raise funds, and the board included prominent names: Lewis F. Powell Jr. (a future U.S. Supreme Court justice), Richard S. Reynolds Jr., E. Claiborne Robins and John J. Wicker Jr. The board requested contributions ranging from $500 to $100,000. They raised $300,000 and set aside $50,000 for the garage. The conversion ultimately cost $285,145. The Arena Corp. leased the building from the city for $1 a year. That refurbishment provided 4,252 permanent seats by retractable bleachers — an innovative feature at the time. Additional bleachers provided another 900 seats. The capacity more than doubled that of any other facility in the region. On Dec. 17, 1954, 3,900 people packed the Arena to watch the University of Richmond, coached by Lester Hooker, play Virginia Military Institute, led by coach Chuck Noe. UR won 94-74. In 1997, Noe told Times-Dispatch reporter Mike Harris that the Arena be ered campus venues. “When we came from those old places to the Arena, well, we thought we were coming to Mecca,” Noe said. “It was a great place, it really was, and there were as many quality players who played there as you could see anywhere.” In 1955, the Harlem Globetro ers set an a endance record at the Arena, drawing 6,022 spectators. The Southern Conference held its college basketball tournament at the Arena for nine years, until a large, modern building lured the basketball tournament to Charlo e, North Carolina, in 1964. This was the shape of things to come. Richmond’s first master plan, dra£ed in 1946, advocated for a downtown “activ-
The Arena was known for ities center.” Downtown revivnumerous leaks. basketball, including early The Arena Corp. returned al fever of the 1960s renewed iterations of the Globetrotters, college games and local high the discussion. the facility’s operations to the school tournaments. Amid controversy, the city in 1973. 9,176-seat Coliseum opened to audiences The wrestling event on June 24, 1977, in August 1971. Other venues soon folheadlined by a tag team match between lowed. The Arena, once billed as the best Johnny Weaver and Wahoo McDaniel vs. and biggest event space within 400 miles, Ric Flair and Greg Valentine, was the last became the fi£h-largest hall in Richmond. of its kind at the Arena. Wrestling became The shared experiences of those who a biweekly event and relocated to the larger Coliseum. produced the events and the audiences In 1986, the events ranged from the that a ended them engendered affection for the Arena despite the building’s Greater Richmond Antiques Show to the shortcomings. 18th Annual Bavarian Style Richmond Oktoberfest. Radio personalities Bill The Arena lacked both insulation and Bevins and the late Steve “Mr. Beach” air conditioning. Leonard broadcast live from the Rich“The Arena was ho er than the hinges of hell,” recalled Rich Landrum, a profesmond International Auto Show. The Aresional wrestling ring announcer and telena’s civic life concluded that year with a Hertz used car sale on Oct. 10-11. vision host for “World Wide Wrestling” C. W. “Cy” Hudson, the Arena’s genfrom 1978-1982. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling historian Dick Bourne eral manager from 1958-1975, reflected, recorded these and other details for his “It’s done its duty. The dear old lady is about to fall down.” Except she didn’t. online archive. Another manager, Norman Gaines, The Arena’s exposed ra£ers inspired colorful comments from some wrestlers. asserted in 1997: “A lot of people said the Blackjack Mulligan once threatened to building was going to fall down and it is still standing. … I’m thinking it will put a rope around Johnny Weaver’s neck and hang him. In some spots, the beams really be missed. There are a lot of memsupporting the upper seating blocked ories there.” sight lines. Cigare e smoke hung in the The city sold the property to Virginia Commonwealth University for a soccer air, and the crowds were o£en rambuncand track complex and to serve as headtious. During the later years, a proliferaquarters for Richmond’s Sports Backers. tion of buckets collected rainwater from The Arena’s final event of September Arthur Ashe graces the cover of the program for the 1967 1997 involved welders’ torches and bullFidelity Bankers Invitational Tennis Tournament, which was held at the Arena. dozers. R
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A&E
SPECIAL EVENTS
HONOR AND SERVE
Jan. 19 is not only Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but it’s also recognized as a National Day of Service. This month, Richmond offers events that celebrate the civil rights icon and honor his legacy of supporting and empowering community. EVENT
JAN. 16 Virginia Union University hosts the 48th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Celebration at the Richmond Marriott at 7:30 a.m. The ticketed breakfast celebrates the legacy of the civil rights leader and the locals who uphold his principles. This year’s ceremony will recognize individuals and organizations whose ongoing work has led to the advancement of civil rights, educational equity and economic justice across the commonwealth. All proceeds benefit VUU’s scholarships and academic programming. vuu.edu
JAN. 19 Chesterfield County, Virginia State University and The Community Foundation for a greater Richmond host “Day On, Not a Day Off” events to promote volunteer service opportunities in the area. VSU students and Richmond region residents are encouraged to participate and give back in honor of King. chesterfield.gov and cfengage.org
ANTIQUES FOR ALL East Coast Exposition’s Virginia Antiques Expo is set to make its captivating debut at the Old Dominion Building at Richmond Raceway. Browse antique and fine art collectibles from across the globe amidst music, magicians and other live entertainment. This celebration of history and culture through art presents opportunities to meet local artisans and antique dealers. “There is something for everyone, of all generations,” says Kipton Currier, owner of East Coast Expositions (pictured above). “We’re showcasing antiques with a local flavor.” The show runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 23-24 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 25. For those eager to shop before the doors open, a First Look Breakfast from 9 to 10 a.m. on Jan. 23 offers a light breakfast and admission to all three days for $50. Single-day tickets are $15 ($20 at the door); three-day passes are $25. eastcoastexpo.com —Lauren Hall
JAN. 19-23
JAN. 31 The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia will screen “Echoes of a Dream,” a nine-minute film that explores King’s local impact. Directed by Tyrone Nelson Jr., the founder and CEO of Richmondbased Newviews Productions, the historical feature won the Audience Choice Award for Best Short during the 2025 Richmond International Film Festival. A discussion panel and Q&A session will follow the screening. The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is required. blackhistorymuseum.org
—Compiled by Nicole Cohen
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THEATER
RECORDS AND ROMANCE What be er se ing for a play about record collectors than an actual record store? And few record stores could be more fi ing than Plan 9, the venerable music hub located in Carytown. It’s where Cadence theater company will stage its production of “Love and Vinyl,” Feb. 6-22. Bob Bartle , a Washington, D.C.-based playwright, is no stranger to realworld productions — he notably set a Frankenstein story at Congressional Cemetery. Cadence, an innovative and community-centric company that typically mounts plays at the Firehouse Theatre or the Dominion Energy Center’s stages, has the unique challenge of fi ing three actors and an audience between long rows of record bins. The show promises to be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see an affectionate dramatization of the playful, intense and insightful interactions that have taken place in stores such as Plan 9 over the decades. Tickets are $50. cadencetheatre.org —PM
FROM TOP: DOUBLE IMAGE STUDIO; JASON COLLINS
Virginia Commonwealth University hosts a week of events commemorating the legacy of King, culminating with the MLK Keynote Celebration at the Institute for Contemporary Art starting at 5 p.m. on Jan. 22. This year’s theme is based on his quote, “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.” mlkday.vcu.edu
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One Shift at a Time HOSPITALITY PROS NAVIGATE RECOVERY
BY EILEEN MELLON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN CHESNEY
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EAT&DRINK
Butterflied branzino with ají amarillo beurre blanc
IN DEPTH
UNITED BY FIRE The owners of Lost Letter and Lillian debut The Brooklyn By Eileen Mellon
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concept with chef Andrew Manning) that now houses Lost Le er; and the tenured team that grounds the operation. There is a quiet confidence that shapes their workflow, and the couple says this effort carries the steadiness of experience. “This place is definitely like a third child, or a second child, in that sense,” Patrick says. The Brooklyn’s central distinction is its flames. A Marra Forni oven and custom grill from Grills by Demant radiate heat from the open kitchen, where chefs Ryan Diaz and Gary Heintzelman — alums of the Michelin-starred Vern’s in Charleston, South Carolina — helm the hearth.
