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What's next for Chesterfield's $173M Shoosmith Landfill cleanup

The bigger fights over test results, long-term funding and accountability are just beginning.

News

Virginia lawmakers are demanding the release of environmental test results at the bankrupt Shoosmith Landfill as work to stabilize the site moves forward, saying they want proof that it poses no public health risks.Why it matters: The Chesterfield landfill has become one of Virginia&#x27;s biggest environmental cleanup challenges, with an estimated $173 million cleanup cost that may ultimately fall to taxpayers.

Richmond's potato building gets the love it deserves

An architecture-loving creator spotlighted the quirky Markel Building and its baked potato inspiration.

Real Estate

Richmond&#x27;s baked potato-inspired office building is finally getting the love it deserves, thanks to a roving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="architecture-loving content creator." data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DadrEcutX2I/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="feefba92-8865-4318-bfe4-37b437f379b2" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s potato building gets the love it deserves" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DadrEcutX2I/?hl=en" target="_blank">architecture-loving content creator.</a> Why it matters: Once maligned as one of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;10 ugliest buildings in the world" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-markel-building-richmond-virginia" data-vars-content-id="feefba92-8865-4318-bfe4-37b437f379b2" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s potato building gets the love it deserves" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-markel-building-richmond-virginia" target="_blank">&quot;10 ugliest buildings in the world</a>,&quot; The Markel Building is a local treasure and now at least one influencer seems to agree.

A make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump has 100+ flavors

The Ramyum Zip has floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with over 100 different ramen flavors.

Food and Drink

There&#x27;s a newish make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ramyun Zip" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/theramyunzip.richmond/" data-vars-content-id="73fbfe21-5cf8-4571-a1cb-0b608029bd52" data-vars-headline="A make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump has 100+ flavors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/theramyunzip.richmond/" target="_blank">Ramyun Zip</a> has floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with over 100 different ramen flavors.

Virginia's best-paying jobs are most exposed to AI, report says

Virginia ranks fifth for workplace AI adoption, putting many white-collar jobs at greater risk of change.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/02/richmond-ai-job-impact-young-workers-entry-level-hiring-decline-virginia" data-vars-content-id="b85c5a9e-11c9-4835-8490-fecd80d34dd9" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s best-paying jobs are most exposed to AI, report says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/02/richmond-ai-job-impact-young-workers-entry-level-hiring-decline-virginia" target="_self">AI</a> is rapidly reshaping Virginia workplaces and it&#x27;s doing so faster than previous technology shifts, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://virginiaworks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AI-Implications-Report-June-2026-FINAL-LOCKED.pdf" data-vars-content-id="b85c5a9e-11c9-4835-8490-fecd80d34dd9" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s best-paying jobs are most exposed to AI, report says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://virginiaworks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AI-Implications-Report-June-2026-FINAL-LOCKED.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> from the state&#x27;s workforce development agency. Why it matters: Virginia&#x27;s high-paying, higher education-backed jobs are the ones most vulnerable to AI-driven disruptions.

Benny's giant pizza lands in Scott's Addition

The Virginia pizza chain's second Richmond location also gives Scott's Addition another late-night food option.

Benny&#x27;s newest Richmond outpost is open in Scott&#x27;s Addition. Why it matters: There&#x27;s only one Virginia-based pizza chain that serves giant pizza slices and pies, and Richmond now has two locations.

