Williamsburg, VA 23188
Construction activities are underway on a new shopping complex at the intersection of Olde Towne and Richmond roads.
A four-business shopping strip, about 6,400-square feet, is expected to be completed early this fall at 5571 Olde Towne Road near the Premium Outlets. Three of the four spaces have been leased to Edwards Virginia Ham Shop, a Verizon Wireless licensed retailer and a Starbucks with a drive-thru.
The Edwards Virginia Ham Shoppe currently located at 1814 Richmond Road will be relocating to the new store. S. Wallace Edwards & Sons Inc. President Sam Edwards wanted to purchase the store’s current location but a deal couldn’t be established, so he chose to relocate for a more competitive price.
The two stores will be opened at the same time through Christmas when the existing store will close and the new store will take its place.
With the new location, Edwards said there will be less room so the store will focus mainly on selling popular items and sandwiches with ham, turkey, roast beef and beef brisket options.
Edwards hopes business will increase with the new location.
“We also think it’s fairly easy access to locals that don’t want to travel in that restaurant row area and they can come up the Olde Towne Road access so they don’t have to get hung up in the Premium Outlets traffic if they don’t want to,” Edwards said.
Hinging on the development of the new store, Edwards hopes for a soft opening in October with a grand opening around Christmas.
Robert Singley Jr., vice president of the property’s leasing company RJS & Associates, Inc. and a co-owner of the property said negotiations are ongoing for the fourth business and the site has some “really good interest in it.”
Singley said the decision to construct a shopping area was made about a year ago and the plan has evolved since. When Starbucks expressed interest in locating there and having a drive-thru, the square footage of the building had to be reconfigured to make room for it.
“They’re excited about coming to the area … and complementing the Premium Outlets,” Singley said about Starbucks.
