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Ukrop's gets a bigger footprint inside Richmond-area Kroger

A renovated Midlothian Kroger will soon feature a dedicated section for Ukrop's favorites.

Business

The Kroger on Midlothian near Winterfield is getting a bigger and bolder section for Ukrop&#x27;s products. Why it matters: It&#x27;s like Ukrop&#x27;s Super Markets never left us.

Solo dining is surging in Virginia. Here's where to go in Richmond

Reservations for one are up 13% statewide, per OpenTable, and Richmonders are embracing the trend, too.

Food and Drink

Solo dining is having a moment in Virginia, with reservations for one up 13% year over year, per OpenTable data shared with Axios.Why it matters: That growth might look like another sign of America&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="loneliness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/30/americans-eating-along-happiness-report" data-vars-content-id="322014c9-ca61-4caa-968a-85f8eb33e6b1" data-vars-headline="Solo dining is surging in Virginia. Here&#x27;s where to go in Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/30/americans-eating-along-happiness-report" target="_self">loneliness</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="epidemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/03/surgeon-general-vivek-murthy-fights-loneliness" data-vars-content-id="322014c9-ca61-4caa-968a-85f8eb33e6b1" data-vars-headline="Solo dining is surging in Virginia. Here&#x27;s where to go in Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/03/surgeon-general-vivek-murthy-fights-loneliness" target="_self">epidemic</a>. But many solo diners say eating alone offers a rare chance to slow down, reflect and savor the small stuff, reports <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Washington Post." data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2026/07/16/want-truly-appreciate-dining-out-eat-alone/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzg0MjYwODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzg1NjQzMTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3ODQyNjA4MDAsImp0aSI6IjY3NmQ2ZDQ5LWY2MzEtNGFiNy05Mjg0LTE0NmY5MGMxMDhhZSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9mb29kLzIwMjYvMDcvMTYvd2FudC10cnVseS1hcHByZWNpYXRlLWRpbmluZy1vdXQtZWF0LWFsb25lLyJ9.Uiytd5gDDZOXZlEPzwCS_cs471ZgpDX1UunlBO27VyE" data-vars-content-id="322014c9-ca61-4caa-968a-85f8eb33e6b1" data-vars-headline="Solo dining is surging in Virginia. Here&#x27;s where to go in Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2026/07/16/want-truly-appreciate-dining-out-eat-alone/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzg0MjYwODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzg1NjQzMTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3ODQyNjA4MDAsImp0aSI6IjY3NmQ2ZDQ5LWY2MzEtNGFiNy05Mjg0LTE0NmY5MGMxMDhhZSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9mb29kLzIwMjYvMDcvMTYvd2FudC10cnVseS1hcHByZWNpYXRlLWRpbmluZy1vdXQtZWF0LWFsb25lLyJ9.Uiytd5gDDZOXZlEPzwCS_cs471ZgpDX1UunlBO27VyE" target="_blank">the Washington Post.</a>

Richmond restaurant hit with erroneous $60K water bill

Her usual bill is about $1,500, but a meter issue led to a $58,486 charge and a cash crunch.

News

A Richmond restaurant owner says the city mistakenly pulled roughly $60,000 from her bank account this week for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="utility bill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/07/08/richmond-dpu-utility-billing-problems-new-system-payments-account-numbers" data-vars-content-id="1c440395-771c-4e8c-bb8c-1adac040b2f5" data-vars-headline="Richmond restaurant hit with erroneous $60K water bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/07/08/richmond-dpu-utility-billing-problems-new-system-payments-account-numbers" target="_self">utility bill</a> that typically would&#x27;ve been around $1,500.Why it matters: The erroneous charge left <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Harry&#x27;s at Hofheimer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/10/16/scotts-addition-speakeasy" data-vars-content-id="1c440395-771c-4e8c-bb8c-1adac040b2f5" data-vars-headline="Richmond restaurant hit with erroneous $60K water bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/10/16/scotts-addition-speakeasy" target="_self">Harry&#x27;s at Hofheimer</a> owner Natalie McNamara scrambling to get her money back and raised fresh questions about the city&#x27;s billing system amid ongoing problems.

Solo travel searches hit a record high in 2026

More people are embracing the freedom of going wherever they want, whenever they want — without waiting for someone else.

Travel

Google searches for &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="solo travel" data-vars-click-url="https://trends.google.com/explore?geo=US&amp;q=solo%2520travel&amp;date=all" data-vars-content-id="34ae642b-f4d6-4d58-8a63-dd6a43aaffa2" data-vars-headline="Solo travel searches hit a record high in 2026" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://trends.google.com/explore?geo=US&amp;q=solo%2520travel&amp;date=all" target="_blank">solo travel</a>&quot; hit a nationwide record high in 2026, including in metro Richmond, where searches peaked between May and June.Why it matters: Solo travel is booming as more people embrace the freedom of going wherever they want, whenever they want — without waiting for someone else&#x27;s PTO to line up.