Scott's Addition gets a new EDM venue at Pandora Café

The Venezuelan spot has transformed its back room into a dance floor built by local volunteers.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="A Venezuelan cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/13/richmond-coffee-rave-scotts-addition-pandora-cafe" data-vars-content-id="8db7c29d-1680-48bf-9774-c640324a8389" data-vars-headline="Scott&#x27;s Addition gets a new EDM venue at Pandora Café" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/13/richmond-coffee-rave-scotts-addition-pandora-cafe" target="_self">A Venezuelan cafe</a> in Scott&#x27;s Addition is Richmond&#x27;s newest electronic dance music venue.Why it matters: After hosting coffee raves in the front for months, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pandora Café" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/pandoracaferva/" data-vars-content-id="8db7c29d-1680-48bf-9774-c640324a8389" data-vars-headline="Scott&#x27;s Addition gets a new EDM venue at Pandora Café" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/pandoracaferva/" target="_blank">Pandora Café</a> has converted its backroom into a clubbier nighttime spot called &quot;Pandora House Music.&quot;

Drought puts new focus on data centers' water use

Public frustration over the drought has centered in part on data centers' water use.

Richmond-area households aren&#x27;t the only ones being asked to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="conserve water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/22/richmong-drought-virginia-water-conservation-spanberger" data-vars-content-id="492d0f41-f531-481f-aab2-28cbf1c3256f" data-vars-headline="Drought puts new focus on data centers&#x27; water use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/22/richmong-drought-virginia-water-conservation-spanberger" target="_self">conserve water</a> during the ongoing drought: data centers and other large industrial water users are also facing calls to cut back. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Public" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1uk5zz4/i_will_not_be_conserving_water_if_data_centers/" data-vars-content-id="492d0f41-f531-481f-aab2-28cbf1c3256f" data-vars-headline="Drought puts new focus on data centers&#x27; water use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1uk5zz4/i_will_not_be_conserving_water_if_data_centers/" target="_blank">Public</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frustration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaT-nXWoh0M/" data-vars-content-id="492d0f41-f531-481f-aab2-28cbf1c3256f" data-vars-headline="Drought puts new focus on data centers&#x27; water use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaT-nXWoh0M/" target="_blank">frustration</a> over the drought has centered in part on data centers&#x27; water use, but local officials say data centers are also being asked to conserve — and aren&#x27;t among the region&#x27;s largest water consumers.

Meta, Google invest in skilled worker training to build Virginia data centers

Richmond-area data center growth is fueling new training for electricians, welders and other trades.

Business

Meta and Google both recently announced multi-million dollar investments in training programs for skilled trade workers to build the data center workforce they need. Why it matters: Meta has a data center in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Henrico" data-vars-click-url="https://datacenters.atmeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Meta_s-Henrico-Data-Center.pdf" data-vars-content-id="e5a607d3-1c62-43bf-a370-e95b4d9ea182" data-vars-headline="Meta, Google invest in skilled worker training to build Virginia data centers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://datacenters.atmeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Meta_s-Henrico-Data-Center.pdf" target="_blank">Henrico</a> and Google has three in the works in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chesterfield" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/11/17/google-chesterfield-county-virginia-data-center-plans" data-vars-content-id="e5a607d3-1c62-43bf-a370-e95b4d9ea182" data-vars-headline="Meta, Google invest in skilled worker training to build Virginia data centers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/11/17/google-chesterfield-county-virginia-data-center-plans" target="_self">Chesterfield</a>.

Scandinavian candy shop opens this week in former Idle Hands space

We got a sneak peek of Trolley Car Sweets and Treats ahead of its Wednesday opening on Strawberry Street.

Trolley Car Sweets and Treats, the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Scandinavian candy shop" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/27/richmond-scandinavian-candy-store-idle-hands" data-vars-content-id="0fbb30d5-8aad-4058-bfcf-cbfde5ba2851" data-vars-headline="Scandinavian candy shop opens this week in former Idle Hands space" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/27/richmond-scandinavian-candy-store-idle-hands" target="_self"> Scandinavian candy shop</a> that took over the former Idle Hands space, opens Wednesday on Strawberry Street.Why it matters: We got a sneak peek inside, where roughly 100 Swedish and Scandinavian candies like gummies, marshmallows and licorice line the shelves.

