The I Love CVille Show With Jerry Miller! - Reid Market Closing; Twice Is Nice Buying Bldg; Huge Changes For Preston Ave In Last 5 Years

Episode Date: January 7, 2025

The I Love CVille Show headlines: Reid Market Closing; Twice Is Nice Buying Bldg Huge Changes For Preston Ave In Last 5 Years What Happens To The Reid’s GoFundMe Money? If Reid Can’t Make It, How Will Cherry Ave Grocery? 185 Yrs: Reid, Mel’s, Lumpkins, B Moon, Moose’s Dewberry Building “Call For Offers” Deadline 1/9 VCU Paying Hoop Players $384K Per Year Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

Good Tuesday afternoon, guys. I'm Jerry Miller. Thank you kindly for joining us on the I Love Seville Show. It is great to be back in the saddle in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. We have a pile of snow outside the studio. Our plan was to host the program yesterday, but of course, Mother Nature had alternative options. Instead, yesterday, I went sledding with our two boys, my oldest, who's six in particular, had a blast on a sled as we spent probably three to four hours going up and down a rather large hill on a plastic sled having the time of our lives. Our two-year-old wanted so badly to be on that sled. Unfortunately, his little legs and his heavy snow gear and boots had a hard time plodding through the fluffy snow that hit Ivy, Virginia.

Our six-year-old, soon to be seven, had no problem trekking through the snow, had no problem climbing up and down this monstrous hill, and was asking for more, more, and more as dad wanted to go inside and inside and by the fire. Such is life, but I would not have traded those experiences for anything. Seeing his smile was an absolute pleasure. I will not forget. Now, the task at hand is hosting a show, a show that is our first of 2025, a show that is our first in a handful of weeks, as we took off Christmas, the week after Christmas, and through New Year's to recharge our proverbial batteries. Today's program, the lead of the show, is some unfortunate news as Reed Grocery yesterday announces its impending closure. Reed, a staple in this community since Judah 1961. The grocery store, Reed, has been a part of this community when Malcolm Reed purchased

the building downtown when it was previously a stop and shop. Malcolm Reed changed the name. He was a staple of downtown Charlottesville until 1982. Then a fire destroyed his downtown building and he moved the store after selling it to his longtime store manager, Kenny Brooks, to the Preston Avenue location as we know it today. A lot of questions I have for you, the viewer and listener. Very straightforward questions. Question number one, are you surprised that Reed Grocery Market, Reed Super Save, Reed Grocery is closed? Most of you would say probably not. I certainly am not. We unfortunately predicted this fate when the store was facing difficulties during the COVID pandemic.

Another question is a very pointed question, and it may make you, the viewer and listener, uncomfortable. Judah, I'm going to ask you if it makes you uncomfortable. A GoFundMe was done for Reeds a little less than a year ago. That GoFundMe raised more than $20,000 for this small business. Now the grocery store is closed less than 12 months since that GoFundMe. What do you make of those turn of events? What happens to the GoFundMe dollars? Remember, Mel's Cafe closed last year. Mel's Cafe also did a similar GoFundMe to help recharge the business. Then Mel's Cafe closed its doors permanently. I asked the question, should we be donating charitable dollars to for-profit businesses that are on their last legs of survival? I'm going to unpack that on today's show.

I'm also going to unpack this topic on today's show. If Reed's can't make it on Preston Avenue with an institutional name, with a better location than Cherry Avenue, how can we say a grocery on Cherry is going to make it after all in that Anthony Woodard project in the old Kim's Market location? I want to talk about that today. I also want to highlight the fact that our community, in the last 12 months, has lost Reed's, mel's, lumpkins, blue moon diner, and mooses by the creek. A combined 185 years of serving the greater Charlottesville and central Virginia community. 185 years for reeds, mel's, lumpumpkin's, Blue Moon Diner, and Moose's combined. You cannot replace that level of charm, of nostalgia, of community service, of community support. We'll

talk about that on today's show. We'll also highlight that we're less than 48 hours away from a call for offers deadline for the Dewberry Skeleton Hotel. Remember, it's for sale, and the folks that are selling it on behalf of John Dewberry, the young man, now developer, who grew up in Waynesboro, played quarterback for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, now lives in Hotlanta, and was monikered by Bloomberg Magazine, the emperor of empty lots. He's selling his skeleton on the downtown mall and that deadline for offers is less than 48 hours away. We'll also talk on the program. I don't know if you call this concerning, maybe startling, surprising news from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. The Rams, its athletic department, will pay its basketball players $384,000 per year on average.