Richmond film tells overlooked Black stories from America's founding

As America turns 250, Abraham Peyton Skipwith's story is getting a new national audience through VPM and PBS.

A new Richmond-made documentary centers Black Americans in its telling of the nation&#x27;s founding story as the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary.Why it matters: One of the film&#x27;s main figures is a Richmonder whose own history is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="currently being restored" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/17/jackson-ward-skipwith-roper-cottage-homecoming" data-vars-content-id="612efd60-8118-4217-83b8-052a9e8baa84" data-vars-headline="Richmond film tells overlooked Black stories from America&#x27;s founding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/17/jackson-ward-skipwith-roper-cottage-homecoming" target="_self">currently being restored</a> in Jackson Ward.

Inside the Italian market tucked into a Church Hill garage

Giorno Market is bring Euro summer to Richmond with imported Italian goods, peachy umbrellas and no AC.

Things to Do

Sabrina here. The closest thing to an Italian summer in Richmond might be a converted garage in Church Hill.Why it matters: Almost everything at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Giorno Market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/giornomarket/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="65986078-f114-408c-bd3d-a97c6e941fea" data-vars-headline="Inside the Italian market tucked into a Church Hill garage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/giornomarket/?hl=en" target="_blank">Giorno Market</a> is imported from Italy, its peachy umbrellas are reminiscent of those on the Amalfi Coast and the lack of AC will make you feel very European in no time.

Richmond tourism spends up to $40K a year on influencers

The region's tourism board pays creators for reels and posts designed to turn followers into visitors.

Richmond Region Tourism spends an average of $30,000 to $40,000 a year on social media influencers, the tourism agency tells Axios. Why it matters: Influencers have become part of the hotel-tax-funded effort to draw visitors to the region — as social media increasingly shapes where people vacation.

Richmond is the 20th-fittest city in America, new ranking says

The city jumped 20 spots this year, beating New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

Culture

Richmond is getting ripped.The big picture: We’re the 20th-fittest city in America, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 American Fitness Index" data-vars-click-url="https://acsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-AFI-report_final.pdf" data-vars-content-id="a662ba91-e449-4fe4-af22-21580c4765f9" data-vars-headline="Richmond is the 20th-fittest city in America, new ranking says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://acsm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-AFI-report_final.pdf" target="_blank">2026 American Fitness Index</a> — up 20 spots from last year.

The world's largest yurt is for rent in Luray, Virginia

The three-story Shenandoah getaway sleeps 16 for about $1,000 a night — with a shot at winning $5,000.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="world’s largest yurt" data-vars-click-url="https://lurayyurt.com/" data-vars-content-id="e65a986a-e9d6-495c-8a46-79545ca8f2c6" data-vars-headline="The world&#x27;s largest yurt is for rent in Luray, Virginia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lurayyurt.com/" target="_blank">world’s largest yurt</a> — by bedrooms — is in Luray, Virginia.Why it matters: “Glamping” now looks like six king-sized bedrooms, a private home theater, an arcade, a barrel sauna and a private pond with kayaks.

The Richmond side hustle you can do from home

Poplin says nearly 600 laundry pros have washed 1.2 million pounds for Richmond-area customers.

Some Richmonders are turning laundry into a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="side hustle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/04/17/virginias-gig-workers-statistics" data-vars-content-id="dc1ed364-e33e-4d75-8669-a3b7f99577ae" data-vars-headline="The Richmond side hustle you can do from home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/04/17/virginias-gig-workers-statistics" target="_self">side hustle</a> to help bring in extra cash. Why it matters: Unlike food delivery or other gig jobs, laundry service <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Poplin" data-vars-click-url="https://poplin.co/" data-vars-content-id="dc1ed364-e33e-4d75-8669-a3b7f99577ae" data-vars-headline="The Richmond side hustle you can do from home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://poplin.co/" target="_blank">Poplin</a> can be done largely from home, making it an option for parents and others in need of flexible work.

Is Richmond the new New York City — or the new Miami?

Monroe Park is Central Park and the James River is Miami Beach. No, really.

Richmond is the new New York City. Or Miami. Depends who you ask.Why it matters: What started as a social media bit comparing RVA to New York and Miami has become a local inside joke, and people keep falling for it.

A Venezuelan restaurant is hiding inside a Short Pump skating rink

Come for the ice skating, stay for the Venezuelan mega-burgers, arepas and cachapas.

There&#x27;s a new-ish Venezuelan restaurant in Short Pump.Why it matters: It&#x27;s hidden inside of SkateNation and open even when the ice skating rink isn&#x27;t.