Renovations underway for Main Street special event center
BY RUBY WILLIAMS ON DECEMBER 18, 2024
Renovations are underway for the new special event center that is coming to Gloucester’s Main Street.
The Vault on Main, owned by Steward Charles Smith, will be going in the building that once housed the Bank of Gloucester, United Virginia Bank, Crestar Bank, and then SunTrust Bank.
Smith purchased the property in 2022 after the building was bought by the Gloucester Revolving Loan Fund in 2018.
“At this point, we are kind of in our demolition phase where we are really opening it up and seeing how much space we can reutilize of the area so that it can be as open as possible so people can really use it however they need to,” said Michelle Sanderson, property manager for Smith Realty.
Sanderson added that they want to maintain the architectural integrity of the building while also seeing how much space of the building that they can utilize. She said that they are currently working with Stroud Architects + Associates PLLC, who is creating the plans; the contractor is North River Construction.
She also said that the building will be able to be used for events such as community gatherings, weddings, parties, wine tasting and more. She also said that people will be able to use the inside spaces as well as the courtyard.
Sanderson said that a space like this is “definitely a need” and feels that the event center would be “very well received” by the community and surrounding areas.
There is currently no set date as to when the building will be completed.
“Right now, we are just working with the contractor and architect to move it along,” said Sanderson. “We also have some electricians that are in place mapping out where all of that needs to go. It’s not going to be a quick process. I would say we are looking at a minimum of at least a year to try to get everything done.”
Sanderson also added that she was appreciative of how wonderful the Gloucester Revolving Fund, Gloucester Economic Development and Gloucester County Building Code have been working with them to get things going.
“We excited to see it get through the completion so that this will be another asset for the Main Street area of Gloucester,” said Sanderson.
- From The Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal
