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A Photographic Journey Through Richmond’s 1980s

The 1980s in Richmond, Virginia, was a decade marked by significant progress, transformation, and an increasingly strong commitment to historical preservation. Let’s journey back to this remarkable decade, exploring the city’s commercial development, advancements in education, burgeoning cultural scene, and growing efforts in historic conservation.

Commercial Development

The 1980s marked an era of rapid commercial development in Richmond, fundamentally reshaping the cityscape and fueling economic growth. Standing at the forefront of this transformation was the James Center, an impressive high-rise complex nestled in the heart of downtown Richmond.

Designed by renowned architect John Portman, the James Center represented a significant addition to the city’s skyline. It featured three towers, two primarily offering office spaces and one hosting the Omni Richmond Hotel. The sprawling complex also included retail spaces and an outdoor plaza, becoming a bustling hub of activity that breathed new life into downtown Richmond.

The construction of the James Center wasn’t just a change in physical infrastructure; it was an ambitious project that signaled Richmond’s economic resilience and dynamism. At a time when many American cities were grappling with economic challenges, Richmond’s bold push for commercial development set it apart.

Advancements in Education

Richmond’s commitment to education shone through in the 1980s. Virginia Commonwealth University continued to expand, constructing new facilities and introducing more degree programs. The city’s public school system also experienced significant improvements with the introduction of innovative educational programs and the construction of new school buildings.

The Cultural Scene

Richmond’s cultural scene thrived during the ’80s. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts underwent a major expansion, and the Richmond Ballet became the state’s first professional ballet company. Additionally, music festivals and local bands provided a vibrant soundtrack to the decade, featuring a mix of rock, folk, and emerging alternative music.

The 1980s brought forth significant social changes in Richmond. The city experienced an increase in diversity as individuals from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds moved to Richmond. Neighborhoods such as the West End saw an influx of new residents, contributing to the vibrant, multicultural character of the city that persists today.

Historic Conservation

The 1980s saw an increased effort in historic conservation. Richmond’s historic districts, such as the Fan and Church Hill, experienced a revival as locals started to restore and renovate historic homes. Monument Avenue, known for its grand monuments and architecture, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997, underscoring the city’s commitment to preserving its rich history.

Advancements in Healthcare

During this decade, Richmond’s healthcare sector made notable strides. Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, now part of VCU Health System, expanded its services and facilities, reinforcing its status as a leading healthcare institution. Furthermore, initiatives aimed at improving public health, such as anti-smoking campaigns and wellness programs, gained momentum during this period.

Transportation Evolution

Transportation in Richmond evolved significantly in the 1980s. The construction of the Downtown Expressway, a tolled freeway that connects the city’s downtown with the suburbs, greatly improved traffic flow and accessibility. Meanwhile, Richmond International Airport underwent major renovations, accommodating more passengers and airlines, thereby enhancing the city’s connectivity.

#1 Actress Mary Tyler Moore took a break between scenes outside Bamboo Café in Richmond’s Fan District, 1984.

Actress Mary Tyler Moore took a break between scenes outside Bamboo Café in Richmond’s Fan District, 1984.

Moore was filming the romantic comedy “Finnegan Begin Again,” which co-starred Robert Preston and Sam Waterston. Scenes were shot all over Richmond, including at the Richmond Times-Dispatch headquarters downtown.

#2 One of two surviving antique terra cotta bull’s heads was prepared for mounting by Ron Kingery at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market in Richmond, 1986

One of two surviving antique terra cotta bull’s heads was prepared for mounting by Ron Kingery at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market in Richmond, 1986

The heads originally were part of a set of 42 that adorned the public market at Sixth and Marshall streets. Many were sold off in 1964, but two were rediscovered in city storage. Restoration was led by Virginia Commonwealth University art conservationist Laurence Pace.

#3 Delores Green (left) and Roxie Kricorian waited for calls on the Homework Hot Line, which had just begun offering afterschool help to Richmond students, 1984

#4 The James River Park System’s Ralph R. White knelt on a log above the river, 1989.

The James River Park System’s Ralph R. White knelt on a log above the river, 1989.

In 1980, White became the park’s first naturalist – at a time when visitors frequently cut their feet on broken glass, drownings weren’t uncommon and litter was everywhere. Within a decade, White had directed significant improvements in safety, cleanliness and visitation.