Good night, ladies and gentlemen. That may be no surprise why you saw Antonio Clary, the safety for Virginia football, choose to come back for a seventh year. How much is Antonio Clary earning in NIL money to come back for a seventh year? How much is Antonio Clary earning in NIL money to come back for a seventh year of college football? Good Lord, guys. We'll also have some crystal ball predictions. Judah Wickhowert, let's go studio camera. Let's weave you in on a two-shot, and then we'll thank some of our partners on the program. Which headline most intrigues you? Judah Wickhauer first. Happy New Year. It's 2025. You're a year wiser. You're a year more astute. And you're a year more prepared to offer compelling commentary on the I Love Seville show. Which headline is most intriguing to you, my friend? I think it's interesting that we've got one grocery giving up and another grocery attempting to make a start. Is the grocery attempting to make a start, though?

Or is this Piedmont Housing Alliance, Sunshine of PHA, Anthony Woodard of woodard properties, trying to put a square peg in a round hole. There are four parties considering running four options for consideration for a grocery on Cherry Avenue. Goodwill Industries of the Valley, I think they should be the primary consideration.

A second option is a newly formed local co-op steering committee, whatever the hell that means. It's a group of people considering local co-op steering committee, whatever the hell that means. It's a group of people considering a co-op, basically. The third option is the Good Foods Grocery. You can find them online at goodfoodsgrocery.com. Good Foods Grocery is, I don't know, a grocery deli? I mean, what do you want to call this? I don't know, a grocery deli? I mean, what do you want to call this? I don't know.

A Richmond-based entity that's considering opening a grocery store on Cherry Avenue. You don't think they should lead it up? I think the goodwill industries of the Valley have the best infrastructure in place. But we'll talk about it. I'm going to ask you specifically this question. If Reed's can't make it, despite being in business since 1961, despite having a second location in

Dilwin, despite getting more than $20,000 of free money through a GoFundMe, despite having a captive audience, despite serving a food desert, despite having very little competition within a two-mile walk, bike ride, or drive of it. How in the hell is a brand new brand, a brand new brand on Cherry Avenue going to make it? I'm also going to ask you about that GoFundMe money. I'm going to ask you about the two sisters that own Reed's, the fact that they're selling to, what, twice as nice? Was that the right move for them? I mean, can I make a legitimate argument that I'm not trying to throw shade, or I'm not trying to, what's the phrase on a dying dog?

Something that's dying, you know, throwing rain on it. I'm not trying to insult something that's already going out of business. The folks that own REEDs have said that they made the wrong decisions during COVID. You don't have to look that up. It's not that big of a deal. Don't look up that phrase. The folks that own REEDs have said they've made poor decisions coming out of COVID. Right? Okay.

They had a layoff staff. They couldn't keep the shelves full. There's a $20,000 plus GoFundMe campaign. And the business did not stay alive. Did they make a strategic move not listing this building? It is one of the most prime pieces of real estate in the city of Charlottesville. Why not just make it an active listing and see what the market does? You're saying sell to the highest bidder. Yeah.

Like a salesman like you would do. They're concerned about their employees. If they were truly concerned about their employees, sell to the highest bidder and give their employees some money of the sale. Instead, they're going to sell off market to a non-profit right down the road and just fire their employees. You call me a salesman, I call me a guy that understands business economics, that can spread the money around to everybody.

A non-profit, a deal off-market to a non-profit, that's peanuts. You don't know that. This is what I do for a living. I want to talk about that today. Viewers and listeners, let me know your thoughts. Roger Voisinet, Bill McChesney, let us know your thoughts on what intrigues you about this. I think we're putting all of these places in a single basket

when they're very different circumstances. I don't know that what holds true for the two sisters who are selling Reed's supermarket holds true for whatever's going to end up on Cherry Avenue. Do you agree or disagree with Judah Wickhauer? Agree or disagree with Judah Wickhauer? Agree or disagree with Judah Wickhauer? He says, Reeds is not foreshadowing of a grocery on Cherry Avenue's success or failure. Let us know your thoughts, viewers and listeners.

