Campus Shop opens in new location, new food delivery service and more in the Historic Triangle – Daily Press
WARA recognizes outgoing executive director Debi Schaefer
The Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association recently honored former executive director Debi Schaefer, who recently vacated the role after eight years. Schaefer is credited with helping local restaurants survive the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdowns.
“She really gave her all to help us,” WARA president Noreen Graziano said at the group’s annual meeting on March 11. “That was no easy task with all the restrictions.”
Thanks to Schaefer’s efforts, no WARA restaurants were forced to permanently close as a result of the pandemic. In addition, Schaefer helped increase WARA membership by 30% during her tenure.
Schaefer said she is grateful to the WARA members for allowing her to be a part of their organization.
“I truly loved what I did,” she said. “The members were the highlight of my position as executive director. I loved getting to know them, being a part of their lives, listening to them and helping when I could. I remember during COVID talking to members on the phone to keep them updated with the changes that were being mandated. I was so touched when I heard of the sacrifices they made to keep their employees on board and their businesses afloat. There is no industry as tough but caring as the culinary industry. They are the most passionate people on earth.”
WARA, which first formed 25 years ago, also honored one of its founding members, local restaurateur Gus Zaharopoulos, a native of Greece, who died in February. Zaharopoulos owned and operated many restaurants throughout his career, starting with The Plantation Restaurant. He ran Lightfoot Pancake House when WARA began in 1999.
A new executive director has not been announced. The new slate of WARA board officers for this year are: president, Noreen Graziano (Creative Cuisines); vice president, Nicole Pereira, (Pierce’s Pitt BBQ); and treasurer, Kevin Early (WindsorMeade of Williamsburg). For more on WARA, visit wararest.com.
Sly Clyde Ciderworks launches food delivery service in Williamsburg
The owners of Hampton-cased Sly Clyde Ciderworks recently introduced a food delivery service in the Williamsburg area called Zooba Zooba. The new service comes on the heels of the success of Sly Clyde Poolside at the Kings Gate Resort in the summer of 2023.
“We wanted to serve families visiting the Historic Triangle on vacation with unique ciders and easy-to-choose food options,” explained Doug Smith, co-founder of Sly Clyde. “But because Kings Gate is a resort, we are not open to the public. We launched Zooba Zooba as a ghost kitchen concept on DoorDash so anyone can access our menu online and have it delivered right to their home or office. People have been ordering our wings and sandwiches and responding well to the selection and prices.”
Smith said Zooba Zooba began operations a few weeks ago and he anticipates the service will be in full swing once summer hits.
“This gives us an excellent opportunity to serve visitors and locals local food options like smoked BBQ, Mediterranean salads and sliders,” he said. “Being able to include delicious Sly Clyde ciders isn’t only convenient; it also supports local small businesses. Places like ours employ 47% of Virginia workers, and so when your dasher delivers amazing wings from Zooba Zooba, it keeps the community alive.”
Zooba Zooba’s menu includes soups, appetizers, sandwiches, hot dogs, wings, quesadillas and more, as well as desserts and options for kids. For more information, visit zoobazooba.com.
Campus Shop relocates to Merchants Square
The Campus Shop has relocated to 345 W. Duke of Gloucester St. in Merchants Square, more than doubling its active retail space.
Now located in some of the old William & Mary Book Store space, the shop contains much of the same, but greatly expanded, licensed hats and clothing merchandise. There is also a variety of William & Mary gifts, accessories and memorabilia as well as a Williamsburg section.
Sam Wallace Jr., along with his brother, Cabell, and son, Sam III, are principals in Williamsburg Merchants Inc., which operates two other retail stores in Merchants Square. Steve Haigh continues as general manager of the Campus Shop.
“We moved almost exactly 30 years to the day after we set up on Prince George Street in March of 1994,” Sam Wallace Jr. said. “Our new retail square footage is about 3,200, while the old shop was about 1,600. That allows us to expand and present the merchandise better.”
The Wallace family businesses date from 1919 when Wallace Jr. and Cabell Wallace’s grandfather, Robert P. Wallace, a William & Mary alumnus, set up the College Shop at College Corner, selling school supplies and books to W&M students. Ultimately, the sons opened the Campus Shop in 1994; it was rebranded in 2012 as the R.P. Wallace & Sons General Store, still on Duke of Gloucester Street.
The Campus Shop can be found online at campusshopwm.com.
New shoe store opening at Premium Outlets this spring
The shoe company Hey Dude is slated to open a storefront at Williamsburg Premium Outlets in April. Hey Dude describes its products as “some of the cushiest, comfiest, airiest, featheriest, lightest shoes on Earth.” The store carries a variety of footwear for men, women and children, including sneakers, slip-ons, and sandals.
Hey Dude has a dozen other outlet storefronts in Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts and Texas. The Williamsburg location will open on April 15 near the Michael Kors Outlet and Brooks Brothers Factory Store. For more information, visit premiumoutlets.com/outlet/williamsburg.
Dots & Dashes
• Amazing Grace Spray Tans recently opened on the Peninsula and will be appearing in pop-up locations. Pop-ups are currently scheduled at Virtue Salon, 312 Lightfoot Road, Suite I, near Williamsburg, and at Zilda Brazilian Spa, 5215 George Washington Memorial Highway in York County. For information about days and hours, visit amazinggracespraytans.com. Spray tan parties are also available.
• Radiant Roots to Blissful Blooms recently leased 1,500 square feet of retail space in the James York Plaza shopping center, S.L. Nusbaum Realty recently reported.
• Youthful Beginning Medi Spa will soon be opening a location in Williamsburg at 1430 High St., in the High Street development. The business, which offers a variety of skin care services, also has locations in Richmond.
• Charlottesville-based coffee company Grit Coffee officially opened its newest location in Williamsburg in Midtown Row on March 13. The new coffee shop is located at 100 College Row, Suite 2101.
Correspondent Wilford Kale contributed to this story.
Brandy Centolanza, bc*********@*ox.net
