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This summer, VPM is settling into our new headquarters in downtown Richmond – a milestone which marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in VPM’s history.

During this time, we anticipate no interruptions to news, broadcast, radio and digital productions, and the ways to contact VPM remain the same.

We thank you for your patience as we prepare for and settle into our new location, and we can’t wait to share more details with you soon.

 

vpm black logo

Media that Moves
us Forward

A Bold Vision Requires a Bold Investment

 

VPM aspires to be Virginians’ essential resource for factual, trusted news about Virginia, a window into the region’s arts and culture, and a key community partner that ensures every child has the best start in life. To carry out our mission and realize our vision of more connected, informed and empathetic Virginians, we need a new home.

Our new downtown headquarters will be a hub of community engagement, equipped with modern technology and production capabilities, a state-of-the-art newsroom, and accessible public spaces. This significant investment will be funded by our foundation, the Virginia Foundation for Public Media, along with support from the communities we serve.

For more information or questions about donating, contact Angie Hatcher Sledge: [email protected] or 804-560-8253

This project is made possible through the generous support of the following donors:

A. Marshall Acuff, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Robert A. Adler
JoAnn Adrales-Ruh & Colin Ruh
Nupa Agarwal, Esq.
Ryan Ahlgrim
Luis Alvarez, Jr.
Craig & Lori Anderson
Anonymous (7)
Frazier & Brad Armstrong
Gary & Sherrie Armstrong
John & Wendy Asbury
Cynthia V. Bailey
Theresa Barnes-Pirko & John Pirko
Marianne Barrett-Lampert
Trish Bernal
William E. Berthrong
Mike & Maura Bisceglia
Tim Black
Betsy Blevins
Richard J. Bodorff
Laura H. Boland
Bob & Kathy Bond
Robert T. Bond
Dr. Barbara D. Boyan
Irene Burlock & Joe Holicky
Anne & Bill Burch
Adrienne Hines Burrus
The Cabell Foundation
Campbell Family Foundation
Ben & Annie Campbell
Eleanor Campbell
Paul Canady
Brian Carlton & Elizabeth Sumpter
Irene Carney & Fred Orelove
E.R. Carpenter Foundation
Kathleen Cauley & James Wheeler
James & Jeanette Cheng
Clark Construction Group, LLC
Courtney W. Clements
Louise B. Cochrane Foundation
Sam & Kathy Coleman
Heather Coltman
Sheila Corcoran & Jason Reed
Drs. Richard & Linda Costanzo
Richard & Barbara Crawford
Stephen Davis & Anna Scholl
Lissa Power-deFur & Patrick deFur
Dr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Dessypris
Richard J. Diemer, Jr. & Adele Hoffmeyer

Olimpia & Bruce Dorries
Virginia Renalds Edmunds
Conley L. Edwards & Carole R. Edwards
Martha Anne Ellis
Kimberly & Brent Fauss
Gerry & Bob Ferguson
Brian & Stephanie Ford
Melissa & Frank Fountain
May & Charlie Fox
Sharon & Ken Freude
Chris & Meg Garner
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Garner, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. William V. Garner
Joseph & Emily Gianfortoni
Michelle Gluck, John McGurl & the Hacker Family Fund
Elizabeth & Robert Godwin-Jones
Philip & Paige Goodpasture
Alexander C. Graham, Jr.
Drs. Vann & Autumn Graves
Jim & Betsy Greene
Katherine A. Grove
Sally C. Harrison
Wilbur M. Havens Foundation
Yvonne P. Haynes
Alice & Neil Henry
Rev. Robert G. Hetherington
Kathleen & Dennis Holman
Steve & Wendy Humble
Sarah & Michael Hunnicutt
Alice & Donald Imbur
Sharon Jadrnak & Kevin Kessler
Laurie Jones
Michael Kenna & Gail Wilson Kenna
Gretchen R. Kirk
Gail & Edmunc Kitch
Mary & Scott Kulp
Mr. & Mrs. Fontaine B. Lawson
Dennis Lieberman & Patricia Vastano
Jacqueline Lichtman & Russell M. Linden
Mary & Ted Linhart
Mary Frances Lowe
Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Luck
Amy & Dan Ludwin
Kim & Peter Marcia
Steve & Kathie Markel Family Fund
David & Ann Louise Martin

