Petition seeks to save historic home of original Carytown Burgers & Fries as Publix mulls redevelopment of Richmond Shopping Center

When Martin’s Food Markets pulled out of the Richmond market, it left many shopping centers in limbo. Publix subsequently announced plans to open stores around town, renovating many of them–almost all of which were formerly Ukrop’s store locations.

In three specific cases, however, Publix found the former stores were either two small or inadequate for its needs. The company announced plans to demolish the Martin’s stores at Westpark in the West End, The Village shopping center near the University of Richmond, and now, reportedly, the Richmond Shopping Center in Carytown and build new stores in their place.

While the grocer has yet to announce official plans, sources say the entire shopping center, which is bound by N. Thompson, W. Cary, and Nansemond Streets, plus Ellwood Avenue, will soon meet the bulldozer for redevelopment. Its owner is currently working with Regency Centers, owner and developer of area shopping centers–including the aforementioned Village shopping center–on tentative plans. Several tenants in the shopping center have already had their leases terminated and either closed their businesses or relocated, as Richmond BizSense reported.

One of the most notable tenants, the original location of Carytown Burgers & Fries, has started a petition to save their home.

It may not be obvious on first glance, but tucked away amid the (arguably) ugly brown brick and metal paneling of the circa-1970s Richmond Shopping Center is a much older structure. Known as the Toll Taker’s House, the building that houses the burger joint is reportedly almost 200 years old, and was constructed as a residence for those who collected tolls along the newly-built Westham Plank Road–present day Cary Street–that connected the City of Richmond to points west including Westham, Tuckahoe, and even Charlottesville (via its connection to Three Chopt Road).

The house was, perhaps surprisingly, never added to any historic registries and while it may have historic significance, may not be protected from potential demolition.

But more than just protecting its historic home, Carytown Burgers & Fries, which opened in the space in 1999, has business interests at stake. After laying out significant expenses to open new locations around Richmond, owners say they don’t have the funding to move their flagship location, and started a petition on Change.org seeking to save it. At press time, it had gathered almost 10,000 signatures.

It reads, in part:

The future of Carytown Burgers & Fries is at stake! We cannot allow multi-million dollar national corporations to push out beloved, homegrown RVA businesses like ours. This goes against the very core of what makes Carytown so unique and eclectic. If we don’t speak up, many long-standing local businesses will be uprooted in the next two to six months, as a massive national corporation is planning to purchase this entire lot, with the intent to demolish all of the current buildings and erect yet another big-box grocery store.

The future of Carytown Burgers and Fries in Carytown, our home, is at this point unclear. The Carytown shopping district will lose a number of well respected, well patronized businesses during this demolition, and we for one certainly aren’t ready to go! Sign our petition to help tell our local government loud and clear “We want to SAVE Carytown Burgers & Fries by allowing them to stay in the historic Toll Takers House!”

The petition will be delivered to Richmond City Councilman Parker Agelasto, 5th District representative, whom they hope will step in to see what options are available.

Owners tell the Richmond Times-Dispatch their lease has been renewed through June, after which the business will have to vacate the space, as the situation currently stands.

You can view and sign the petition here.