Employment Specialist

Biz Beat Roundup: downtown icon to re-open Friday. Business activity. * Goolrick's will re-open Friday after a four-year renovation of the 1808 building at 901 Caroline St. in downtown Fredericksburg. The business is reputedly the longest-running soda fountain in the U.S., having opened in 1869. The renovation, which was undertaken by building owner Jarrell Properties Inc. and a team of local contractors, kept the original tin ceilings and includes hand-laid tile flooring. The kitchen will be led by Executive Chef D'Andre Sykes, who began his career in 2017 at Fredericksburg's Fahrenheit 132 before cooking in Nashville and Chicago, including at restaurants Elske and Jeong. The menu will nearly mirror the traditional Goolrick's fare - including chicken and egg salad sandwiches, salads, hand-mixed sodas and milkshakes. Seating is now available for up to 50 people, and there is a retail area at the back where the pharmacy used to be. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Friday's festivities will include a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 11 a.m., swag bags for the first 50 guests and more. Work continues on the building's basement, which will be a Prohibition-era speakeasy concept called Section 7 that is expected to open later this year with entrances from both Goolrick's and George Street. Section 7 is named for the provision of the Volstead Act that permitted pharmacies like Goolrick's to dispense medicinal whiskey. * A new Goodwill store opened at 1275 Emancipation Hwy., Friday, July 31, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Kearney) Rappahannock Goodwill Industries last week opened its new thrift store at 1275 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg's Eagle Village shopping center (former location of a Salvation Army thrift store). * The long-delayed Panda Express location at 750 Warrenton Road (intersection of Plantation Drive) in Stafford County will open Thursday (Aug. 6), according to the company's website. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Aug. 10. * Smoke & Mirrors Cigar Lounge is moving into the former Red Dragon Brewery space at 1419 Princess Anne St. in Fredericksburg, said building owner John Van Hoy. The cigar lounge is moving into that larger space from its current location at 1411 Princess Anne St. REIGN The Venue, which is at 1409 Princess Anne St., is expanding to take over the current cigar lounge space. * A rezoning is proposed that would allow 319 apartments and 7,000 square feet of commercial uses on a 16.3-acre property on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. 1 and Hospital Center Boulevard in Stafford. The proposed project is called Aventon at Stafford. * The Ivyhill motocross training facility recently opened in Caroline County just southeast of the Dominion Raceway area of Thornburg. * Merritt Properties has broken ground on Phase I of its Austin Ridge Business Park project just south of Courthouse Road near the Exit 140 interchange off Interstate 95 in Stafford. This phase of the project will include two light-industrial buildings totaling 140,000 square feet and is expected to be ready in about a year. Targeted sectors include advanced manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, construction, government contracting, home-improvement trades, technology services and more. Three additional industrial buildings are planned at the project, which will have a total of 420,900 square feet when completed. Merritt's first development in Stafford, Merritt Business Park at Quantico Corporate Center, is fully leased. * Bob's Discount Furniture recently opened its new 30,000-square-foot store at 1591 Carl D. Silver Parkway in Fredericksburg's Central Park development (former Office Depot space). * Zynda Apothecary will close its downtown Fredericksburg store (1009 Princess Anne St.) on Friday. The business plans to open an online store in a few months and is scouting new locations, according to a Facebook post. Movers and shakers. * This week's edition of the Biz Beat Banter podcast features Ype Von Hengst, co-founder and executive chef of Silver Diner, which has a location in Fredericksburg's Central Park development. * This week on Biz Beat Clips, we introduce you to Cheri Litzenburg, a Fredericksburg-area woman who is a financial advisor by day and owner of Line Dance Cheri by night. * The University of Mary Washington (UMW) has again been included in the 2027 edition of the "Fiske Guide to Colleges." UMW is one of 11 Virginia schools in the 2027 publication. * Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) is welcoming an incoming class of 55 new physician residents and fellows to its Graduate Medical