The Bellevue Theatre opened almost 90 years ago and gave Northside residents a small local cinema with a neighborhood feel. After decades of transition to a congregation hall for films and concerts and, more recently, for Masonic lodges, the theatre marquee beckons once more. This time, local makers depict the crowd.
Two Richmond-based retailers – Men’swear Sellers Homme Essentials Collaboration boutique Maven’s theory – After construction was completed in late 2024, the shop was set up in the retail area on the first floor of the renovated theatre. The third business, Kickshow Gluten Free Bakerythe final tenant and is expected to move this summer. The rest of the building has been converted to apartments.
“It was the only one [location] It seems right for our business and is attractive to us; [had] “We’re looking forward to seeing you in the process of getting to know us,” said Christina Campitell, co-owner of Homme Essentials.
The current storefront of Homme Essentials opened in early May, five years after its establishment. Richmond Fashion and Retail World veterans Campitell and Alan Long launched the brand on Lafayette Street in the West End, selling clothing, household items and other items sourced from small brands. An unexpected move in late 2024 restricted retail products to temporary space within the plastic dispute at Grace Street Record Store until Campitel and Long found the building on MacArthur Avenue.
As the first retail tenant, the duo was able to shape the design of the new space. “I learned how to use sketchup to layout a dressing room [and] Long says. This allowed the team to put shoppers first with every design decision. “We try to elevate our products and great things, but we encourage them to present them in a non-intimidating way, touch, feel and try them,” Long says.
Opened in theater spaces since October 2024, Maven Theory enjoyed the same benefits with the blank canvas storefront it acquired. “We don’t only have new equipment, we also have older historic buildings, but it was very appealing to us,” says co-founder Meg Altov.
A collection of brands founded by Althoff and Bethany Frazier Theory of the Sun and Maven made iteach candle and skincare and fragrance business, under one label. “In 2022, we started sharing production spaces. From there, we started talking about the concept of Maven theory before we knew what it was,” says Althoff. Frazier and Althoff first collaborated on candles that share the scent with a series of perfumes and candles, and soon afterwards launched the brand.
Maven Theory’s Bellevue Shop is now a showroom and a workshop where new products are invented and sold in one setting. It also transports products from Richmond and small businesses across the country.
Both tenants see the potential to support and elevate other small crafters in Richmond, just as others are helping them on their journey into the current space, through other small crafters in Richmond (seasonal markets, pop-ups, and other theatre front patios). “We feel very fortunate that we have a very supportive foundation, and [in Bellevue] In particular, we tapped something completely new,” Altov says.
“It’s the customers who are really making us,” Campitel says. “And most of them are local.
Source: Shopping & Style – richmondmagazine.com
