Fire in Shockoe Bottom

June 30, 2025 · 1:43 read

Category: Arts & Culture

Show: Unscripted RVA

A fire broke out in Shockoe Bottom last week, starting at The Daily Menu and spreading rapidly to three nearby businesses — OMG OCP, Tipsy Crab, and Plush. Some of these spaces also housed apartment u

A fire broke out in Shockoe Bottom last week, starting at The Daily Menu and spreading rapidly to three nearby businesses — OMG OCP, Tipsy Crab, and Plush. Some of these spaces also housed apartment units.

This episode was being recorded at the time the fires were actually happening, so we did not have all the details on hand:

The flames moved fast. By the time firefighters arrived, the roof had collapsed, interiors were gutted, and several residents were displaced. Through the shattered glass and crumbled brick, you can still see the outlines of what was—living rooms turned to rubble, stairwells leading nowhere.

The images are difficult. But what’s harder is knowing how many lives were upended in a matter of hours.

No injuries were reported, but many lost homes, businesses, and a sense of stability. As one resident put it:

“There’s no more ceiling. You could see floor joists. I didn’t recognize my living room.”

We’re thinking of those affected — especially the Richmond business owners, staff, and families who now face the aftermath. These spaces weren’t just storefronts. They were gathering spots, homes, pieces of the city’s cultural fabric.