Education program, bringing the training program to more than 100 physicians. The first 21 graduates completed the program this past June; half plan to continue practicing in the area. The program trains residents in fields including internal medicine, family medicine, general surgery and anesthesiology. Planned additions include neurology and psychiatry residency programs, and advanced medical training in a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship. Real estate review. * This former Rowe family house at 610 Lewis St. in Fredericksburg sold last week for $1.4 million, topping the list of homes sold. There were 137 home sales in the Fredericksburg region over the past week, including two for more than $1 million, according to this week's report from the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors. Check back weekly for the past-week sales. * The Relax Inn property at 1902-1910 Princess Anne St. in Fredericksburg sold last month for $2.3 million, according to the City's monthly land transfer report. Vihar Inc. sold it to SAI VA Inc. * The 130,700-square-foot warehouse property at 300 Lansdowne Road in Fredericksburg sold last month for $7.06 million, according to the City's monthly land transfer report. Jobeja LLC sold it to Money With A Mission LLC. * Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer recently published its second-quarter 2026 commercial real estate reports for the Fredericksburg market. The reports offer information on leasing and sales activity, vacancy rates and more on the industrial, office and retail sectors. * A rezoning is being sought that would allow 23 single-family homes to be built on 5.67 acres on the north side of Garrisonville Road between Onville Road and Travis Lane in Stafford. The proposed project is called Onville Station, and the applicant is Fairfax-based ACG Development LLC. * A conditional-use permit is being sought that would allow an electrical substation to be built for a data center on a 4.39-acre parcel on the east side of U.S. 1 between Centreport Parkway and Alabaster Lane in Stafford. * Coldwell Banker Commercial Elite reports the following recent lease transactions in the region: * Safe Harbor Behavioral Care LLC, 1,750 square feet of office space at 181 Kings Highway, Suite 128, in Stafford from 268 Main Street LLC * Home & Leisure Inc. (doing business as Structureworks), 4,500 square feet of industrial space at 500 Interstate Business Park, Unit 404, in Stafford from Interstate South LLC * Tentamus North America Virginia LLC, 12,350 square feet of office space at 10340 Spotsylvania Ave. in Spotsylvania from Hendifar Properties of Virginia LLC * JRA Inc. recently purchased the roughly 3,200-square-foot office condo at 927 Maple Grove Drive (Suite 201) in Spotsylvania from 99 Maple Grove Drive LLC for $653,000, according to broker Johnson Realty Advisors. * Johnson Realty Advisors reports the following recent commercial leases: * Nexxus Coatings, 2,100-square-foot industrial lease at 4006 Leonard Drive (Suite B-9) in Spotsylvania * The Vent Guys, 4,500-square-foot industrial lease at 9410 Northeast Drive (Suite A-1) in Spotsylvania * Pyramid Roofing, 450-square-foot office lease at 420 Hudgins Road (Suites 108 and 109) in Spotsylvania * Keystone Intl. Ventures, 3,189-square-foot industrial lease at 12 Commerce Parkway (Suite 103) in Stafford * ACG Hospice, 2,028-square-foot office lease at 10712 Ballantraye Drive (Suite 306) in Spotsylvania * Dominion Palace Intl., 1,458-square-foot office lease at 2048 Richmond Highway (Suite A) in Stafford * Two Six Technologies, 2,052-square-foot office lease at 150 Riverside Parkway (Suite 217) in Stafford Biz Beat Roundup runs every Wednesday and includes a roundup of business news from around the Fredericksburg region. Send submissions to: [email protected]

Rappahannock Goodwill selected to present at 2026 Virginia Workforce Symposium. Fredericksburg, VA - Rappahannock Goodwill Industries (RGI) has been selected to present at the 2026 Virginia Workforce Symposium, to be held April 20-21, 2026 at Hotel Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Hosted by the Virginia Workforce Association, the Symposium convenes workforce professionals, educators, employers, policymakers, and community leaders from across the Commonwealth. Nearly 60 proposals were submitted to fill just 35 presentation slots, and RGI's proposal was chosen through a competitive review process. RGI's session, titled "Beyond the Resume: Skills-Based Hiring in the Age of AI," will be delivered by Chief Mission Officer Marty Bywaters-Baldwin and Director of Workforce Services Sara Drebes. The interactive breakout session will highlight how artificial intelligence and skills-based