Patriotic music, Pie Contest, Pet Contest, Food, Lawn games. For more information, contact The Hanover Arts & Activities Center, 500 S Center St Ashland, VA 23005.
Powhatan Freedom Festival on Sunday July 4th from 5pm-12am at the Powhatan fairgrounds, at the Powhatan County Fairgrounds, 4042 Anderson Highway. Fireworks show starts at nightfall.
Whatever you decide to you, please be careful. Every year, there are several injuries due to people setting off their own fireworks. In addition, please keep in mind that not everyone enjoys fireworks – please be respectful of your neighbors.
