Petersburg businesses help revitalize historic downtown

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- Today's downtown Petersburg is not the one Rachel Hersh grew up with.

It's busier and more vibrant, in part thanks to the influx of shops and restaurants that now dot Sycamore street.

Downtown Petersburg is experiencing a revitalization through new businesses and housing, helped by organizations dedicated to improving the area and by funding from the city.

"It's an older area," Hersh said.

She owns Evermore Bridal Boutique in Old Towne with her sister. Since opening in 2023, they've expanded to a larger storefront down the street. It had its grand opening Friday, June 13.

"At one time it was booming," Hersh said about downtown. "And then it was quiet for a while. Now it has started to build back up. But when I was a kid, I remember when it wasn't built up like it is now."

Hersh said brides travel from states away to visit her store, and the other businesses in the area help attract those customers too.

That includes the event space nearby, Appomattox, owned by Senithia Martin.

"There is no one business in downtown Petersburg that can economically sustain downtown Petersburg," Martin said. "It takes all of us working together to establish downtown Petersburg as a destination location."

Martin is also the board president of Main Street Petersburg, a non-profit with a mission of improving the city's downtown.

And it's not alone in that mission.

The city of Petersburg has invested millions in revitalizing the area, including a recent million-dollar investment toward improving downtown curb appeal.

A reversal of fortunes for a city once on the brink of bankruptcy.

And the city broke ground on the new Live! Casino and Resort in March. That's something business owners say they look forward to spurring even more growth in downtown.