Blog – Page 3

August 10, 2020 by Nathan Hughes

A Home for DIY Heaven

If you happen to be a DIY enthusiast, buckle up, this one’s for you! AR Workshop is a privately held franchise with 175 locations in 34 states and is entirely women owned. They produce custom home décor out of raw material and also provide the instructions on how to assemble. Their inventory kits span from cornhole boards to lazy Susans, wood signs, bed frames, photo frames, chunky knit blankets and so on. It’s DIY heaven.

After visiting one herself, Catt Pulli was all in.

“I decided to just go for it and purchase a franchise!”

Catt has a background in photography and was an art major in college so becoming a home décor/DIY business owner was something that she organically gravitated towards. While it was a very spur of the moment decision, it fit nicely with her lifestyle.
Catt’s spontaneous choice was made in the summer of 2019 and had six months to find a location. While she was undertaking the brunt of the work herself, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to reach out to Nathan from Sperity, an acquaintance that was made from shooting restaurant real estate photos. He was her first point of contact.

“His advice was to find someone professional and that is how I got connected with Veronica.”

Veronica Wiles became Catt’s go-to person at Sperity. She had a lot of insider knowledge and was a welcome protection from landlords who might have taken advantage of Catt’s unfamiliarity with the ins and outs of real estate purchasing. Catt and Veronica were able to develop a great working relationship. When asked to describe the relationship she built with Veronica, this is what Catt had to say:
“She focused on everything I wanted, didn’t show me anything to waste my time and would meet me at a moment’s notice. Once we found our space, which only took a month, she helped us nail down the details of it. We moved on to working with a lawyer which she graciously recommended.”

The specifications of Catt’s desired space were 1500 – 2500 square feet to meet the needs of a craft studio. Veronica presented 10 options to choose from, and Catt had her eye on one.

“I wanted to be central to Mechanicsville and found a spot which we initially didn’t get. It was over our price point, but Veronica was able to work a deal out and we eventually got the space!”

Veronica’s help was invaluable during and after the process. She had recommendations for even contractors. Nathan was a welcoming presence as well in the background, ensuring everything was moving smoothly.

Starting a new business has its challenges under normal circumstances and the current pandemic meant Catt had to adjust to the situation. After opening up in her new business in February 2020, she immediately had to turn around and close her business before they could really get going. Faced with the task of providing her services in a safe and convenient manner, Catt pivoted to preparing DIY kits to-go. Her resilience is a testament to the dedication she has to her patrons.

The space, at 7362 Bell Creek Road, worked out perfectly because it is in a well-known area and customers are aware of their presence. She was able to make the best out of a novel situation.

Catt’s journey to the perfect location was achieved because of the devotion and guidance of Sperity Real Estate Ventures.
“Nathan was the first person that I thought of. I know a lot of real estate agents, but he was my first thought. I knew he would answer my questions and I trust him. When Veronica and I were looking at places, she knew everybody. She was warm and friendly. It feels like we are good friends now.”

July 27, 2020 by Nathan Hughes

Ipanema Cafe

Ipanema Cafe. It’s an iconic Richmond restaurant at 917 W. Grace Street, nestled in a basement with a small patio, among Virginia Commonwealth University buildings and frequented by students. It boasts an entirely vegetarian and vegan menu, and has from the beginning — way before the trend picked up in recent years — and is often the go-to spot for students and locals living in The Fan.

Recently out of college, Kendra Feather found herself with the opportunity to take over the lease from her then-boss at The Bidder’s Suite restaurant where she waited tables. So she took a risk and seized the moment and Ipanema Cafe was born.

“I was pescatarian,” Kendra shared, “but I just felt like [vegan and vegetarian] was something that wasn’t available in the market at the time. It forced me to learn about other ingredients.”

21 years and several businesses later, Kendra had become one of Richmond region’s leading restaurateurs. But she was beginning to feel like she was no longer the right person for the job at Ipanema.

“I don’t really relate to the 20 somethings that are frequenting Ipanema and I didn’t feel like I was doing a great job anymore.”

Of the restaurants she had, she decided this one made the most sense to sell.

Kendra knew all too well the difficulties that go into opening a restaurant and she wanted to make sure that whoever she sold Ipanema to was going to be the right fit. She talked with a couple of people before deciding on working with Nathan Hughes and the Sperity team. Her and Nathan would often chat at Garnett’s, another Richmond restaurant staple located less than a mile away on Park Avenue, also owned by Kendra.

“I’ve known him forever…Nathan has always been a source of information and help whenever I needed it.”

Kendra had a few requirements for new ownership, and she wasn’t looking to sell to the highest bidder. She was looking for the right person and the right situation. She was willing to take her time for that to happen. She also wanted to ensure that whoever took over would keep the current staff.

That’s when she met Seth Campbell. A recent University of Virginia grad, Kendra felt Seth was the perfect candidate. He was interested, he appreciated the financial support, and Kendra felt he was an all-around sweetheart who she felt good about leaving her staff with. She was sold, that is, Ipanema was. In early 2020 the deal became official.

Under Seth, Ipanema has remained a vegan and vegetarian restaurant. While he hopes to bring more events like trivia and live music to the space when it’s safe to do so, he wants to make sure that the restaurant remains an iconic Richmond staple.

July 15, 2020 by Nathan Hughes

Instrumental Growth for Spacebomb

When Spacebomb, a Richmond based record label and recording studio, began to outgrow their Shockoe Bottom studio, they knew it would be a challenge to find a space that fit their needs and would allow them to grow in the direction they needed. Through a mutual friend, they had met and gotten to know Nathan over the years and knew if anyone would be up for the challenge, it was the Sperity team. Nathan and Veronica worked together to ensure the Spacebomb team wouldn’t miss a beat.