Lucky AF opens in Short Pump Saturday, Forest Hill in August

The Short Pump restaurant launches this weekend, with another Lucky AF and a new Italian concept to follow.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lucky AF&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/02/26/scoop-lucky-af-short-pump-bakers-crust" data-vars-content-id="c99faffa-91be-47a7-8ed1-309c00586118" data-vars-headline="Lucky AF opens in Short Pump Saturday, Forest Hill in August" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/02/26/scoop-lucky-af-short-pump-bakers-crust" target="_self">Lucky AF&#x27;s</a> newest Richmond-area location opens Saturday in the former Baker&#x27;s Crust space at Short Pump Town Center. Why it matters: It&#x27;s the first of three new local restaurants ownership group <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eat Restaurant Partners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/10/04/lucky-af-sushi-forest-hill-south-richmond" data-vars-content-id="c99faffa-91be-47a7-8ed1-309c00586118" data-vars-headline="Lucky AF opens in Short Pump Saturday, Forest Hill in August" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/10/04/lucky-af-sushi-forest-hill-south-richmond" target="_self">Eat Restaurant Partners</a> will open this summer — including another for Short Pump and one in Forest Hill.

Why Richmond's brewing powerhouses are teaming up

Hardywood's deal to brew Legend Brown Ale reflects the pressures facing craft breweries nationwide.

The partnership between two Richmond brewing powerhouses — Legend Brewing Co. and Hardywood Park Craft Brewery — announced last week comes amid a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tumultuous time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/21/sapporo-richmond-brewery-hub-stone-sale" data-vars-content-id="3bcc3958-a936-46e3-b187-55e43070ae8a" data-vars-headline="Why Richmond&#x27;s brewing powerhouses are teaming up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/21/sapporo-richmond-brewery-hub-stone-sale" target="_self">tumultuous time</a> for the craft brewing industry. Why it matters: The deal for Hardywood to produce and distribute Legend&#x27;s flagship Brown Ale is as much about weathering the difficult craft beer environment as it is about collaboration.

What Dominion-NextEra merger could mean for Richmond bills

Supporters tout short-term bill relief, while critics warn future rate hikes could erase the gains.

State lawmakers and consumer advocates are questioning how beneficial the proposed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/18/dominion-nextera-merger-richmond-virginia" data-vars-content-id="c4fb0882-b4ec-46d2-84f4-e111180b47ab" data-vars-headline="What Dominion-NextEra merger could mean for Richmond bills" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/18/dominion-nextera-merger-richmond-virginia" target="_self">Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy</a> merger will actually be for Virginians&#x27; wallets.Why it matters: The deal comes with billions of dollars in credits for Dominion customers, so it&#x27;s certain to affect Richmonders&#x27; power bills, but it&#x27;s unclear by how much and for how long.

CoStar testing giant LED display on Richmond tower

The skyscraper's LED glass system will display patterns, holiday themes and AI nature scenes.

CoStar has been testing the LED display on its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="downtown office tower" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/02/21/costar-richmond-jobs-hiring" data-vars-content-id="9082b7a1-b276-4f29-977b-b0edc5cda3cf" data-vars-headline="CoStar testing giant LED display on Richmond tower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/02/21/costar-richmond-jobs-hiring" target="_self">downtown office tower</a>. Why it matters: If you&#x27;ve seen flashing lights emanating from just north of the river, you&#x27;re not hallucinating.

Bar chart showing estimated U.S. water use by sector. Cattle and power plants are the largest users, while data centers use a small fraction of the water consumed by major industries and households.

Estimated U.S. water use, select industries

Data: Cleanview analysis of government, industry and academic sources, including 2024 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study; Note: Power plants include fossil fuel and nuclear facilities. Data centers include on-site cooling and associated electricity generation; Chart: Amy Harder/Axios

Business 🏦

Benny's giant pizza lands in Scott's Addition

Scott's Addition gets a new EDM venue at Pandora Café

Richmond's potato building gets the love it deserves

Drought puts new focus on data centers' water use

Meta, Google invest in skilled worker training to build Virginia data centers