#5 The Westhampton Theater in Richmond’s West End, 1989

#6 A quiet moment dance floor at the Pyramid Club, a bar on North Boulevard in Richmond, 1985

#7 Patrons of Stonewall Café on West Main Street in Richmond dined on the restaurant’s patio, 1983

Patrons of Stonewall Café on West Main Street in Richmond dined on the restaurant’s patio, 1983

The building was constructed in the 1880s and was used as an elementary school until 1962 – it was once Stonewall Jackson School and West End School, and earlier, it housed the Richmond Normal School. The building was sold to a developer in 1980, and today, the space houses the Baja Bean Co. restaurant.

#8 Mary Tyler Moore and Robert Preston rehearsed a movie scene in the Richmond Times-Dispatch newsroom, 1984

#9 Manager Cissy Travers (right) and assistant John Gurski organized the shelves at Video World, a video rental store on Robious Road in Chesterfield County, 1987

Manager Cissy Travers (right) and assistant John Gurski organized the shelves at Video World, a video rental store on Robious Road in Chesterfield County, 1987

At the time, some of the leading rental titles were big movies from 1986, including “Top Gun,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Stand By Me” and “Aliens.”

#10 James Center Development Co. demolished this vacant building between East Canal Street and the Downtown Expressway to make way for the development of the James Center, 1985

James Center Development Co. demolished this vacant building between East Canal Street and the Downtown Expressway to make way for the development of the James Center, 1985

The structure formerly housed the freight office and some accountants from the Chessie System railroad company.

#11 A crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County, 1982.

A crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County, 1982.

Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents – who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal – had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday.

#12 Engineer Charlie Dean inspected the new Big Bad Wolf roller coaster at Busch Gardens near Williamsburg, Richmond, 1984.

#13 Atari video game enthusiasts gathered at the Best Products on Quioccasin Road in Henrico County for an “Asteroids” competition, 1982

#14 Kings Dominion introduced the Avalanche in Richmond, 1988.

Kings Dominion introduced the Avalanche in Richmond, 1988.

The new ride resembled a bobsled run – and even got a thumbs-up from members of that year’s Jamaican Olympic bobsled team, who visited the park to help introduce the ride. The Avalanche, which lasts 90 seconds and reaches a speed of 41 mph, is still operating today.

#15 Preparations for construction of the Richmond Convention Center were underway along East Broad Street downtown, 1982

#16 Under dark skies, a freight train made a southbound crossing of the James River on the Seaboard System Railroad bridge downriver from the Powhite Parkway, 1986

#17 Benny Parsons spun his No. 15 car into the rail as Richard Petty went by in the Richmond 400 NASCAR race at the State Fairgrounds, February 1981

Benny Parsons spun his No. 15 car into the rail as Richard Petty went by in the Richmond 400 NASCAR race at the State Fairgrounds, February 1981

Parsons finished fifth and Petty finished third behind Darrell Waltrip, who won the race for the second time in a row. Waltrip earned about $19,000 for the victory.

#18 Juanita Wade walked down the flooded Main Street in Columbia, a James River town in Fluvanna County near Fork Union, April 1987.

Juanita Wade walked down the flooded Main Street in Columbia, a James River town in Fluvanna County near Fork Union, April 1987.

A little farther upriver in Bremo Bluff, the James River crested at more than 33 feet following spring rains. In Richmond, it reached about 15 feet above flood stage.

#19 The Annabel Lee, a reproduction paddle-wheeler that offered dinner cruises and entertainment on the James River from 1988 through 2003.

The Annabel Lee, a reproduction paddle-wheeler that offered dinner cruises and entertainment on the James River from 1988 through 2003.

The boat had seating for more than 200 passengers, plus two full-service bars and two dance floors. After attendance declined, the owners moved the vessel to the Washington, D.C., area at the beginning of 2004.

#20 An illuminated Broad Street in Richmond from the City Hall observation deck during a series of torrential rains around Labor Day, 1987

An illuminated Broad Street in Richmond from the City Hall observation deck during a series of torrential rains around Labor Day, 1987

The James River rose to 15½ feet above flood stage and filled 24 square blocks of the city with 6 feet of muddy water. More than 50 streets were closed downtown.

#21 Festival Park in downtown Richmond hosted a country music concert featuring Exile and Juice Newton, among others, 1988

#22 Part of death row, including haunting artwork, at the Mecklenburg Correctional Center, Richmond, 1984.

Part of death row, including haunting artwork, at the Mecklenburg Correctional Center, Richmond, 1984.

