A flood of memories rushed over a crowd of old friends and coworkers who walked the halls of the old Best Plaza in Henrico County Monday, as guests toured the site one final time before demolition of the iconic building begins later this year.
The Henrico Economic Development Authority’s board of directors approved a nearly $2 million demolition contract with S.B. Cox Inc. in May. The demolition of Best Plaza could begin in the coming months and end as early as September.
The work will exclude the property’s prominent pair of eagle statues, which are expected to be preserved either onsite as part of the new development or through relocation.
Cari Tretina, executive director of the Henrico EDA, said the event was meant to honor the past while looking towards a new opportunity for the county.
“This site is full of history,” Tretina said. “It’s where the Best Products once embarked on a bold and innovative journey, one that left lasting impacts on its industry, this community and beyond…and in many ways, that same spirit still exists today and urges us to begin the next chapter.”
The decision to demolish the 93-acre site comes after the failure of GreenCity — Henrico’s sought-after arena-anchored, mixed-use development.
After reacquiring the property from would-be developers Green City Partners, Henrico embarked on a new initiative called Best Products Reimagined. In May 2025, the county issued a request for interest seeking ideas for redeveloping the former retail company’s headquarters.
Dennis Bickmeier, Henrico’s sports and entertainment director, said county officials are actively reviewing plans that were received around July 2025.
“We received responses from multiple interested groups, and today we continue that process to bring that vision to life,” Bickmeier said Monday. “While that remains ongoing, I can tell you the conversations have centered around bold ideas and forward thinking plans to establish this site as a true gateway to Henrico and our region.”
Although Monday’s ceremony was a look towards the future, it was also a nod towards the past. Former employees like Wayne Tennent, retired senior vice president for Best Products, were given a chance to reminisce about the building they made memories in.
Best Products, a Henrico-based electronics and home goods retailer, was founded in 1957 by Sydney and Francis Lewis. The company was known for its products and specialized catalogs, but even more so for its iconic buildings and showrooms.
In 1981, the company opened its distinctive headquarters in Henrico with its curved, green glass wall and iconic eagle entranceway, a feature that was originally from the 1939 New York City Airlines Terminal building and later installed at the Henrico site.
While the company was known for its unique interiors, the building in Henrico also had its quirks.
“Remember the elevator had buttons for four floors,” Tennent told the crowd. “We only had two floors, but it came out of a hotel in New York, and it was fun to watch people get in the elevator and panic on what buttons to push.”
For Tennent, working at Best Products was “like working in a museum,” but in 1997, following two bankruptcy filings, Best Products closed its 180 stores in 23 states.
Despite the company’s abrupt end, memories of a time within the building’s glass interior were renewed as guests were invited to tour the space, collect commemorative wood engravings and write their signature on several glass panes from the building that will be preserved.
Nelson Johnson and Dick Bragg toured the building together. Johnson was wearing his old name tag he had on when met Bragg in the 1970s. The two worked together at Best Products during that time, and have stayed friends ever since.
“Seeing all these old people that we work with, it’s just awesome,” Bragg said. “Lots of hugs, lots of memories, lots of great memories.”
David Leopold and Julie Eure-Leopold remembered meeting for the first time inside Best Plaza’s emerald halls. More than 30 years later, the couple have three children, are still together and will celebrate an anniversary this September.
Special memories held at a single place are hard to let go of, but Eure-Leopold told VPM News she’s excited for the future of the property.
“It’s great to see some redevelopment happening,” Eure-Leopold said. And it’s something that’s going to serve the community. Something fresh and exciting that’s going to bring a lot of people and a lot of entertainment, so that makes me happy.”
Susan Butler, the daughter of Best Products Company founders Sydney and Francis Lewis, told VPM News she was moved by everyone’s testimony.
“It really has made me feel wonderful,” Butler said. “The stories that former employees are telling me are great, and to have the speeches by the various Henrico County people and Wayne Tennent honor my parents has been quite heartwarming.”
Butler said she had hoped that the building’s exterior would be saved during the property’s redevelopment, but that seeing how the facade impacted so many lives was comforting to see before bidding a final farewell to the building.