Let's give some love to Charlottesville Sanitary Supply. 60 plus years in business. John Vermillion and Andrew Vermillion on High Street, East High Street. Online at charlottesvillesanitarysupply.com. John Vermillion and Andrew Vermillion do things the right way. Any sanitary supply needs, any pool needs, support this company. Support all local businesses, ladies and gentlemen. Now's the time to do it. Charlottesville Sanitary Supply on East High Street. All right, the topic du jour, and jump in, ladies and gentlemen, with your thoughts. I want to share your perspective on the program. It's the unfortunate yet predictable announcement of Reed's closing its doors.

The beloved grocery that has served the community successfully through its fantastic butcher department, through its proximity, frankly, to low-income neighborhoods that may otherwise not have vehicles or transportation of their own, but instead are patronizing the business by foot or by bus line, reads, a business that went in 1982 from the downtown area, a business that was destroyed by fire that moved to Preston, a business that had a location in Dilwyn, a brand that is woven into the Charlottesville history books or folklore, just like the Aberdeen Barn, just like Bodo's Bagels,

just like the Virginian, just like the C&O, is no more. And within the last 10 months alone, 10 months, ladies and gentlemen, this community has lost Reed's, Lumpkin's, Blue Moon Diner, Mel's, Moose's by the Creek, and a combined 185 years

of institutional retail and food and beverage memory. This is a sad story and I will honor the business before I choose to pick apart decision making that got us here. And that's what I'm doing first.

I'm honoring the legacy of Kenny Brooks, the store manager who purchased Reed's. I'm honoring the legacy of Malcolm Reed, who bought the grocery store in 1961 when it was previously a stop and shop. I'm honoring Brooks and his two daughters, Miss Clements and Miss Miller, who've been running the business since their father died in 2016. You talk about a fantastic craft beer selection.

I know firsthand I went there for craft beer quite often. Reed's had it. You talk a a fantastic craft beer selection. I know firsthand. I went there for craft beer quite often. Reed's had it. You talk a fantastic butcher shop. Is it the only? It's what? One of two or three actual butcher shops in the area? JM Stock Provisions and Reed's? What else in the city has a true butcher shop, ladies and gentlemen?

This is a sad day, and we honor the legacy of a brand that's been around since 1961, a brand that in a lot of ways has served the black community. How many brands can you think of that have served the black community, the African-American community

in Charlottesville, like Reed's? Specifically? That's a good question. Seriously. I don't know how many I could name. Viewers and listeners, how many brands can you name that have served the black community in Charlottesville,

like Reed's? Mel's is closed. I don't know that that specifically served the black community. Royalty Eats, that's one on Cherry Avenue. The Cherry Avenue gas station, the GoCo is another one. You talk about good fried chicken, theirs is damn good. Love the fried chicken at the GoCo. Eat it often.

But there are not many closures like this further gentrify communities and further make communities Main Street, Fredericksburg, Main Street, Northern Virginia, Main Street, any zip code in the United States of America. Okay, but you were just saying that you lament the fact that they didn't just put it up for sale and sell to the highest bidder. How can you say that five minutes before saying that you also lament the fact that them going out of business may gentrify the area.

When, in fact, it probably isn't going to because Twice as Nice is taking over. How do you know that if they put it up for the highest bidder, it wouldn't have been purchased by someone committed to keeping the legacy of Reed's in place? You're assuming that the... How likely do you find that? Chris Henry bought Dairy Market and converted a splattering of a retail shopping center into a food center that honors

the former Preston Dairy Market. How do you know someone wouldn't have purchased it and honored Reed's in some capacity? And now it's time to pick apart decision-making. Judah segued us into that. You want to rotate those lower thirds on screen? I would rotate the top three lower thirds on screen. Top four, if you could, please, sir. And join me in the discussion. Top five rotate on screen, if you could, please, sir. Here's some very pointed questions for you, Judah. You ready?

Did poor decision-making get us to this spot? I can't answer that without more information. The sisters have told the media they've made bad decisions during COVID, which led to the house of cards crumbling. Straight up said that to the Daily Progress. On the record, their words, not mine. The GoFundMe, how was that used? Should we be creating charitable GoFundMes for for-profit businesses? It's one thing to do it for a cause or a nonprofit or a philanthropic effort, but businesses that operate in a for-profit setting, should we be doing that? What happened to the $20,000 plus?

I asked the same question for Mel's Cafe when they did a GoFundMe, Judah. A GoFundMe was done after Mel's died to hopefully revitalize Mel's Cafe when they did GoFundMe, Judah. A GoFundMe was done after Mel's died to hopefully revitalize Mel's Cafe 2.0 and never materialized. Right. The difference being that I believe that was started by family members.

