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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>

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 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.

Vote for Richmond's best pizza

Nearly 500 readers weighed in. Now 16 Richmond pizza spots are battling for the crown.

Here it is: Our first-ever pizza bracket. Why it matters: We&#x27;re launching this week-long endeavor in celebration of back-to-school — and to give parents an excuse to order out at least once this week.

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.

Help us pick the 16 best pizza spots in Richmond

We're choosing 16 Richmond pizza joints for our first bracket, and we want your must-have picks.

Karri here, in search of your help finding the best pizza in Richmond. Why it matters: We&#x27;re launching our first-ever pizza bracket next week and want to make sure we didn&#x27;t miss any gems.

Bon Temps brings Creole-Caribbean flavors to Bon Air

The new restaurant serves flavorful seafood, pimento cheese beignets and a standout happy hour.

Karri here, freshly back from finally trying <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bon Temps" data-vars-click-url="https://bontempsrva.com/" data-vars-content-id="2161782f-5bba-4383-b144-60547ce76d80" data-vars-headline="Bon Temps brings Creole-Caribbean flavors to Bon Air" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bontempsrva.com/" target="_blank">Bon Temps</a>, the Creole-Caribbean restaurant that opened earlier this year in Bon Air. Why it matters: While the bistro doesn&#x27;t have a &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="True Blood" data-vars-click-url="https://trueblood.fandom.com/wiki/Bon_Temps,_Louisiana" data-vars-content-id="2161782f-5bba-4383-b144-60547ce76d80" data-vars-headline="Bon Temps brings Creole-Caribbean flavors to Bon Air" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://trueblood.fandom.com/wiki/Bon_Temps,_Louisiana" target="_blank">True Blood</a>&quot; theme (which feels like a missed opportunity, tbh), it&#x27;s serving up delicious cuisine, making it worthy of a trip.

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.

Richmond's first dirty soda drive-thru is now open

Here's what to know about Sippa, which is bringing the viral Utah trend to a former bank building.

Richmond just got its first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dirty soda" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/12/10/dirty-soda-tiktok-drink-mormon-wives" data-vars-content-id="18de3556-73cf-4ad8-9a3b-687aa65465b3" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s first dirty soda drive-thru is now open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/12/10/dirty-soda-tiktok-drink-mormon-wives" target="_self">dirty soda</a> drive-thru.Why it matters: Think <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="7-Brew" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/07/24/new-richmond-coffee-shops" data-vars-content-id="18de3556-73cf-4ad8-9a3b-687aa65465b3" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s first dirty soda drive-thru is now open" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/07/24/new-richmond-coffee-shops" target="_self">7-Brew</a>, but swap the coffee for customized sodas.

Civita Italia is now open with handmade pasta in Short Pump

The GreenGate restaurant serves handmade pasta, Italian cocktails and classic entrees nightly.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="EAT Restaurant Partners" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/26/lucky-af-short-pump-sushi-opening-forest-hill" data-vars-content-id="08c947de-8f39-473e-aac5-0178e575112b" data-vars-headline="Civita Italia is now open with handmade pasta in Short Pump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/26/lucky-af-short-pump-sushi-opening-forest-hill" target="_self">EAT Restaurant Partners</a>&#x27; swanky new Italian spot, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Civita Italia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.civitaitalia.com/" data-vars-content-id="08c947de-8f39-473e-aac5-0178e575112b" data-vars-headline="Civita Italia is now open with handmade pasta in Short Pump" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.civitaitalia.com/" target="_blank">Civita Italia</a>, is here. Why it matters: The restaurant brings homemade pasta and upscale Italian fare to Short Pump — and reunites the team that brought The Blue Goat to Richmond 15 years ago.

A bracket that pits 16 Richmond pizza shops across four rounds to determine a favorite. The first round includes matchups such as Zorch vs. Jo-Jo's and Pupatella vs. Benny's. Opening seeds were based on 477 Axios Richmond readers surveyed and editors' judgment.

Food and Drink 🍽

Vote for Richmond's best pizza

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

Inside the Italian market tucked into a Church Hill garage

Richmond restaurant hit with erroneous $60K water bill

Help us pick the 16 best pizza spots in Richmond