Virginia Gazette News |

Business notes: New stores at Williamsburg outlets, plus a furniture store coming to Williamsburg Pottery

Williamsburg Premium Outlets welcomes two new stores

One new store has opened at Williamsburg Premium Outlets, with another store set to open in July.

iCollectables Popculture Emporium, a new collectible shop that specializes in Funko Pop toys, opened at the beginning of June in the space between Fragrance Outlet and As Seen on TV.  The store is owned by Andrew Mooney and his father, Chris.

Andrew Mooney first became interested in Funko Pops back in high school after receiving the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” set as a gift. He and his father later started selling collectibles online and at comic-con events before deciding to open a storefront. The shop carries about 600 different Funko Pops ranging in price from $15 to a few hundred dollars for rare, limited-edition Pops.

“We have something for everyone, whether you are a casual collector or a hardcore collector,” Mooney said.

In addition to Funko Pop toys, iCollectables sells Star Wars and Marvel action figures, horror masks and props, posters and stuffed animals, as well as exotic snacks and drinks. Eventually, Mooney would also like to add LEGO sets to his inventory.

The goal of iCollectables is “to bring the comic-con experience to a store for those who can’t travel to comic-con,” Mooney said. “We want to bring in something different, something that you wouldn’t see in a big box store and make it fun when you walk through the door.”

iCollectables is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, on July 1, another store is slated to open near Vans Outlet and Columbia Factory Store. Zion’s Kreations & Kuisine is a new boutique store and snack bar that will specialize in plant-based treats, as well as holistic stones, crystals, Caribbean-inspired vegan cuisine, herbal teas, coffee and other wellness items, according to the Williamsburg Premium Outlets website.

For more information on the outlet stores, visit premiumoutlets.com/outlet/williamsburg.

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Furniture and mattress store opening at Williamsburg Pottery

North Carolina Furniture & Mattress, a staple on the Peninsula for more than 40 years, is opening a new location at Williamsburg Pottery.

The business, which first began in 1976 by Lloyd and Anne Julian, currently has a storefront in the Denbigh section of Newport News, with a second storefront scheduled to open in Building C of Williamsburg Pottery in July. The couple’s daughter, Katherine Evans, runs the family business as vice president.

“We have wanted to open a location in Williamsburg for years since we all live there and a large percentage of our customers live in James City County,” Evans said. “We looked at many locations in Williamsburg. When we toured the Pottery, we felt it was a great location, size and opportunity to open a business on that side of town where a lot of growth is happening. We feel it.”

The new store will offer the same furniture lines as the Newport News location in a larger gallery space and will showcase a variety of exclusive brands including Flexsteel, Stressless, Kincaid, Bassett, Canadel, Palliser, Norwalk and others.

“We are excited to be up in Williamsburg and bring new life to the Pottery,” Evans said.

The store is expected to open in early July, with a soft opening set for July 4 and a larger grand opening planned in the fall. For more information, visit ncfurniture.com.

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Gault opens location in Yorktown

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Friday for Gault Electric, Generators, Solar & HVAC’s new location in Yorktown. The company, which began in 1995, recently opened a second location at 7815 George Washington Memorial Highway as its heating, ventilating and air conditioning, or HVAC, division continues to grow.

“The most exciting thing so far about opening this location is the brand awareness on such a busy street,” said co-owner Will Cannon. “We have had so many customers and friends say what a beautiful building it is.”

Gault’s main office is located at 806 City Center in Newport News. Cannon said a third location, which will also be in Newport News, will open in the fall with a focus on its solar operations. For more information, visit gaultelectric.com.

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Dots & Dashes

• Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen, located along Monticello Avenue in Settler’s Market, appears to have permanently closed. The restaurant closed a few weeks ago. Repeated messages to the company’s corporate office in Virginia Beach were not returned. The Williamsburg location, which first opened in 2009, is no longer listed on its website and the restaurant’s phone number is no longer active.
• Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. recently leased 1,553 square feet of office space at Design Center, 4350 New Town Ave.
• The Centre of Movement & Performance is now open at 344 McLaws Circle in the space that was formerly PEAK Physical Therapy. The business provides services in physiotherapy, physiowellness, speed and agility camps, athletic training and development, performance fitness, personal fitness, marginal gains, InBody testing and more. For more information, call 757-564-7311.
• Earth Fare recently announced a partnership with Prime Roots, a plant-based deli meat brand. The grocery chain, which is committed to offering clean and sustainable food choices, has a location in Midtown Row at 208 Monticello Ave.
• Amber Ox Public House, located at 525 Prince George St., recently announced two staff changes. Ileana White has been promoted to executive chef, while Nicole Pereira has been named the new general manager.

Brandy Centolanza, bcentolanza@cox.net