The Best Business in Richmond Virginia
Posts tagged virginia
Custom Concessions: A Whole New Look at Eating on the Road
0504 days
by M. Fletcher
in Richmond Business
Photo: Custom Concessions, Inc.
If you’ve been to a fair, festival or a sporting event, you’ve likely seen one of Custom Concessions food trailers in action. Only you didn’t realize it because it was designed for one of their high profile customers such as the Washington Redskins, Domino’s Pizza, NASCAR, Haagen-Dazs and even the United States Army.
Custom Concessions manufactures custom built concession trailers. Because their highly skilled professionals take pride in their craft, Custom Concessions is recognizes as the leader in their industry.
Events that take place at large venues don’t often have onsite catering or supply kitchens for caterers and vendors to use. That’s where Custom Concessions comes in. Instead of the caterer having to load large separate vehicles with everything they’ll need to provide their goods and services, a mobile catering truck can meet the needs and allow time to prep, cook and serve all on site.
This not only saves time and money, but it provides a better, and more appealing product to customers. Transporting and serving fresh, hot food is a challenge and sometimes impossible. But with a mobile catering trailer, food can be prepared on site whether at a game day tailgate, a park or an outdoor festival or fair.
So if you’re in the catering business, you’ve got an option to serve your clients even when there’s no kitchen available. They can build a trailer to meet your needs, whether they be large or small. The walls, flooring and roofing are selected and designed to provide a safe, healthy workspace so that you can worry about the recipe and not the equipment.
You’re not limited in your catering choices with Custom Concessions. Types of trailers offered include: mobile kitchen trailers, catering trucks and trailers, food trucks and trailers, BBQ trailers, restroom trailers and even living quarter trailers. Custom Concessions builds to please so you’ll be satisfied whether you’re seeking a BBQ smoker trailer for competitions or a single-item food truck for things like ice cream, funnel cakes, sushi and more. The choices are only limited by your imagination and your recipe book.
Focusing on every aspect of the design, the Custom Concessions builders work with you for floor planning, the selection of cooking equipment and more to design a product that will far exceed your expectations. Your opportunities will be endless.
But not only that Health-Department trained experts at Custom Concessions will work with you to help navigate local health codes and prepare you for that all important visit from the health inspector. So instead of sifting through mounds of bureaucratic paperwork and red tape, you can get to work, and more importantly to cooking, right away.
Custom Concessions is highly motivated to provide you a quality product. Not only do they want you to be a satisfied customer, but your trailer or truck carries their company name and is a testimony to their quality and a draw for new business. Your success is their success.
Because sometimes it really is all about the food, the folks at Custom Concessions also have a supporting blog called Dining and Driving. There you can find their best recommendations for new places to eat while on the road, whether its long-time established restaurants, concession stands on the side of the road, or annual festivals.
Anybody hungry yet?
The Byrd Theatre, Still a Bargain after 80 Years
0507 days
by M. Fletcher
in Richmond Business
In the heart of Richmond’s eclectic Carytown stands the historic Byrd Theatre. The Byrd Theatre was built as one of the Nation’s Grand Movie Palaces and stands today as a nostalgic reminder of days gone by. The Byrd is now a State and National Historic Landmark. Built in 1928 the Theatre opened on Christmas Eve, 1928, the feature film was Waterfront, a silent movie to which sound had been added. But before the screen lit up, patrons were treated to a performance of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, perhaps as famous as the Theatre itself.
The Byrd seats 1300 and, for the most part, looks as it did when it opened. Modifications have been made to accommodate up-to-date screens and a concession area has been added to the lobby. Designed by Richmond architect Fred Bishop and named for Richmond founder William Byrd II it has operated almost continuously since it first opened. Visitors to the Byrd are treated to paintings, marbled walls and gold leaf arches that was completed by the Brunet Studios of New York. Suspended over the seats in a Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier that would cause even the Phantom of the Opera to be envious. The chandelier weighs two-and-a-half tons and contains over 5,000 crystals that sparkle to the light of 500 multicolor lights.
When it was built no expense was spared and the construction costs reached $900,000. Translated to today’s economic terms that’s nearly $11 million.
The Rudolf Wurlitzer Company designed and installed the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Installed when the theatre was built it was intended to serve as a one man orchestra to accompany the silent movies of the day. Long time Richmonders recall that the organ was played from 1961 to 1981 by Eddie Weaver. One of the thrills of attending the Byrd remains watching the organ rise from the orchestra pit just prior to the screening of the film. Today, Bob Gulledge is the current organist. Gulledge studied with Eddie Weaver.
The Byrd Theater Foundation purchased the Theatre in 2007 with the purpose of restoring one of the nation’s finest historical cinemas. Sadly the Byrd has been struggling through the difficult economic times. The Foundation is working diligently to raise the necessary funds for restoration and preservation.
Still a bargain at only $1.99, the Byrd offers second-run movies, and they’re worth the wait. On Saturdays, you can still catch a performance of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ prior to the film. A state of the art sound system donated by Ray Dolby, creator of the Dolby sound system in 2004 brings patrons high quality sound.
More reliable than the legendary Ukrops, the Byrd is open 365 days a year, no matter the weather, but make sure you check the schedule before you plan your visit.