In May, six death row inmates, including the Briley Brothers, escaped after studying the behavior of guards, overpowering them, stealing their uniforms and feigning a bomb threat in order to get out of the unit. All were recaptured and later executed.

#23 A canoeist navigated through the James River rapids near downtown Richmond during the Wild Water Race, which was part of Big River Weekend, 1987

#24 A section of the former Pinnell’s boat and bicycle shop on lay in ruins after demolition the day before, 1982

A section of the former Pinnell’s boat and bicycle shop on lay in ruins after demolition the day before, 1982

The store was razed to make way for a 3-story medical office building - the new $24 million structure was built between Grace and West Broad streets, close to Richmond Metropolitan Hospital. Today the building serves as a Virginia Commonwealth University dormitory.

#25 The Empire Theatre on Broad Street in downtown Richmond reopened with a gala and performance from the Richmond Symphony, 1984

The Empire Theatre on Broad Street in downtown Richmond reopened with a gala and performance from the Richmond Symphony, 1984

Opened in 1911, the Empire closed and reopened many times since its founding. It is now known as the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and is home to the Virginia Rep.

#26 The Diamond in the late stages of construction, 1985.

The Diamond in the late stages of construction, 1985.

The 12,500-seat baseball stadium on the Boulevard in Richmond was set to open a month later for the new season. Compared with Parker Field, the Diamond offered more seating, concessions, restrooms and boxes where guests could host parties while watching the game.

#28 On Valentine’s Day 1989, a 50-foot-wide heart hung from the columns of the state Capitol’s south portico in Richmond.

#29 Coppola’s Deli owner Joe Coppola (right) and manager Bill Gerloff carefully assemble a 40-foot Italian hero in the Carytown eatery, 1989

Coppola’s Deli owner Joe Coppola (right) and manager Bill Gerloff carefully assemble a 40-foot Italian hero in the Carytown eatery, 1989

The giant sub required three cases of tomatoes, 50 pounds of cold cuts and 15 pounds of provolone cheese. The sandwich was made for the Carytown Watermelon Festival, where patrons could buy 5 inches for $5.

#30 The Richmond Bicentennial Commission erected this billboard along Interstate 95 downtown to celebrate the city’s 200th year as Virginia’s capital, which previously was Williamsburg, 1980

#31 The Express Lane drive-thru convenience store opened in Louisa County, 1981.

The Express Lane drive-thru convenience store opened in Louisa County, 1981.

Patrons could stay in the cars to assess their choices, then place orders with a “runner” who would retrieve items. The store was patterned after the drive-thru beverage locations on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

#32 Hull Street Station in South Richmond, 1982

Hull Street Station in South Richmond, 1982

It was vacant and boarded-up – the last regular passenger train to Danville had left 25 years earlier. The Southern Railway donated the station to the Old Dominion chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, which planned to convert the space into a museum and library. Today it houses the Richmond Railroad Museum.

#33 Historic Richmond Foundation leader John G. Zehmer Jr. (center left) reviewed roof plans with architect Kenneth MacIlroy at Monumental Church on East Broad Street in Richmond.

Historic Richmond Foundation leader John G. Zehmer Jr. (center left) reviewed roof plans with architect Kenneth MacIlroy at Monumental Church on East Broad Street in Richmond.

The historic church, built as a memorial to those killed in the 1811 Richmond Theatre fire, was getting a new copper roof as a step toward preserving the building.

#34 Soap Box Derby contestants made last-minute preparations before the race in Richmond, 1988

#35 A transformer exploded under the sidewalk on the Fourth Street side of the Richmond Newspapers Inc. building downtown, 1989.

A transformer exploded under the sidewalk on the Fourth Street side of the Richmond Newspapers Inc. building downtown, 1989.

The ensuing fireball charred two cars parked on the street and sent flames up the side of the building. No one was hurt in the nighttime explosion, and delivery of the next morning’s RTD (which was printed in the building) was only slightly delayed.

#36 “Mr. Newspaper” greeting a young girl and her mother at a Richmond-area mall, 1986.

#37 In preparation for new carpeting, the Dumbarton branch library in Henrico County had to remove about 80,000 books from shelves, 1987.

In preparation for new carpeting, the Dumbarton branch library in Henrico County had to remove about 80,000 books from shelves, 1987.

About 50 people handled the first phase overnight – but restocking the shelves awaited.

