Yahoo Finance Petersburg: Reporter picks 12 brains, learns wishes for historic city
PETERSBURG — Since my last Sweet and Sour Biz Buzz, Old Towne Mingle, Evermore Bridal Boutique and Oyster Society restaurant opened for business. The Apothic Company hair salon and boutique relocated to the beautifully renovated space next door, and Save A Lot discount supermarket chain in the Walnut Hill Plaza on S. Crater Road. closed permanently.
If you're looking for an intimate space for your seminar, class, bridal shower, art show or reception, The SPOT Event Center is now open at 133-A N. Sycamore St. The historic venue includes a speakeasy lounge.
Two more restaurants will soon enter Petersburg's dining scene. Mums the word for now, but hopefully, I can divulge that highly guarded info in the next Biz Buzz.
The Restored Cup at 105 W. Bank St. invites the community to its moving celebration on Friday, Sept. 29 from 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. The coffee shop will be relocating to 408 N. Sycamore St. It will be in one of the building's bays which will also serve as an apartment lobby.
National Hot Dog Day: Dixie Restaurant breaks record
In July on National Hot Dog Day, the iconic Dixie Restaurant managed to crank out 680 hot dogs in eight hours to break last year's record of 432 dogs. That’s 85 dogs an hour, but the majority of them were made in about four hours, according to owner Frannie Rawlings.
Diner Paul Bee of Colonial Heights did something the Dixie Restaurant team had not witnessed in their 12 years in business. He ordered one of each of their eight hot dogs: Dixie, slaw, pimento, American, Yankee, naked, junk yard and reuben.
"Paul is The Man! Oh to be young and have a fast metabolism again," Rawlings stated. Calling all foodies and hot dog lovers, mark your calendar for July 19 next year to help Dixie Restaurant break their record again.
Petersburg: What a dozen people would like to see in historic city
Last Friday, I strolled the streets of Old Towne to find out what would tickle people's fancy if they saw it transpire in Petersburg. Due to the scorching hot day, not many peeps were wandering about, so I also popped into some businesses to seek interviewees.
Mizraim Kidd-Bey, master chef/co-owner of Shut Yo Mouf Soulfood Restaurant, was happy to participate in my quest to pick locals brains.
"Petersburg needs a homeless shelter and more centralized parks," Kidd-Bey of Matoaca said. "The recreational areas should feel safe and look appealing to make people want to go."
Eleven-year-old Lila McCoy wasn't shy about offering her thoughts to the press lady. "I would love indoor miniature golf like the one at Westchester Commons," McCoy of Dinwiddie said.
Located in Midlothian, X-Golf's state of the art indoor golf simulators offer players unparalleled accuracy and realism through a combination of camera systems, infrared lasers, impact sensors and advanced gaming software. Competitions, leagues, corporate outings and social events are held at the attraction.
I cooled off for a spell in The Apothic Company and scored two interviews: Sarah Proffitt, a former Petersburg resident who was getting her hair styled and owner Susan Steward.
"It has so much already but more entertainment/outside events could bring people together," Proffitt of Waverly said. "I love everything Petersburg is doing. It's come a long way. My mom's a Petersburg native."
Steward would like to see the city utilize the Appomattox River by developing an actual harbor and boat dock.
"We can keep it natural and still create a cool reason to come to Petersburg," Steward of Petersburg said.
Another air-conditioned sanctuary I visited was the Farmers Bank of Petersburg at 19 Bollingbrook St. Wayne Tucker, the historic site's executive director, and Sergei Troubetzkoy, Main Street Petersburg, Inc. president, were present enjoying a friendly conversation.
"Something needs to be done with the parking on Bank, Adams and Bolling Brook Streets," Tucker of Dinwiddie said. "It's an eyesore and dangerous."
Troubetzkoy is delighted about Hotel Petersburg being renovated, and he hopes that a grocery store pops up fast.
"We desperately need a grocery store. I would love to see it in the city-owned lot across from the Transit Center on Washington St.," Troubetzkoy of Petersburg said. "Downtown retail could certainly stand quite a few additions and streetscape improvements like flower baskets, banners and more trash cans."
Apartment dweller Laurie Stallings suggested adding a laundromat in Old Towne. "A lot of people live in apartments and do not have washing machines," Stallings of Petersburg said.
Rae Fenner of Petersburg stated, "A Wawa would be convenient, so I don't have to go across the bridge."
Seventeen-year-old Izaiah Terry was a good sport and chatted with me while he got his locs retwisted at Jazz Barber & Hairstyling Academy in Petersburg.
"Petersburg needs more arcades/gaming salons and entrepreneurship opportunities for teens," Terry of Petersburg said.
I interviewed Hannah Davis before her meal was presented at the Blue Willow Tea Room. She thought businesses which offered more generational vibes would perk Petersburg up.
"More small local lunch spots and family friendly places would be nice," Davis of Chester said.
On Bollingbrook St., I convinced West Mazah, owner of Furnace Neapolitan Pizza Pop-Up, to provide his wish list. He had quite a few items.
"A grocery store for one and a place like a community center in Old Towne. We also need more ethnic foods," Mazah of Petersburg said. "This is already the hub of Petersburg, and since it is tourists come here."
Mazah is looking forward to seeing the multi-million-dollar economic development projects and investments in Petersburg take place that Governor Glenn Youngkin has been supporting.
"We need less boutiques and antique stores and more retail shops like a Nike or H&M stores. Something that will attract more people," Mazah said.
Kofi Annan, a new Petersburger, shared a few ways to improve Petersburg.
"Pave some of the open lots used for parking to make them smooth and inviting," Annan said. "Big picture wise, have more things to welcome VSU students and provide entertainment they would enjoy. We could use public parks in the downtown area. Turning vacant lots into green space is good for the environment, creates tree canopies and serves as a place where people can hang out when they visit."
What would you like to see in Petersburg? Find this story on Facebook at The Progress-Index and post your wishes in the comments.
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— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Mini-golf, boat dock? What would you like to see come to your town?
