Two restaurants and two hotels being built near Henrico Sports and Events Center

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Henrico County officials announced the progression of many mixed-use developments coming to the Virginia Center Commons area to support the Henrico Sports and Events Center .

On Thursday, April 25, officials from Henrico County and others, which included the Henrico Economic Development Authority and the Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority, shared an update on the redevelopment at the site of the former Virginia Center Commons mall.

According to Fairfield District Supervisor Roscoe Cooper, the county plans to add two hotels and two restaurants to the Virginia Center Commons area to complement the Henrico Sports and Events Center that opened a few months ago .

“This entire area is being transformed with housing, businesses, services and amenities, including access to the Fall Line Trail,” Cooper said.

Anthony Romanello, the executive director of Henrico’s Economic Development Authority, talked about the 93 acres that were rezoned last year by the board of supervisors for Sauer Properties to create a mixed-use development, including research and development offices and housing.

“You’ll see residential units, and you’ll see construction starting there later this year,” Romanello said.

Romanello also said a rental community of 36 townhomes and 274 apartments will be built where the old Knights Inn on Brook Road used to be. Just across the street, Stanley Martin Homes will build over 600 for-sale homes just at the entrance of Virginia Center Commons.

The GreenCity project , which is another mixed-development set to be built north of East Parham Road between Interstates 95 and 295, will start early next year, according to Romanello.

“Tourism allows Henrico to thrive above its peers,” Romanello said. “We love tourism. We love sports tourism. Folks come here, they stay in our hotels, they eat in our restaurants, and we don’t have to educate their children.”

Romanello said visitor spending last year totaled $1.7 billion, which was the highest visitor spending in the region, and fifth in Virginia. He said about 6% of all visitor spending in Virginia happens in Henrico County, which generates $75 million in local revenue that the board of supervisors can allocate to priorities in the community, and it supports 10,000 jobs.

Outdoor sports tourism provided $65 million to the community, according to Romanello.

“And with this great facility [the Henrico Sports and Events Center] we can’t wait to see the impact of indoor sports here in Henrico,” Romanello said. “Add all this together, and our economy is a whopping $32 billion here in Henrico, and continues to grow.”

Shamin Hotels’ CEO Neil Amin said the hotels will be their 21st and 22nd hotels in Henrico County.

“We’re just excited to deliver two first-class hotels and two restaurants that will support [the Henrico Sports and Events Center],” Amin said.

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