ABC opens the plug on new $ 91 million headquarters in Hanover

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority completed construction on its new headquarters in Hanover this month, paving the way for a transition out of its long-standing and wanted headquarters near The Diamond.

The $ 91 million complex, located at 7450 and 7452 Freight Way, near the intersection of Pole Green Road and Interstate 295, includes a 95,000 square foot office building and a 315,000 distribution center. square feet on a 40 acre site. ABC expects 500 employees to work there once it is fully operational.

In addition to the agency’s administrative offices, the headquarters also houses the region six enforcement office and the licensee’s cashier’s office, both of which started operating from the new headquarters last week.

H&M Construction was the contractor for the project. ABC and the general state services managed the project.

The completion of the new headquarters is another additional step towards unblocking the land needed for a new baseball stadium in the city. The ABC plans to sell its long-standing headquarters at 2901 Hermitage Road later this year, ABC CEO Travis Hill said after a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.

The property is being reviewed by VCU as part of its plans for an athletic village, which would include a new baseball stadium shared by the university and the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

“We will not consider this until we are satisfied that we are ready to operate this facility. It’s in the budget, it’s taken into account, so it will happen, ”he said.

The ABC held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday at its new headquarters in Hanover County. (Photo by Jack Jacobs)

The transition of personnel and equipment to Chemin Hermitage is underway and will take place throughout the summer.

Hill, Governor Ralph Northam, Public Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Brian Moran and ABC Board Chair Maria Everett shared remarks at Monday’s event.

The ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement’s Region Six office previously operated out of The Boulders II office complex in Chesterfield County. This office closed for in-person visits on June 11. The office enforces laws relating to the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages and is a source of information for licensees on state alcohol laws.

The licensee’s cashier’s office, which previously operated at 2901 Hermitage Road and processes payments for licensee’s permits, also closed in-person tours on June 11.

Region six includes Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Powhatan. The region five enforcement office, which covers Hanover and Goochland, also moved to the Hanover headquarters this month.

The headquarters project budget is expected to reach a total of $ 91 million, a figure that includes construction, land purchase and other expenses, according to an ABC fact sheet distributed at the inauguration. The state purchased the land from Riverstone Properties from Bill Goodwin for $ 8 million in July 2019.

Construction of the new head office began in February 2020.

VCU, meanwhile, continued to acquire properties near ABC’s Hermitage site. The university recently purchased the former Salvation Army facility at 2601 Hermitage Road and the James River Distillery.