Virginia ABC Leased New Store in Richmond
The state liquor retailer will relocate an existing Forest Hill Avenue location to the Shops at Stratford Hills.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Virginia ABC has signed a lease to open a new 5,800-square-foot store at the Shops at Stratford Hills. The project involves relocating the agency's current 5,000-square-foot facility across the street at 7036 Forest Hill Ave.
Why it matters
The move shifts the state liquor retailer into a larger space within a major Richmond shopping center. The site was previously occupied by Popshelf, which vacated the 10,400-square-foot property last year.
The new ABC store will encompass 5,800 square feet of the 10,400-square-foot space formerly occupied by Popshelf. This represents a size increase compared to the current 5,000-square-foot store.
The players
Virginia ABC
This state agency manages the sale of distilled spirits throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Shops at Stratford Hills
This is a prominent retail shopping center located in Richmond.
The details
The new store will be situated at 7101-F Forest Hill Ave., positioning it within a retail hub that also features anchor tenants such as Target and Publix. Other recent additions to the center include Bella Ballerina and a new dental office.
Timeline
Popshelf closed its location at the Shops at Stratford Hills in 2025.
The new Virginia ABC store is expected to open by March 2027.
Market Landscape
The Virginia ABC lease follows the broader retail redevelopment of the Shops at Stratford Hills that has attracted new businesses like Bella Ballerina. This move mirrors trends where government-run agencies seek larger footprints in established shopping centers to improve accessibility.
Customers currently shopping at the 7036 Forest Hill Ave. location will eventually need to transition to the new facility across the street. The expansion is expected to provide a larger, modernized retail space for shoppers in the South Richmond area.
The takeaway
Retailers continue to target established shopping centers like the Shops at Stratford Hills to capitalize on existing foot traffic. Residents in the area should look for future announcements regarding the exact decommissioning date of the current storefront.
What happens next
The new ABC store is anticipated to open to the public by March 2027.
Further reading
For more news on local retail developments, visit the Richmond Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Richmond BizSense.
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