Lynne McClendon
Dennis & Marla McGaugh
Bill & Pate Mears
Elizabeth Meixner
Lissa Merrill
Patty Merrill
Sandi Mihaloff & Philip Klaus
Enjoli Moon
Patricia Bradby Moore
Kathy Moorefield
Dawn G. Mueller, MD
Paul & Suzanne Munch
Maureen Neal
Beverly L. Nelson
Dr. Janet Ann Nelson
Kevin & Katy Nicholson
Pamela & William O’Connor
Linda & Terry Oggel
Elizabeth O’Hare
Mirriam Oman
Gayle Orange
Harry Orell & Emily Loranger
Elizabeth & Marshall Orr
Mrs. Thomas S. Osdene
Deborah D. Oswalt
Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
Bill & Carolyn Paulette
David & Nancy Paulson
Michelle & Tim Payne
Sarah & Joseph Payne
Christine Peterson
Anthony & Ginger Pelling
Patsy K. Pettus
Tom & Tassie Pippert
Jacquelyn Holley Pogue in memory of Robert E. Pogue
Dr. Mathis Kirby & Stephen Powelson
Dr. & Mrs. Ghulam D. Qureshi
Pascal Renault
Bob & Jan Reynolds
Richard S. Reynolds Foundation
Guy P. Richardson
Janet & Walter Roll
Faye & Jerry Rosenthal
Dr. & Mrs. John C. Rowlingson
Ann & Jerry Samford
Eileen & Tom Sanders
Daphne Schmidt & Dr. Joel Schmidt
Martha Schulman & Dr. Val Puster

Penny L. Sedgley
Robin & Ellery Sedgwick
Mr. & Mrs. William F. Seymour, IV
Richard M. Simon
James D. Sinnie
Cindy & Doug Skelley
Karen L. Skidmore
William E. Slauson
Jeff Sledge & Angie Hatcher Sledge
Daniel & Rosamond Smythe
J.R. & Kelly Snow
Paul & Nancy Springman
Todd Stansbury & Patti Cary
Jill & Andy Stefanovich
Frank & Nancy Steller
Cheri & Chris Stringer
Katheryn E. Surface Burks
Jayme Swain & Steve Studley
Kelly & Kirk Tattersall
Linda & Steve Tissiere
Lilo & Scott Ukrop
Margaret E. Vaden
Ebony Walden
Dan & Brenda Walker
Margot & John Ward
Julie & Paul Weissend
Phyllis & Ellis West
Marie Westbrook
Jean & David White
Bryan Whitfield
R.T. & Cynthia Whitman
Dr. Maryann Williams & Mr. Christopher Yates
Michael D. Williams & Sofia Rodriguez
Ronald & Susan Williams
Tom Williamson
Wendy Woods
Patricia Winthrop
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Witthoefft
Vincent A. Wood, III
Wendy Woods & Ron Payne
Karen E. Wormald
Ting Xu / Evergreen Enterprise
Sally R. Youngs

Neighborhood History 

Our new headquarters in Historic Monroe Ward is situated in a community that has played a central role in Richmond’s complex history. As we contemplate the future, we are excited to delve into the past of this specific site and the surrounding neighborhood.   

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Cohen Company Department Store in 1886

Once a short-lived skating rink, the site became the home of the Cohen Company Department Store in 1886. Run by brothers Sam and Isaac Cohen, the store sold dry goods such as clothing, shoes and textiles. After years of expansion, it was one of Richmond’s oldest department stores at the time of its closing in 1936.
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(Image courtesy of The Valentine)

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Charles Stores Inc. in 1936

Cohen Co. was replaced by Charles Stores Inc. of New York, which opened in 1936. The building underwent multiple renovations, including modernization of the façade in 1948. Charles Stores Co. closed in 1985, leaving the building vacant.

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(Image courtesy of The Valentine)

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Charles Store Co. renovations

Looking back on the evolution of the store’s façade, architect Robert Winthrop noted decades later that its modernization was “of little interest.”

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(Robert Winthrop / Architecture in Downtown Richmond)

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Five-alarm fire on January 13, 1987

In 1986, the building was sold to a developer who planned to convert the building to apartments with commercial space on the first floor. The plans never came to fruition. On January 13, 1987, a five-alarm fire ignited on the third floor of the building, which was then under construction. While fire damage was contained to one building and no injuries were reported, neighboring businesses – including Waller & Company Jewelers — suffered extensive water damage from the fire hoses and debris falling from the burned structure. The cause of the fire was never determined.

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(Richmond Times-Dispatch archives)

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map of richmond downtown and vpm's new location