This New Year’s Eve a Carytown tradition returns when a giant, illuminated ball, created by Todd Schall-Vess, the Byrd manager, rises on top of the Byrd Theatre. You can enjoy an evening of fine dining at one of Carytown’s many restaurants, then stroll over to watch the ball rise at midnight.
Let’s Get This Baby on the Road
0557 days
by M. Fletcher
in Richmond Business
What’s an active young couple to do when news of a third family member comes along? While lifestyle changes are inevitable, there’s no need to revert to couch potato status. Richmond based Tots on-the go is here to help you make that adjustment while keeping your healthy lifestyle. And no need to think that your traveling days are over. Tots on-the-go provides what you need to get you, and baby, back on the road.
Tots on-the-go is a children’s boutique offering quality strollers and travel gear for the active family. They’ve been around since 2005 and their business keeps expanding. And that’s a good thing for families who are also expanding.
The owners of Tots-on-the go are parents of two young energetic boys. They make it their mission to help other parents and grandparents find products to make their lives easier and in so doing allowing them to focus on the children. They aren’t worried about selling you the most expensive product. They’re concerned about helping you to find the products that will fit your lifestyle. That’s one of the reasons they started offering their programs such as Rentals, Try It Before You Buy it and their 45 Day Return Policy.
Perhaps their most unique program is the rental program. Why rent when you could buy? Tots on-the go provides the following reasons. When you rent you get:
- Quality, like new JPMA certified baby gear
- Thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after every use
- Try it before you buy it
- Ship to your destination
In addition, local deliveries are available in various locations in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In Virginia those localities include Richmond, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton and Virginia Beach.
There are many reasons to consider renting from Tots on-the go.
Heading over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s for Thanksgiving? That compact fuel efficient car might be great for tooling around town. But how are you going to pack the stroller, and the high chair? And, while grandma might delight in holding the little one for hours on end, eventually everyone has to sleep and a Pack-and-Play would be handy. Tots on-the-go can help by either delivering the needed equipment to grandma’s or providing more compact portable equipment to make your travels more efficient and enjoyable.
To take advantage of the rental service, you need to place your order at least 7-10 days prior to your planned arrival at your destinations. You can make reservations by an electronic form on the website, by phone or e-mail.
Because they’re very much family oriented, Tots on-the-go also has a blog that offers travel, fitness and fashion tips for the busy parent. Product reviews and gift ideas are also available. In addition to the blog, you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Locally, the Tots on-the-go showroom is located at 13541 East Boundary, Suite 116, in Midlothian, VA
And is open open 7 days a week by appointment, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Also check out her blog on Baby Travel Gear Tips
Virginia Insurance Group: Helping People Feel More Secure for 35 Years
0570 days
by M. Fletcher
in Richmond Business
Insurance, it’s one of those things nobody wants to need. But we all do. But with so many options and so many plans, how do you select what’s best for you and your family? Virginia Insurance Group believes they have that answer.
Virginia Insurance Group has provided protection for families and individuals across the Commonwealth for over 35 years. They pride themselves on superior customer service and competitive rates. They know that often shopping for and purchasing insurance can be confusing.
Consumers find themselves asking:
- - How much insurance do I really need?
- What kind of insurance do I need?
- What’s the best option? The best plan?
Whether you need insurance for your home, your vehicle, your boat, or life insurance for yourself or family, Virginia Insurance Group wants to help you answer those questions. They seek to help you maximize your financial investment in insurance and make sure you get the best protection for your dollar. In this economy, that’s something we all can use.
In making those decisions, you need an insurance company that you can trust. Someone that you know is looking out for your best interest and is not just seeking to sell you the most expensive policy that you probably don’t need anyway.
With Virginia Insurance Group you’re not bound to just one insurance company option. They represent a broad array of financially strong companies. And by working with Virginia Insurance Group you have the added benefit of special discounts and coverages that you might not get directly from a larger corporation. Among those companies represented are Erie Insurance, GMAC Insurance, Mercury Insurance, Progressive Insurance and Travelers Insurance.
Virginia Insurance Group is based in Richmond but serves customers from across the Commonwealth. By working through them you have the opportunity to maximize the available discounts offered by the companies listed above. Virginia Insurance Group is there to help you find the discounts and plans that match you individual situation.
One of the main benefits of working with an independent agent is that they are not limited to offering you auto or home insurance from just one company. They’re able to shop around, really so you don’t have to. That gives you the opportunity to get the best value.
Having an insurance broker who knows your name and your situation is an added benefit.
Karen M. says: “I like being able to call for help with my insurance and know the people I’m talking to.”
We’re all looking for a little more convenience these days and Virginia Insurance Group provides that through their website. You can surf around for testimonials and plans you need, and when you’re ready to talk, you can let them know.
Virginia Insurance Group provides an online Service Center to answer your questions about policies and claims. You can submit your queries and expect a prompt, no-obligation response.
Times are tough. The economy continues to struggle. No one wants to spend more for insurance than what is absolutely necessary.
Virginia Insurance Group can help you determine exactly what you need, and then provide you the best options for purchasing.
And that makes us all feel more secure.
Related articles
- Watching the Insurance Laws of Virginia (sandsandersonriskmanager.com)
- Handling An Automobile Injury Claim on Your Own: What are the Risks? (allenandallen.com)
- Top 5 Strangest Types of Insurance (makethelist.net)
