Here’s a recap of the top business stories for the week of April 4, 2025:
NHL-sized hockey rink venue moves towards construction in Chesterfield County
Reported by BizSense’s Jack Jacobs
Chesterfield Sports Enterprise will kick off construction in the coming days on an 89,000-square-foot facility that is set to feature two professional-level ice rinks.
Construction will occur in two phases — starting with the 46,000-square-foot building and first ice sheet, as well as 400 spectator seats and some of the locker rooms.
The second phase of the project would bring the second ice rink, another 400 seats and the remaining locker rooms.
The Ice Arena at Chesterfield (a working name) would be used for youth and adult hockey programs and clinics, as well as figure skating and youth hockey tournaments. It's currently scheduled to open in summer 2026.
Global aluminum manufacturing plant in Chesterfield County prepares for shutdown
Reported by BizSense’s Jack Jacobs
The Novelis plant on Reymet Road in Chesterfield County will close May 30 as part of the company’s overall restructuring.
A company spokesperson said 73 workers will be laid off by the closing, but could potentially be hired for new positions that Novelis is creating across its other North American facilities.
The Chesterfield facility — the company's only outpost in Virginia — manufactures rolled sheets of aluminum for the construction industry.
Restaurateur eyes long-vacant café space in Manchester for new brunch spin-off
Reported by BizSense’s Mike Platania
North Carolina native Jilan Hall-Johnson plans to open a new restaurant this summer in the former Butterbean Market & Café in Southside Richmond.
The brunch spot, Sassy's, a spin-off of Hall-Johnson’s Montana eatery The Sassy Biscuit, will serve dishes featuring her own biscuit dough recipe.
Hall-Johnson said renovations are underway on the Hull Street storefront, which has been dormant since 2020. Sassy’s is slated to open in July.
Sports bar backed by local business partners, opens in Midlothian
Reported by BizSense’s Mike Platania
The owners of local fried chicken chain Cocky Rooster have a new sports bar in Midlothian.
Game Plan Kitchen & Bar opened its doors April 2 in the former Burger Bach site on Heaths Way Road.
Luke Phillips, Brett Diehl, Will Phillips and Michael Yates are behind the restaurant, which features a familiar array of wings and fried chicken alongside bar-food classics like burgers, wraps and salads.
Burger Bach's Short Pump location also closed last year, leaving only the Carytown outpost of the "New Zealand-inspired gastropub" open. The Short Pump space, located on Old Brick Road in West Broad Village, has since been snagged by Detroit-style pizza chain Emmy Squared.
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