And Reed's was started by a former employee and passionate supporter. Yeah. What's the difference? What's the difference? What's the difference? What's the difference? What's the difference of a GoFundMe started by a family member and a GoFundMe started by a passionate supporter and former employee? I sincerely have that question for you. I think there's a big difference. What? Explain. I mean, Explain. One was started by someone who's trying to continue the business,

who's obviously possibly in line to inherit it. The other was started by a... Someone trying to continue the business that worked for the business. You said formerly worked for the business. Yeah, that worked for the business. Did they work for the business at the time they started? No, they were a passionate supporter and former employee that wanted to continue the

business. Everyone had the same motive. Continue the business. We're in the weeds here. Regardless, we're in the weeds here. We're in the weeds here. I see no difference between motive for starting the GoFundMe if it's a passionate supporter and someone that's looking to passionately support the business and maybe carry it on. We're in the weeds here. going to happen. I said this was going to happen. I said on this show for days that the likelihood

of the business surviving was not great. I said on this show for days, doing a GoFundMe for a for-profit business left me scratching my head. And I said on this show for weeks that the most valuable asset that Reed's had was the real estate itself and not the business that was sitting on the real estate or working or operating within the real estate. I said that for weeks. Turn on the calendar right after the holidays. The building is for sale. You do this right after the holidays because you don't want to have a crappy Christmas for the few employees that are left working there. That's what went down here. I am personally surprised, and you'll listen and watch the show for me shooting you straight. You don't listen and watch the show for rainbows and kitty cats and people strumming the

guitar, singing Koo Bayan next to a fire as we're eating roasting s'mores. I don't do that. That's not who I am. I'm surprised that the building was not offered on a public listing, open market, free market capacity for sale. A non-profit buyer and the actual value of this real estate are the delta between the two is massive. And if you want to speak what's in the best interest of employees, you sell for top dollar and you sprinkle some of that money to the employees that are currently out of work in a very tight labor market. If anyone thinks that the labor market for somebody that's working in retail, in grocery, or at a butcher shop, that the upside for opportunity for employment is good right now, you're not reading the tea leaves correctly. Getting a job as somebody that works in retail or stock shelves or works at a butcher shop, those jobs are slim and few and far between. And to Bill McChesney's point, they were having trouble before COVID.

COVID pushed it over the edge. He's exactly right. Another piece of collateral damage from the pandemic. We are still, to this day, to this day, ladies and gentlemen, to this day, navigating the collateral damage of COVID. We're not even close to finish of navigating collateral damage due to the pandemic. Family members of mine

are hunting for home ownership and are struggling to make a purchase for the first time in their journey. First time home buyer. And they can't find inventory to buy because of COVID collateral damage. Everyone holding on to 2% and 3% loans, golden handcuffed.

Our social behavior and how we go about our lives as humans has changed. And people just are not walking or biking or supporting grocery stores like this, like they once were. They're using online delivery. They're using Instacart. The groceries are being delivered to their doorstep. And the community surrounding Reed's, what is that? Star Hill, Preston, 10th and Page, Rose Hill. Those communities are not the communities that they were in 2019 or 2018. Because in 2020 and 2021, we had a lot of folks out of market move to Charlottesville and scoop up houses that are now working remote. And that was not happening in 2018 and 2019. And that gentrified those communities. And it gentrified the customer base that was not happening in 2018 and 2019. And that gentrified those communities. And it

gentrified the customer base that was Reed's. Offer some perspective. Jump in here. Push back on me. Viewers and listeners, you disagree. I want to hear what you have to say. Our first show back in 2025, and we are loaded with content. We're less than 48 hours away from a call for offers for the Dewberry Hotel. There goes the mayor. He's wearing a red sweater. First time I, or excuse me, that's the former mayor, City Councilor Lloyd Snook. First time I've seen him not in a blazer in God knows how long. I saw him this morning in a heavy jacket. I'm surprised he didn't bring that with him, but maybe it's warmed up a little. Tyler Berry. He says the country ham was from Kites in Madison.

Tracy Lee Shiflett's watching on the group. I love the hamburger on the country ham. Oh, that's why Tyler Berry's responding to Tracy Lee Shiflett. Love Tyler Berry. Buy a car from Tyler Berry. Tyler Berry is a mixed martial arts genius. Tracy Lee Shifflett says, those funds are needed for other uses, not to keep the business open. I think these GoFundMe things are set up for the wrong reasons now. I'm not saying, I'm not casting judgment. I'm not

pointing, okay, casting a little bit of judgment Okay. Casting a little bit of judgment here. Casting a little bit of judgment. Obviously, I'm casting some judgment. The GoFundMe's for businesses that are for profit on their last legs. They never work. They do not work. Remember during COVID, the pandemic, businesses got the PPP COVID money, Judah?

