Why the Cavalier Changed Hands
By Butch Maier Connecticut-based Wheelock Street Capital purchased the Cavalier Hotel and affiliated properties in Virginia Beach in a massive deal—terms undisclosed—completed June 15. Cavalier Ventures, led by Gold Key | PHR CEO Bruce Thompson, retained ownership and management of the Hunt Room restaurant and Tarnished Truth Distilling Co. in the Cavalier basement. Thompson, in […]
2026 CoVa BIZ BOB Awards Winners
10th Annual Best of Business Awards Introducing the 10th Annual BOB Awards winners, the best of the best as selected by our readers and the Coastal Virginia business community Every year, we ask CoVaBIZ readers and the Coastal Virginia business community to nominate and vote for the businesses and individuals they believe to be the […]
2026 Small Business Of The Year
For more than 40 years, the Hampton Roads Chamber and the Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads—a chamber affiliate—have celebrated the region’s small businesses with the annual Small Business of the Year Awards. Businesses were nominated by the business community, and then a business from each region area was selected by a distinct panel […]
Fresh from the Source
By Barrett Baker There’s something special about the anticipation of waiting for the weekend to attend a farmer’s market. However, if you’re looking for fresh produce or locally sourced meats any other time, there’s no need to wait. Farms in the Pungo section of Virginia Beach have been offering their goods for generations and are […]
Creative Capital
by Beth Hester My early musical experiences were informed by the sounds coming from my parents’ eclectic record collection which they played on one of those giant Zenith console stereos—essential pieces of furniture in the Mad Men era. Their assemblage included: Handel’s Messiah, Tony Bennett, Sergio Mendes, Big Band leaders Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman, […]
Perspectives From Around the Region: Arts and Business Community Partnerships
by Beth Hester Since this issue has an editorial focus on Coastal Virginia’s creative economy, we thought this would be a great opportunity to ask leaders in our arts community to weigh in on the following question: What inspires you most when you see the arts and business communities working together successfully, and how can […]
Instant Systems
by Eric J. Wallace If you aren’t a medical industry insider, you’ve probably never heard the name Instant Systems. Products from the Norfolk-based design and manufacturing company aren’t prominently displayed on pharmacy shelves or in hospitals. They don’t take center stage in TV or social media ads—yet Instant Systems has played a vital role in […]
Solobo Toys: Designing With Impact
by Barrett Baker Did you know that a local toy company won a Toy of The Year (TOTY) award last year? It’s the biggest award a company can win in the industry, and Solobo Toys beat out huge company offerings such Spin Master, Moose Toys, Miss Rachel Doll, and even Hello Kitty. Best of all, […]
Scend Studios
by Eric J. Wallace Brenner Vasquez looked ahead to 2020 and thought, “This is going the be my year.” He’d founded D.C. area video production company, 8 Media Group, three years before, and the investment was finally paying off. Then the pandemic swept across the world, “and it was like, we need to just do […]
2026 CoVaBIZ Best Places to Work Awards
CoVaBIZ Magazine is proud to launch the 2026 Best Places to Work Awards, recognizing the companies and organizations that are creating outstanding workplace cultures across Coastal Virginia and Hampton Roads. This program celebrates businesses that prioritize employee satisfaction, professional growth, leadership, workplace environment, and overall company culture. Whether it’s through strong team support, innovation, benefits, […]