Richmond developers continue to reshape downtown, advancing the process of turning Cape Charles into our northern cousin’s latest, trendy suburb.
Danny Meyer, owner, and president of Dallan Construction, recently purchased the historic Watsons Hardware store at 225 Mason Avenue. Watson’s closed and has been dormant for two years– the store served Cape Charles for over 50 years.
Mr. Meyer paid $600,000 for the property. The Cape Charles Distillery will be moving into the space once renovations are complete.
It’s the third property Meyer has purchased for redevelopment in Cape Charles–in 2018, he purchased the Parsons building at 209 Mason. Mr. Meyer added eight condos, and the retail space next to K-Coast. Meyer purchased the Harvey building in 2019, which is the location of the upscale restaurant Hook @ Harvey. There is also an apartment above the eatery that is rented on Vrbo.
Mr. Meyer’s firm Dallan Construction will be doing the renovation work. Other Richmond firms, 510 Architects (design), and Blue Nest Structural (structural engineering) will also be involved in the project.
Historical Note: Richmond’s incremental appropriation of Cape Charles began several years ago. With the Northern Neck squeezed, Richmodians, and other northerners, found a cheap, relatively unknown coastal weekend getaway spot primed for exploitation. Weekenders and vacation rentals soon devoured large chunks of the town. With blood in the water, developers were soon circling this tiny bayside village. The Hotel Cape Charles was one of the first big projects when, in 2013, developer David Gammino renovated the Mason Street structure. Also in 2013, the Old School was purchased by developers Edwin Gaskin, a former deputy director of economic development for the City of Richmond and owner of Echelon Resources, and Dave McCormack, head of Waukeshaw Development in Petersburg. What was once slotted as public space to be used by underserved communities was sold by the Town of Cape Charles for $10 and converted into an apartment complex. Scott’s Addition-based Buskey Cider opened a satellite taproom in Cape Charles in 2018.
About the Author
This is an interesting article.
Last week on Facebook, Danny Meyer’s talk about the opportunity to own a business in CC.
Yet he states the housing market in CC is rather expensive and the more affordable housing is in Bay Creek.
Just interesting 🤔
I know he got a good deal on the hardware store, almost half off the orginal asking price.
I wonder what new business is going in at the old distillery?
Any way, good luck.
Gonna be a interesting HDRB meeting when they ask for the rooftop deck.
Personally, I think it will be awesome.
There wasn’t any blood in the water when I purchased the hotel at foreclosure in 2010. (Other than the investors Rich swindled when he closed that business) So rather than re-opening the vinyl-sided “historic hotel” we dumped 2 mil in the place at the height of the recession to create a destination that opened in 2012. Not sure how you can twist that into a net negative for Cape Charles, but that seems to be the pretty clear tone of the article. You can’t preserve decay, which is where most of Mason Ave was 12-15 years ago. Cape Charles isn’t some tourist trap community, it’s evolved organically and still an incredibly quaint vacation town. Other than July 4th, our busiest weekends are still slow and quiet. Granted, not slow and quiet like November.
There is obviously a trade-off when development occurs and businesses grow. I think Cape Charles is incredibly fortunate in what has happened since 2010.
Right on
You Come-Heres act like you saved the Eastern Shore….You have ruined it.
30 years ago Cape Charles was a sloppy dirty town, you really want that back?
Editor’s Note: Yes.
And yet the people were real, not like the phony people that live there now. Cape Charles has no more charm. It is now a bigger sh@thole than it ever was, filled with nasty people. The town council only caters to the business owners. It’s no longer about the resident.But the tourist dollar.
Lo-rain sure does sound nasty…
Her’s must be Woke(ebonics)!
Stu-art,
The old Cape Charles had empty buildings, guess you liked that better, today Cape Charles is thriving, you are the one with a a few loose bricks.
Have a good day Stu-art.
Doug,
The bait and tackle shop is one of the original businesses in town, do you begrudge them of being catered to, I don’t think so.
Who do you think you are to talk about people’s home like that? You are not real bright are you? You are a few bricks shy of a load, aren’t you. I bet you voted for Bath-House Barry, Hillary, China-Joe and Kamal-Toe too. I bet you are one of those ‘Woke-Folks’….maybe it would be better if you went back to sleep.
You are part of the problem.
Any Questions?
Hey Stu-art,
First of all I wasn’t talking about their homes, I was talking about the town. Remember the Dollar General, you should, did you ever use the bathroom, if you did you would remember that too, disgusting, filthy dirty. And the food store, I’m sure you remember it too, selling bad meat, I shopped in that store or Meatland, was very happy when Food Lion came to the area, but I guess you you didn’t like FOOD LION MOVING ON IN,YOU LIKED THE OLD CAPE CHARLES BETTER.
You call me nasty, you are the nasty one. And one other thing, you figured me wrong, I DID NOT VOTE FOR BATH-HOUSE BARRY, HILLARY,CHINA-JOE OR KAMAL-TOE.
And also Stu-art I will not sleep, need to keep an eye on people like you. I could have called you something different but I won’t stoop to your level.
No! 30 years ago Cape Charles was a s__thole. Development is rarely smoth or easy, and feathers will always be ruffled. I prefer prosperity to the moribund entity that was once Cape Charles.
I certainly ruffled Stuart’s feathers.
Stu Baby,
Please have you psychiatrist adjust your meds.
Scrapple,
He definitely needs them adjusted.