Yeah. Everyone was raising their hands. Why are we propping up businesses that are a house of cards ready to crumble? People were scamming the PPP and COVID money, remember? Creating fake businesses just to get money from the government. That's not even getting into the actual businesses that scammed for money. Lori Fincham says, we'll never know the back story.

One of the daughters is watching the story, watching the show. Sue Brooks Clements, as one of the two sisters that own Reeds, let me clarify that no one has ever been laid off before, during, or after COVID. I appreciate that clarity she's offering. She says the GoFundMe was not started by a former employer this was a customer a customer who did this on her own not by her request

some media outlets have reported that differently Ms. Clements some media outlets have reported it differently and she says how do you know that we did not sell for top dollar? I'll ask her this question. That's a good question. Okay. Can I ask this question? Ready? Sue Brooks Clements, I appreciate your perspective. I encourage you to come on the program, Sue Brooks Clements, here on the I Love Civo show. You have an open seat to sit with us. She is one of the owners

of Reed's that is closing. Open seat to sit with us. She is one of the owners of Reed's that is closing. Open seat to sit with us, Sue Brooks Clements. Open-ended question. I'll respond to her by asking this. This is a question for Sue Brooks Clements who's watching the program. Judy, you ready for this response? Okay.

You ready? You ready? If you have a car for sale and your car that is for sale, you put a flyer in your neighborhood at your playground or on the telephone poles in the neighborhood and it says,

Judah has a car for sale. Send me your offers, right? Or if you have a car for sale, and Judah says, why don't I take that car that's for sale, and instead of just putting it on a flyer that's in our neighborhood on telephone poles and on the playground,

why don't I put it on Facebook, on social media, and why don't I put it on, take it to CarMax and the car dealers and see what everybody has to offer? Which path is going to yield the highest number? That's an awful lot of speculation there. Goodness gracious. Do you want me to say what you want me to say no i you can say whatever you want okay thank you that's an awful lot of speculation okay how much time and money are you spending putting this up what if somebody came to you before you went to all this trouble saved you possibly days and who knows how much in advertising costs.

And also- Advertising costs. You're not paying the advertising costs to list the piece of real estate for sale. The broker is. The people that have a piece of real estate for sale are not paying the advertising costs. No, they're paying the broker. They're paying the broker as a percentage of the sale. Once the sale. Yeah.

Once the sale is done. And they can choose not to take the number if it doesn't meet their standard. Yeah. They can basically say, I have this offer from Twice as Nice, which is this. Yeah, and maybe that was the... And then I can go active with the listing and say, if you don't beat this number, I'm selling here and you're not getting a percentage. Yeah, you certainly could. Right?

Right? I have a deal in place with this nonprofit, and I can say, nonprofit, I appreciate your offer. You're in the lead slot right now. I'm going to give 90 to 120 days for a broker or the open market to determine what they think is the value of this real estate. Remember the trailer park on Carlton Avenue? There was some unknown buyer for the trailer park in Carlton Avenue. Remember? Never found out who the buyer was, right? Never did we find out who the buyer was. But there was somebody else that beat it. And the people that beat it was a bridge loan from the

city for Piedmont and Habitat for Humanity. There's always someone willing to pay more if given the opportunity. That's how you end up with gentrified neighborhoods and homes going to out-of-market buyers. What is the phrase that you use with me about... Profits over people? About assuming a lot of things? Is there a phrase that I use?

How do you know that the highest offer wouldn't have been Anthony Woodard? Or how do you know the highest offer wouldn't have been Chris Henry? Or how do you know the highest offer wouldn't have been Bo Carrington? Developers that have a proven track record of positioning the community first. How do we know that? John Blair on LinkedIn, his photo on screen. Jerry, I respectfully disagree with Judah. There's a true, though small, pedestrian culture that benefited Reeds.

