Midlothian Depot, at Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive, has given the corridor a new street address: Steam Avenue. Whole Foods is at 1051 Steam Ave., and the Petfolk veterinary clinic is at 1008 Steam Ave. Most of the new storefronts between them have spent the fall waiting on finished interiors, not on construction.
Whole Foods opens Chesterfield County's first location on Nov. 19, with doors at 8 a.m. Coverage has focused on the grocery store, but the plan around it is the bigger story. Midlothian Depot was designed so the grocery run brings the rest of the week's errands along with it: the vet, the groomer, the pet store, eyewear, nails, a quick lunch. The developer has been opening those businesses on roughly the same schedule as the anchor.
Built From Trees, Not From a Dead Mall
Midlothian Depot looks like the kind of project that replaces a tired shopping center. It didn't replace one. When Richmond BizSense first reported the Whole Foods deal in January 2025, the assembled property was described as mostly wooded, except for three buildings facing Midlothian Turnpike.
On that land, SJC Ventures, the Atlanta developer, built about 87,500 square feet of retail around a single grocery anchor.
The plan also includes housing. Eastwood Homes is building 60 for-sale townhomes on three parcels totaling 3.6 acres within the development. As of late October, seven units were finished, including the model.
The area has a long history with coal and rail. Chesterfield County's history says coal mining in Midlothian dates to before 1730. It also says Virginia's first railroad, built in 1831, carried coal from the Midlothian mines to the docks in Manchester. Mid-Lothian Mines Park on North Woolridge Road keeps that history in public view.
The Grocery Store Was Designed to Look Local
The Whole Foods is the third in the Richmond region, after Short Pump and the Sauer Center. The company's announcement gives the size as 37,636 square feet and says it's the 17th store in Virginia. Store Team Leader India Lawal runs it, and it will be open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
According to the retailer, the building mixes Virginia's Colonial architectural tradition with modern design, using locally sourced wood, stone and brick with a warm color palette. The shelves follow the same idea. The store carries more than 390 items from Virginia and neighboring states, chosen with help from Lillian Huber, the company's forager for local and emerging brands. Names Richmond shoppers will know include Blanchard's coffee, Don Sebastian salsas and Hardywood beer. The cheese counter adds crackers from Firehook and Savannah Grace Southern Snacks and charcuterie from Naturalissima, with trained cheese staff behind the counter.
The store also has meat and seafood counters, a bakery and a wellness and beauty section.
Opening morning, Nov. 19
Whole Foods has announced the following for opening day:
- Doors open at 8 a.m.
- Samples throughout the store
- A limited-edition Midlothian tote and a Secret Saver coupon worth up to $100 for the first 300 people in line
- Food and monetary donations to CASS
The Tenant List Reads Like a To-Do List
Services make up a large share of Midlothian Depot's lineup, alongside the restaurants. Here's the full list as SJC Ventures described it in late October and as the Midlothian Business Alliance recapped it in its Nov. 6 update.
| Errand | Business | Status as last reported |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Whole Foods | Opening Nov. 19 |
| Lunch | Cheba Hut | Open as of Oct. 22 |
| Phone | AT&T | Open as of Oct. 22 |
| Vet visit | Petfolk | Planned to open Nov. 6 |
| Lunch | Dave's Hot Chicken, Turning Point, Pure Green | Expected before year-end |
| Clothing | J.Crew | Expected before year-end |
| Glasses | Warby Parker | Expected before year-end |
| Furniture | Lovesac | Expected before year-end |
| Pet supplies and grooming | Woof Gang | In the works |
| Bakery | Paris Baguette | In the works |
| Dinner | Blue Fish Grill, Bibibop | In the works |
| Nails | Inspire | In the works |
| Med spa | VIO | In the works |
| Delivery | Wonder | In the works |
Jeff Garrison, a principal at SJC Ventures, told Richmond BizSense that construction was essentially done and that what remained was tenant build-out and finishing touches. "We have a few (businesses) that are open, and a lot that will open with Whole Foods, sort of in that same time period," he said. He also said the center was largely leased and expected to be fully committed within a few weeks.
Tenants are opening in a planned order. The grocery store draws people in the door, and the other businesses are set to open around the same weeks.
Why the Vet Clinic Came First
Petfolk is the clearest example of a tenant betting on that weekly routine. The veterinary chain, expanding north from North Carolina, chose 1008 Steam Ave. for its first clinic in Virginia. It offers both primary care and urgent care for pets.
Co-CEO Michael Wystrach explained the choice to Richmond BizSense in terms of population growth in western Chesterfield:
"From our data, there does appear to be a veterinary shortage in that area, with increased population and increasing pet demands. So that's an area that we think a pet parent needs options."
He told the outlet the company plans to focus on this location in the Richmond area first, then add locations elsewhere in Virginia and the D.C. corridor over the next three to five years.
With Woof Gang also on the tenant list, pet owners have two reasons to stop here besides groceries. That fits a center designed around the errands people actually run each week.
Getting In and Out
Midlothian Depot has entrances on Midlothian Turnpike, Alverser Drive and Old Buckingham Road. When the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors approved the project in October 2022, the approval came with road requirements. Before the county issues certificates of occupancy, the developer must widen or restripe Alverser Drive, change the traffic signal at Route 60 to match, and add other lane, crossover, sidewalk and turn-lane work. The full conditions are in the board's meeting minutes for anyone who wants to read them.
A Holiday Errand Run With a Detour
The Depot opens the week before Thanksgiving, heading into the season's busiest grocery weeks and December entertaining. On Dec. 1, Chesterfield County holds its Holiday Tree Lighting – Midlothian from 6 to 7 p.m. at Mid-Lothian Mines Park, 13301 N. Woolridge Road. The park preserves the coal-mining history that gives this part of the county its identity. The new Depot sits on the turnpike that grew up around that history.
One December evening can include both stops.
- Shop at Whole Foods on Steam Avenue after work. It's open until 9 p.m. every day.
- Head to Mid-Lothian Mines Park in time for the 6 p.m. tree lighting on Dec. 1.
- Stop at Cheba Hut on the way home, or at whichever Depot restaurant has opened by then.
Shoppers in late November will find a center opening in stages. Some storefronts will be lit and some will still be papered over. Garrison expects the rest of the leasing to wrap up within weeks.
When a new retail anchor opens nearby, homeowners start asking what it means for their own street. It affects traffic patterns, what buyers ask about at showings and how a listing describes its location. If Midlothian Depot has you thinking about your next move, The Harton Team can walk you through it. Schedule a personalized market consultation, and we'll look at how the corridor's newest addition fits into your plans.
