Stony Point Fashion Park, Richmond

Why would somebody like me be caught dead at a place like this? Well, I went to see what all the hype was about and to report on it for VT. Similar to the Short Pump Town Centre, Stony Point Fashion Park is an open-air shopping centre. While it leans to the upmarket, it has a more friendly air than the other place. Some shops even let dogs in, however, pet owners are responsible for any cleanup. Would you believe the folks who run this place carried on with the 18 September 2003 opening. For those who don't remember, that was the day Hurricane Isabel made landfall. Hundreds of die-hard shoppers braved the increasing winds. They closed it down when things got nasty and the storm put out the lights for awhile. A week later, they did the grand opening over again complete with ribbon-cutting ceremony. They also had a belated "going away party" for Hurricane Isabel and offered ladies who could show that a variation of "Isabel" was part of their given name got a $25 gift certificate.

What to buy: I rather liked Sur La Table (French for "on the table" for those of you from Roxboro), a kitchen supply store. Click here for a complete store listing.

What to pay: It leans more to the upmarket.