Spacebomb started looking for a new space in 2017. As a record label and recording studio, they had unique needs that they knew would take time to find. They were looking for a space that would have room to house both the creative team and the folks running the label and production company all under the same roof. Keeping these two teams together allows for communication in an efficient and fast paced way. “It’s a necessity in our industry,” says Jesse Medaries. “The ability to make decisions on the fly is super useful.” This space would need to have both an office area, and a full recording studio.

What does a recording studio require? A simplified breakdown includes the “live room” and the “control room.” The live room houses microphones where instrumentalists and vocalists perform and the control room houses equipment where the engineers and producers record the “tracks.” These are very specific needs, and not every space is able to be accommodating.

Nathan and Veronica didn’t waste Spacebomb’s time by showing them just anything that was available. They knew what their needs were, and showed spaces that they believed would truly work for them. Jesse remembered, “We looked at a few spaces that could have worked but didn’t quite meet what we needed. Eventually she showed us the space that we’re currently in.” Plans changed and a few months went by before the team decided to go back and look at the 106 S Robinson Street space.

The new space has been instrumental in their growth. “We’ve had a ton of really positive feedback on the space alone,” chimed Jesse. A lot of time, thought, and energy went into creating Spacebomb’s new headquarters. Not just the recording studio, designed by partner Trey Pollard in consultation with Adrian Olsen (of Montrose Recording), but the overall vibe and aesthetic — two things important in the music and art industries.

On top of finding a new space, Nathan and Veronica were tasked with finding a sublet for their Shockoe Bottom location. Handling both parts allowed for Spacebomb to focus on what really mattered: taking care of the artists they managed, and producing music.

July 13, 2020 by Nathan Hughes

My TOP 5 Favorite Projects [VIDEO]

My TOP 5 Favorite Projects:

Hey RICHMOND!!!Do you love supporting LOCAL businesses and organizations?That's what I love MOST about my job. I’ve been in the commercial real estate and brokerage world for over 15 years. I get to help local businesses and organizations find a place to call home right here in Richmond. In fact, here are my TOP 5 Favorite Projects:#1) Flooring RVA.We helped find them a new showroom with more space AND we were able to help find a tenant to replace their previous lease so they could make a clean break.#2) The Summit (Scott’s Addition area).Such a great, action packed area of town where we were able to help long time friends sell two different properties at the same time.#3) Nomad Deli & Catering Company.Anthony and his family are proof that the American Dream is alive. They started this family owned business as tenants, but eventually bought their building and have continued a successful (and delicious) restaurant!#4) LUX ChurchThis is a great community minded organization that brought life back into a building that was over 130 years old and an area landmark.#5) Liberty Public HouseWhen Alexa told us about her dream concept of a restaurant inside a renovated, historical building, we knew we had just the right property for her! In fact, she moved all the way back to Richmond from the west coast to fulfill her dream of being a restaurant owner.

Posted by Sperity Real Estate Ventures on Tuesday, June 30, 2020

July 10, 2020 by Nathan Hughes

A New Lease By The Slice

When Elaine Odell realized Tricycle Gardens would not be renewing their lease at her 2314 Jefferson Avenue property, she knew exactly who to call. Nathan Hughes helped her with their original lease in 2012 when he was a partner at Bandazian & Hughes, and he had to be the one to help her again.

“He has the ability to structure a lease that works for everybody — he has wonderful patience. It’s one of the most wonderful things about working with him. He’s patient, he listens to everybody, he’s a really good facilitator in terms of helping people to come to an agreement, to get each party what they need.”

Pizza Bones, more widely understood as the crust you leave behind after devouring a slice of pizza, is Elaine’s newest tenant. Founder Ashley Patino was hanging out with friends in college when she heard this phrase, and she had kept it in her back pocket ever since.

Starting her culinary career at Lamplighter Coffee Roasters, she made her way into the kitchen and then to an internship and eventual position at Sub Rosa Bakery in Church Hill before spending some time in California. Upon her return, she had her plan.

As a property owner, bringing a restaurant into the space felt much more complicated and intimidating to Elaine. “I’m glad Nathan has the experience with restaurants that he does, because I don’t. There are different things you have to be aware of and expenses to pay for and it was great to have someone with his experience help me through that process. He has that devil in the detail stuff only an industry insider knows.”

Ashley has big plans for Pizza Bones. “I want it to be more than just a pizza place, I want it to be a community space.” She hopes to utilize the space for community gatherings, especially the outdoor area.

Ashley’s plan fell in line with the other Jefferson Avenue businesses. “We are working hard to create a place for the community to be, to spend their leisure time, time to gather with friends and family and enjoy a meal,” says Elaine. “That’s why this business makes a lot of sense.”

Union Hill and Church Hill are home to many young families, with toddlers and school aged children. Parents need places where they can have a meal and bring their kids, and feel comfortable doing so. At Pizza Bones, they will see a menu that appeals to a spectrum of family members in an environment that feels good.

Jefferson Avenue is grassroots and organic. You won’t find any chains or franchises here, home to several iconic Richmond spots, such as Union Market, Sub Rosa Bakery, and The Roosevelt to name a few. North End Juice Co. is slated to open a spot in the following months, as well as Elaine’s newest tenant, Pizza Bones.

SPERITY REAL ESTATE VENTURES