Dec. 26 Newsletter: The rest of the story
Weather: Cold and rainy. High of 49.
On this date in 1811, A Richmond theater burns during a show, leaving 72 people dead in one of the worst urban disasters in the nation’s history.
As the year winds down, we revisited some of the biggest stories we covered to update you on what's new.
Catching up: The amphitheater will allow free viewing once again in 2026
Live Nation, which runs Allianz Amphitheater, said it was “encouraged to see people enjoy the area safely and responsibly, supported by traffic control teams focused on pedestrian safety.”
The company wouldn't comment on whether it will expand the lawn area entering its second season, but an executive told CBS 6 that the venue will sell fewer lawn tickets to shows next year to prevent overcrowding. Read more here.
Catching up: Richmond's plastic bag tax goes into effect on Jan. 1
Earlier this year, the City Council approved a 5-cent tax on most disposable plastic bags used by grocery, convenience and drug stores, joining 10 other local governments in Virginia that have already adopted such a charge.
Richmond’s Office of Sustainability estimates that the tax will cost each resident about $2.12 and generate about $400,000 for the city annually. The city will put some of that money towards environmental causes. Read more here.
Catching up: CarMax Park remains on track for April opening
Squirrels owner Lou DiBella wants you to think of the new stadium in terms of more than just baseball. He hopes corporations will have events there, concerts will be held, and people will get married at the new venue.
“Our rent is going up over 1,000%. That's over 10 times what we've been paying,” he said. “You can't do that unless you're bringing in revenues to allow you to do that. You can't do that unless you're engaged in a different business. I could never pay that rent if this facility wasn't built the way it's built and wasn't designed to create new lines of revenue.” Read more here.
Catching up: Pridefest met its funding goals in a challenging environment
Nationwide pressure to roll back DEI initiatives led several corporate sponsors to pull funding from Richmond's largest LGBTQ+ event, putting pressure on organizers to find a way to fill the gap.
They hit their goals, but are rethinking their focus heading into 2026.
"This has been the model that kind of emerged in the, you know, mid to late 90s, of these large-scale pride festivals. And I think it's worth having a conversation around whether that is a model that still resonates with people today," one organizer said. Read more here.
Catching up: Secret Sandwich owners moving towards a summer trial
“It’s complicated” might be an understatement.
For more than a year, David and Tashia Bailey — Secret Sandwich Society’s founders and the continued owners of the brand — have been locked in messy legal disputes with Michael and Nicole Sloane, the operators of the Richmond location who bought a 70% stake in it in 2022.
Court filings indicate no resolution is in sight, with a five-day jury trial scheduled for August 2026. The restaurant remains open in the meantime. Read more here.
In other news
- Highland Springs boys win their bracket in 804 Coaches for Change tournament
- The weirdest moments that defined Richmond in 2025 (Axios)
- RVA’s Theater Multiverse: The year in local theater (Style Weekly)
The editor's desk
Perhaps this is the year I finally remember to bring my reusable bags into the grocery store.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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