#38 Children enjoyed outdoor recreation at Camp Happyland in the Richardsville area of Culpeper County, not far from Fredericksburg, 1981.

#39 The Lukhard’s market on Libbie Avenue in Richmond, 1985.

#40 A candlelight walk on Church Hill in Richmond was a highlight of the neighborhood’s annual weekend Christmas Festival, 1988.

A candlelight walk on Church Hill in Richmond was a highlight of the neighborhood’s annual weekend Christmas Festival, 1988.

Other seasonal events around the city included a holiday musical at the Byrd Theatre and “Nutcracker” performances by the Richmond Ballet.

#41 Employees of Crazy Zanies in Carytown were ready to deliver messages and singing telegrams around Richmond, 1987.

Employees of Crazy Zanies in Carytown were ready to deliver messages and singing telegrams around Richmond, 1987.

Most employees had day jobs, were students or were stay-at-home parents who enjoyed dressing up and doing a little comedy on the side. The cast of characters changed with the seasons and expanded upon demand.

#42 Visitors lined up to tour the house at 2005 W. Grace St. in Richmond’s Fan District, 1984.

Visitors lined up to tour the house at 2005 W. Grace St. in Richmond’s Fan District, 1984.

That year, residents of the Church Hill and Fan neighborhoods opened their doors for Christmas house tours. Each tour had a theme – in the Fan, it was “The Elegance of Christmas.” Almost 200 volunteers assisted with tours, and 75 hosts shared their homes. On Grace Street, three newly renovated homes were featured, which contributed to long lines.

#43 Special effects engineer Dick Johnson sprayed fake snow around St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond, 1985

#44 Fans of “Gone with the Wind” celebrated the film’s 50th anniversary year at a gala at the Carpenter Center in downtown Richmond, 1989

Fans of “Gone with the Wind” celebrated the film’s 50th anniversary year at a gala at the Carpenter Center in downtown Richmond, 1989

The film made its Richmond premiere there in 1940 when the facility was Loew’s Theatre. The gala began with a fife and drum performance by men dressed in Civil War uniforms, and some women dressed as Southern belles in hoop skirts and lace.

#45 Members of the Richmond band Suzy Saxon and the Anglos had their hair shampooed at a local beauty parlor for a scene in the video for their single “Boys in Dresses.”, 1984

Members of the Richmond band Suzy Saxon and the Anglos had their hair shampooed at a local beauty parlor for a scene in the video for their single “Boys in Dresses.”, 1984

The video was featured in an episode of MTV’s “Basement Tapes,” which highlighted up-and-coming bands. To save money, the band filmed the video in 24 hours – and even sold chocolate bars to raise funds. Saxon made her singing debut at Richmond’s Open High School when she was still known as Suzy Peeples.

#46 The Toys R Us store on Quioccasin Road in Henrico County, 1982.

#47 Director Wayne Westbrook filmed a scene at the Bill “Bojangles” Robinson statue in Jackson Ward as part of a documentary about Richmond, 1986.

#48 Pat Benatar returned to Richmond and performed for 9,000 fans at the Coliseum, 1982.

Pat Benatar returned to Richmond and performed for 9,000 fans at the Coliseum, 1982.

After developing her vocal talents in Richmond for several years in her early 20s, Benatar moved to New York in 1975 to pursue a career that turned into worldwide rock stardom.

#49 The interior of Best Products Co.’s headquarters at Interstate 95 and Parham Road in Henrico County, 1980.

The interior of Best Products Co.’s headquarters at Interstate 95 and Parham Road in Henrico County, 1980.

The building’s interior, which housed about 350 executives, reflected the tastes of Best founders Sydney and Frances Lewis, who were avid art collectors. Several Andy Warhol silkscreen prints of Marilyn Monroe hung above the lobby.

#50 Cyclists delivered to Mayor Henry L. Marsh III a copy of the proclamation – drafted 200 years earlier by Gov. Thomas Jefferson – that named Richmond as Virginia’s capital, succeeding Williamsburg, 1980.

Cyclists delivered to Mayor Henry L. Marsh III a copy of the proclamation – drafted 200 years earlier by Gov. Thomas Jefferson – that named Richmond as Virginia’s capital, succeeding Williamsburg, 1980.

The Virginia Bicycling Federation was marking the centennial of its national organization that year, and member groups – including the Capital Community Cyclists of Richmond – were delivering copies of the proclamation to county seats throughout Virginia.