Sazerac
FRED TURKO
s one approaches the latest project from chefs, restaurateurs and spouses Patrick Phelan and Megan Fitzroy Phelan, flickering flames are visible through the front window — a silent, unmistakable sign of what’s to come. Situated in a corner building at 1616 Summit Ave. in Sco ’s Addition, The Brooklyn is a compact, wood-fired refuge that thrives on contrasts: dark yet inviting, intimate yet energetic. Part wine and cocktail bar, part restaurant, part late-night destination, the new concept debuted in November. “The thing that brings it all together is just fire,” says Patrick, who also operates the nearby Lost Le er and Lillian with his wife. “It’ll unify everything.” Named for the couple’s 5-year-old son (sister restaurant Lillian honors their daughter), The Brooklyn continues a thread the duo never expected to extend across multiple blocks in Sco ’s Addition. Inside, the dining room takes its cues from two wood-fired vessels that anchor the space and set its cadence. “A lot of this was driven off the bar really close to Meg and I in New York,” Patrick says of their former city. “And we loved [that] ... you could come in and get a drink with someone quick and jet, or stay for hours and not feel like you’re putting pressure.” That sense of ease guides this venture, with the Phelans surrounded by familiar experts in its realization: woodworker Daniel Ricky, whose wraparound bar sweeps into a service area illuminated by heat lamps; Fultz & Singh Architects, Grilled pork skewer also responsible for Lillian and the former with dill, fennel pollen Longoven space (the Phelans’ first Richmond and tonnato
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find information on industry-specific pathways. This can help students identify which jobs are most in demand, learn about courses and apprenticeships specific to those fields, and even explore options for financial assistance. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, which regulates higher education institutes throughout the commonwealth, is launching its own information portal this year (available at schev. edu). Joseph DeFilippo, director of academic affairs and planning for SCHEV, says the portal is intended to serve as a one-stop shop for information about Virginia’s academic degree programs. “The new portal will enable prospective students to access all relevant aspects of programs, such as academic outcomes, earnings and pathways,” DeFilippo says. Like the VCCS, and soon SCHEV, the Virginia Department of Health Professions publishes online resources at
dhp.virgina.gov where potential professionals can explore their options in Virginia’s in-demand health roles with data from the department’s Healthcare Workforce Data Center. With those digital tools, future professionals can explore which jobs most interest them, then plot out a career path based on job demand, salary potential and educational costs. The Virginia Education Wizard also has a section tailored to K-12 students looking for a career, where youths can see the 100 fastest-growing fields in the state and develop a detailed map for careers that interest them, including much-needed health care roles.
GRANTING ACCESS Once students have chosen a prospective health care profession, the next challenge is getting them through school and into the workforce — preferably quickly and affordably. Recent federal legislation extended Pell Grant funding for higher education to short-term job training and other workforce development programs that credential professionals and prepare them for in-demand fields like health care. O en, because of the lower cost of community college, this bump in funding means that workers who receive their training through VCCS can have most of their course costs paid for with grants and other financial resources. VCCS FastForward programs, established in 2016, were created with fast, low-cost credentials in mind. “FastForward was designed to help students earn credentials in the most in demand jobs,” Pollard says. “It goes with the high-demand skills, but it’s also a tuition assistance program, which allows for the cost to be shared so that the students are not always picking up the cost.” The total out-of-pocket expense for a student enrolled in a FastForward program is an average of $800, according to Pollard. For example, Brightpoint’s pharmacy
JUSTIN TRAN
that needs to be provided, then we align our programs with those,” says VCCS spokesperson Susan Pollard. Reports such as Brightpoint’s indicate that reaching students in the K-12 education pipeline would likely have the biggest impact in addressing workforce shortages. A slew of handy online tools from institutions including VCCS is making it easier for counselors and other professionals to show workforce demands, salary expectations and other data to students as they begin to consider career options. The Virginia Education Wizard (vawizard.org), an online tool offered by VCCS, was established in 2009 and allows potential students to search for career training, degree programs and other pathways for entering the workforce. While not specifically limited to jobs and programs in the health care industry, the site allows users to set parameters and
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CONGRATULATIONS to our 2025 PRO Central Virginia Remodeler of the Year Award Winners. For a more in depth look at this year’s winners, see our feature in this month’s issue of R•Home magazine.
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