assessments are reshaping hiring practices and creating new opportunities for both employers and job seekers. Attendees will: · Review 2026 survey data from Virginia hiring managers · Experience a live demonstration of an AI-powered skills assessment tool · Learn about RGI's innovative "CareerPath Accelerator" model, which uses skills tryouts, AI insights, and real-time labor market data to connect businesses with qualified talent "This recognition reflects Rappahannock Goodwill's commitment to advancing practical, scalable workforce solutions," said Bywaters-Baldwin. "As hiring evolves, our role is to ensure employers and job seekers have the tools to succeed." Drebes added, "Our approach moves beyond resumes and degrees to verified skills and real-time data, increasing access, efficiency, and opportunity." The Virginia Workforce Symposium will explore talent pipeline development, employer engagement, economic and community development, and emerging workforce trends. About Rappahannock Goodwill Industries Rappahannock Goodwill Industries strengthens communities by empowering individuals facing barriers to employment through workforce development, education, and career pathway programs that connect talent to opportunity. Learn more at fredgoodwill.org

SPONSORED CONTENT: from donations to destinations: how Goodwill is driving Fredericksburg's workforce future. As Fredericksburg's economy grows and diversifies, one organization is quietly shaping the region's workforce: Rappahannock Goodwill Industries (RGI). Known for its thrift stores, Goodwill is far more than a retailer - it's a jobs engine. Over the past four years, RGI has provided free job services to nearly 50,000 people and helped place close to 10,000 individuals into employment with local businesses across its 16-county service area. By the Numbers * Unemployment Rate: 3.4% (Fredericksburg region) * Top Industries: Healthcare (14%), Technology (+8% growth), Education * Goodwill Impact: 50,000 people served with free job services 10,000 job placements in 4 years $3M annual e-commerce revenue reinvested locally "We're not just in the retail business," said Steve Cox, president and CEO of RGI, during a recent address to community leaders. "Ultimately, Goodwill is in the jobs business. Everything we do - from donations to e-commerce - is about creating opportunities for people to overcome barriers to employment." This impact comes at a time when Fredericksburg's job market is evolving. Healthcare, technology, and education remain the region's strongest sectors, with healthcare alone accounting for nearly 14% of local employment. Technology roles, particularly in cybersecurity and software development, are growing at an estimated 8% annual rate, while logistics and retail continue to provide steady opportunities. The city's unemployment rate hovers around 3.4%, reflecting a resilient economy. Goodwill's model is simple yet powerful: donations fuel retail sales, and nearly 90 cents of every dollar earned is reinvested into free career services. Beyond its 15 storefronts, Goodwill has built a thriving e-commerce operation, growing from $400,000 to over $3 million annually in just a few years. Those dollars - often from buyers in states like Texas and California - flow back into Fredericksburg to fund workforce programs. The organization is preparing for its next leap. In April 2026, Goodwill will launch the CareerPath Accelerator, an AI-powered platform designed to bridge gaps between job seekers, training providers, and employers. Using real-time labor market data, the program will create skill-based matches and build talent pipelines for high-demand fields such as healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. By year three, Goodwill expects to serve 5,000+ job seekers annually, positioning the Accelerator as a "workforce transformation engine" for the region. "This program will turn disconnection into community, uncertainty into clarity, and potential into sustainable employment," Cox said. "It's about making the system work for everyone." Select businesses and job seekers can get early access to the CareerPath Accelerator before its official launch in April 2026. Email [email protected] today to secure your spot and help shape the future of workforce development in our region. Editor's note: This article was provided by Goodwill Rappahannock Industries, a corporate sponsor of the Fredericksburg Free Press. As part of its continued partnership with Goodwill, the Free Press will publish bi-monthly articles highlighting its programs and projects in our region helping people find jobs, gain new skills and build brighter futures. Content has been edited for clarity and style by the editorial staff.