My biggest questions about the Cherry Avenue grocery proposal is this. Who isn't going to Food Lion Wegmans in that area? Public transportation is pretty good to both from the Cherry Avenue corridor. Reeds didn't have to invent a pedestrian culture. It was already there. That was my point. He also says Cherry does to invent a pedestrian culture. It was already there. That was my point. He also says Cherry does not have a pedestrian culture. That grocery store would have to invent and cultivate a pedestrian culture

with people whose habits are already geared to food line or Wegmans. Bingo. Yeah, good points. Exactly what I said. Sondra McDaniel, the stock and equities investor. I have a difficult time with GoFundMe. In my opinion, it's begging for money. I would be too ashamed to have such a page.

That's what church organizations and other nonprofit organizations are for. One can never completely track the funds. I honestly don't see how it's any different than physically panhandling. It's digital panhandling. It's, it's, it's digital panhandling. I think that's what I called it last year. Tyler Berry.

It does Judah. It doesn't cost until you sell. Always hold out for more. Jerry's thinking is right. It's just the difference between good business and so-so business. Fair enough. It's what it is. You could always cap that offer on deck.

And I again will reiterate the invitation to Ms. Sue Brooks Clements. You have an open seat on this table, long form content, no commercial, open-ended question, fair interview to talk about your story on the show. And some of the thoughts, some of the commentary you hear on this program, you may not agree with, and I understand that. I understand that. And we'll get off this topic by talking about the loss of institutional brands for our community. In the last 12 months alone, heck, in the last 10 months alone, we've lost 185 years of business.

Reed's, Mel's, Lumpkin's, Blue Moon Diner, and Moose's by the Creek. 185 years of combined collective business. Nothing has replaced Lumpkin's. Nothing has replaced Blue Moon. Nothing has replaced Moose's. In fact, they'll be moving out of the area. Moose's is going to Keswick. Not as Mooses.

Right. But as the Boy Tavern. You should hear the story, and I'm trying to get them on the program, the trials and tribulations, the guy who has taken over the Mel spot, the trials and tribulations, the guy who has taken over the Mel spot, the trials and tribulations, he's going through with the health department

to get open. Good Lord. You got a man who's got a lease on a space and all he's doing is paying rent and not generating any revenue because of the condition of the building and how it was left when he took over the restaurant. I'm corresponding with him via text.

It may even be a success story should they open. Vanessa Parkhill watching the program. I don't begrudge anyone starting a GoFundMe. People can make their own decisions about whether or not to donate. 100% fair. 100%. 100%. We've seen two GoFundMes in the last, we saw two GoFundMes in 2024 not materialize, or frankly, they materialized into raising funds,

but they didn't materialize into saving the business or reincarnating the business. Next headline, put it on screen, Judah, the Dewberry headline, if you could, please. We are less than 48 hours away for a call for offers for the Dewberry skeleton. John Dewberry is looking to sell, how would you characterize his structure? An abandoned skeleton. Abandoned skeleton. Derelict. Yeah. He's looking to sell. Less than 48 hours the offers need to come in. That's the deadline the brokers have put in play. See, this is how something is sold. Clearly it's not the only way.

You have a skeleton on the downtown mall. You have brokers that specialize, boutique hotel sales. Those brokers that specialize in boutique hotel sales, the brokers that sold the Cork Hotel. Let's look up. Cork Hotel Charlottesville sold. What did it sell for? Do we know? Blue Suede Hospitality Group acquired the property in April. What did it sell? $24 million the Cork Hotel sold for. $24 million. The brokers who are selling the Dewberry Hotel sold the Cork Hotel on Main Street for $24 million.

The brokers who sold the Cork Hotel, the brokers who are selling the Dewberry Hotel are the same ones who sold the Cork Hotel, the brokers who are selling the Dewberry Hotel are the same ones who sold the Cork Hotel. They're the same ones who sold Keswick, Keswick Hall, Judah. They're the very same ones, these brokers. John Dewberry, a businessman, has hired experienced brokers. Those experienced brokers have a track record of selling two other champion trophy marquee properties in the area, the Quirk and Keswick. Those brokers went to the Daily Progress. They contacted the Daily Progress and said, we're selling this piece of real estate. We have a deadline of January 9th for a call for

offers. They created a marketing strategy. They notified the media, they got photos, pamphlet, they got a structural engineering study done. The brokers paid for a structural engineering study for the Dewberry Hotel, and that independent third-party analysis determined that the Dewberry skeleton, the steel, was still usable and would give any buyer a significant head start on their development

project. This is called positioning an asset in the best light to attract top dollar. That deadline is less than 48 hours from now. What was our bet? Do we have a bet? I said it would sell somewhere between eight and $11 million. Okay. I'm going to ask you this question. I don't know what, I don't know what Reed sold for.

I do not know what Reed sold for. The daily progress today is reporting that it is assessed... Was it $2.7 million? Let me see if I can find it. I'm looking at the story right now. Yeah, the property was assessed at 2.7 million. I want you to hear me out, okay? These are economics. Reed's was assessed at 2.7 million according to public property records, Charlottesville GIS. Everyone who's listening

to this program, we will know what Reed's sold for because it's public record. Once this transaction closes, everyone will know. It's not a secret. Everyone will know. We will know what the Dewberry sells for. Everybody that wants to know. Everyone will know what the Dewberry sells for. It's public record.

Which do you think will sell for more? Reeds or the Dewberry? It's an interesting question. I got a follow-up question for you. The non-profit that bought reads yeah the first time according to today's daily progress that twice as nice broke 1 million dollars in sales was 2022 okay 2023 they broke 1.3 million. You have a nonprofit

whose top line number for 2023 was 1.3 million in sales. 1.3 million. A nonprofit. 1.3 million. A non-profit. You're telling me that's the top deep-pocketed buyer for what is one of the most coveted pieces of real estate in the city?

I'm not telling you that. I'm asking the world. Asking the world. James Watson, his photo on screen. My question is whether it's much more difficult and less profitable to run a mom-and-pop retail restaurant or supermarket these days. Maybe be flat out that simple. In fact, even non mom and pop retail and restaurants appear to be evaporating, particularly in our area. Kevin Higgins. Well, let me get to James Watson's first.

All retail is getting evaporated and eviscerated. And it's not just retail. Look at our area. How many Wendy's fast food restaurants are left? Where's the Wendy's? Only one I know of is the base of Pantops Mountain by Freebridge. The tiny Wendy's that shares the space with the Tiger Fuel Market. Is that still in there? Is it closed?

I think it actually is closed, that Wendy's. I think it might be. It's closed, right? We talked about that on the show a couple months ago, didn't we? I think so. That was a test for you right there, Judah Wittkower. It was a test. That Wendy's is closed.

Where's a Wendy's in Charles Farrell, Morrill County? You want a Frosty. You got a hankering for a Frosty. Where are you going to find a Frosty? Actually, not too far from us, right? In fact, Curtis Shaver says there's one downtown. That's the Wendy's.

There's one right next to the McDonald's behind what used to be Amelia's Coffee Roasters. And they recently remodeled it. Curtis Shaver might get a little lifted and might have a hankering for a Frosty.

Little chicken nuggets and a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger. Dip those fries in that Frosty, Curtis Shaver. Dip those fries in that Frosty. There's one Wendy's in Charlottesville and Almaral County. Tell me where the Burger King is. Fifth Street Extended? Yeah, there's one out there and there's one over in, what is it? Across the street from Stonefield.

There's a Burger King over there? Yeah. Always has been. My point is this. Wendy's. Burger King. Can't make it. Family Dollar. Family Dollar is being eviscerated. What was the story I read over the holidays? Let me see if I can find that.

Five days ago. Oh, this is a great, here's a story. Oh, I've got to be a CNN subscriber to read this. Family dollar announces huge 30% closing down sale before store closes. I'm going to see if I can find that. My point is this. It's not just mom and pops that are dying. This is my point. This is the collateral damage that we are suffering through because of COVID. The behavior of shoppers and consumers is just radically different today than it was in 2019. We're door dashing, we're Instacarting, we're online ordering, we're grub hubbing, And we're doing it at aggressive clips.

And we're doing it at aggressive clips where the brick-and-mortar retailer or food-and-beverage business model cannot survive. If your model is tied to heavy labor, expensive rents, and premium locations with the expectation that foot traffic is going to walk in your door, you better be doing something exceptionally right. Exceptionally right to survive. Marie Bett is doing something exceptionally right at their Rose Hill location.

Marie Bett, their sister restaurant, remember we said that, we got grief from the meme accounts about the team behind Marie Bett partnering with one of their bakers to open up a pastry and coffee and breakfast spot in the Maury Avenue Shopping Center. It's a New Jersey-based donut shop. They're crushing it over there. They're doing something exceptionally right. If you're not exceptional, you will go by the wayside. It's unfortunate. I mean, we talked about on the show before Christmas that there was a ghost kitchen

operating out of the old Biltmore that was reincarnating the College Inn. This story continues to boggle my mind. Someone bought the College Inn recipes and they had a conversation with the owner of Ellie's Country Club, the old Biltmore. Annie McClure, who owns Citizen Burger Bar, used to own the Biltmore. He sold the Biltmore to one of his lieutenants.

