HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Despite a strange, anonymous campaign to deny the beloved Wegmans Grocery chain permit, the Henrico Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the plan.
However, at Tuesday's meeting there was disagreement about how to move forward with space in the county’s East End.
Wegmans hopes to build in Short Pump at West Broad Marketplace, a development planned for West Broad Street near North Gayton Road. This is just west of Short Pump Towne Center. The store will look similar to other Wegmans in Virginia stores and range in size from 120,000 to 140,000 sq. ft.
Part of the development includes Cabela’s Incorporated, an outfitter for hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, who announced plans to open near the Wegmans in 2016.
Over in the county's East End, developers want to tear down the old Fairfield Commons mall and build up new shops, with a Wal-Mart as the anchor store.
“I’m just a little confused about what's going on here -- a little bit,” Henrico resident Ladonna Freeman said.
Freeman is okay with the new mall, but wanted to make sure there is more traffic control in the area, like more stop signs and traffic signals.
“It was almost impossible at times to make a left turn onto Nine Mile Road,” Henrico resident Ray Jones said.
The board approved the plan to demolish the crumbling mall, which some retailers evidently expected.
The Board of Supervisors said retailers currently occupying Fairfield Commons Mall will be given a date to vacate the property.