Somehow, some reason, she chose to rebrand the Biltmore from the Biltmore to Ellie's to pay homage to Ellie Wood Avenue. Basically erasing the institutional brand memory of one of the most popular bars and grills tied to UVA's alumni base makes no sense to me. Either way. I'm with you there. You agree with me there? Oh my goodness. Someone purchases the collagen recipes, has a conversation with the Ellie's owner and says, I want to start making collagen food in your kitchen. Will you let me do it? She says, yes.

Whoever purchased the collagen recipes is using third-party delivery to take chicken parm sandwiches and Italian subs and meatball subs and heady salads and damn good cheesecake slices to people as the collagen. 977-2710. I'm surprised they didn't just put them on the menu and call it Ellias slash College Inn. The whole dynamic just boggles my mind. You'd call it tragic? Someone would call it innovative. Why tragic? Someone call it innovative. Why tragic? What?

I didn't say tragic. What did you say? I said strange. Evidently, sledding with your six-year-old could cause vocal damage. Kevin Higgins, 1,000 Shell gas stations are closing, transitioning to EV charging stations. There's a Burger King in the Seminole Square shopping center across from Northrop Grumman.

Yeah, that's the one I'm talking about. In fact, I got a burger there not too long ago. Did you get a Whopper? A Junior Whopper? Some chicken fries? I think they had a deal for a couple Whopper Juniors. You got a couple Whopper Juniors and some fries? Did you get a Dr. Pepper?

No, just the burgers. Vanessa Parkhill. Maybe twice as nice had a benefactor contribute toward the purchase of reeds. There are a lot of generous people in Seville and the surrounding area. We will know. Vanessa, maybe so. I love you, Vanessa Parkhill. Happy New Year, VP, Queen of Earliesville.

We will know as soon as it closes. We won't know what she was talking about. We will know the price it traded for. Yeah. We will know. But we won't know the details of the money behind that trade. I want to ask you this question. You have said on this program many times that you are not a businessman.

That's quite the lead up. You and I are having a friendly conversation. If you had your druthers, would you purchase the Reed's real estate or the Dewberry real estate? You mean if I had all the money in the world? I'm not saying all the money in the world. Well, both of them are going to require some, uh, uh, some renovation. You had $10 million. Uh, is $10 million enough to finish the, uh, the Dewberry? Exactly my point.

$10 million will acquire the Dewberry, a steel skeleton. Yeah. And then you're going to have to put $100 million into it. And there's a chance it's going to trade at a higher clip than Reed's traded for. And they're what? A mile apart?

They're not exact comps. They're not exact comps. I would say not even close. I would say they are close. Really? Piece of commercial real estate, a mile apart, in a landlocked city that has very little primo properties like this that come for sale.

Somewhat close. Not identical. Somewhat close, not identical, somewhat close. And we will know in 2025, probably before June, and even perhaps by the close of the first quarter, by the end of Q1, what each traded for. All right. Put the VCU headline on screen. James Watson passed this along. Love James Watson. James Watson, good man.

Virginia Commonwealth University is going to start playing its men's basketball players on average $384,000 per year to play college basketball in Richmond, Virginia. The University of Virginia just announced, Antonio Clary just announced that he's coming back to the Virginia football team for his seventh year. Seventh year. This man is going to be, what, 25 years old? Is this Bobby Boucher? Is this the water boy? Is this, what's the guy from The Longest Yard? Interestingly, the guy from The Longest Yard, the reincarnated version of that movie was also Adam Sandler.

Bobby Boucher. 25-year-olds are choosing to hang around for a seventh year of playing college football. Why? Because it's safe and it pays well. Because they can make more money than they would if they had a 9-to-5 and wear a suit and tie. Amateur-ism and amateur athletics as we know it is over. You can go to a university like VCU and earn $384,000 for being a role player. How many people watching or listening to this show make $384,000 a year? How many people watching or listening to this show make $384,002 years? How many people watching or listening to this show make $384,003 years? How many people watching or listening to this show make $384,004 years? Five years? Six years, seven years.

Now you can be a role player at VCU and make it in one basketball season, five months, six months, and be a role player. Cypress Hill said it best, insane in the membrane best insane in the membrane insane in the brain the Tuesday edition

of the I Love Seville show Judah Wickauer and Jerry Miller Mike's all right. Thank you.