#51 Sondra Jones, Miss Virginia-USA, helped Phil Reynolds unveiled the name of the trackless trolley – Belle of Richmond – that was set to begin a five-month trial run in downtown Richmond, 1982.

#52 A customer in protective goggles got a head start on summer at an indoor tanning booth at a salon in Henrico County, 1980.

#53 Barbers were busy at Belcher’s Barber Shop in the Mutual Building at Ninth and Main streets in downtown Richmond, 1988

#54 Robby Van Pelt, a 13-year-old from Henrico County, stood proudly in front of his three-level, eight-room playhouse, 1981.

Robby Van Pelt, a 13-year-old from Henrico County, stood proudly in front of his three-level, eight-room playhouse, 1981.

Robby built the structure himself after spending months collecting scrap wood and metal. The playhouse had a master bedroom, porch and wall-to-wall carpeting. Electricity for lighting and to power a radio was siphoned from his parents’ house.

#55 Workers installed the Best Products sign at the company’s headquarters on Parham Road in Henrico County, 1984.

#56 Mayor Roy A. West cut into a cake celebrating the 200th anniversary of Richmond’s incorporation as a town, 1982.

Mayor Roy A. West cut into a cake celebrating the 200th anniversary of Richmond’s incorporation as a town, 1982.

The ceremony was held at the Miller & Rhoads department store downtown. Lillian Bagby of the store bakery and store President Robert Rieland joined West. The cake was decorated to represent different city landmarks, including City Hall, the 17th Street Farmers Market and Shockoe Slip.

#57 The White Tower restaurant at Brook Road and Azalea Avenue in Richmond shortly before it closed, 1987.

The White Tower restaurant at Brook Road and Azalea Avenue in Richmond shortly before it closed, 1987.

The hamburger chain opened in the 1920s in Milwaukee and reached its peak in the 1950s, with more than 200 locations nationwide. White Tower declined as rivals such as McDonald’s grew; Richmond was one of the chain’s last strongholds.

#58 Lauralas Blue Hyacinth, a grand champion Blue Persian from Pennsylvania, was in Richmond for the 15th annual Old Dominion Cat Show in Richmond, 1987.

#59 Pop artist Andy Warhol (right) dined with his business manager, Fred Hughes, in Richmond, 1985.

Pop artist Andy Warhol (right) dined with his business manager, Fred Hughes, in Richmond, 1985.

Warhol was in town for the dedication of the West Wing of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which was built to house 19th- and 20th-century painting, sculpture and decorative arts from the Mellon and Lewis family collections.

#60 A helicopter removed the letters “CFB” from the Central Fidelity Bank building at Third and Broad streets in downtown Richmond, 1986.

#61 Gene Ladin (left) and Alfred I. Mollen stood in front of a giant working radio they designed, 1980.

Gene Ladin (left) and Alfred I. Mollen stood in front of a giant working radio they designed, 1980.

At 14 feet tall and 28 feet wide, it picked up all local stations and even had a cassette slot. The radio was part of the storefront at Mollen’s Auto Audio on Westmoreland Avenue in Richmond. Mollen was the store owner, and Ladin was vice president.

#62 Makeup artist Michele Burke worked on actor Richard Chamberlain between takes of “Dream West,” a CBS miniseries filmed in Richmond, 1985.

#63 One of the first Subway restaurants in Richmond, located on Glenside Drive in Henrico County, 1985.

#64 Mildred Ashton (left) and Elva Jones glazed lipstick on the assembly line at the A.R. Winarick cosmetics manufacturing plant in Westmoreland County, 1985.

#65 Leonard Martin made a delivery for Pizza Hut, 1988.

Leonard Martin made a delivery for Pizza Hut, 1988.

At the time, major chains were battling for Richmond-area customers. Pizza Hut, which had been in Richmond for 20 years and had nearly 40 local restaurants, was ranked No. 1, followed by Domino’s (about 15 regional stores) and Little Caesars (19). Pizza Inn and Godfather’s rounded out the top five.

#66 Patrons dined at the Fish Market restaurant in Shockoe Slip in Richmond, 1982.

#67 Norma Ray (left) served beverages at a Pizza Hut trailer outside Main Street Centre in downtown Richmond, 1988

#68 Veronica Gerber videotaped her child’s preschool class during a Shabbat service, 1988

#69 The bronze statue known as “The Three Soldiers” (or “The Three Servicemen”) was unveiled in Washington as more traditional complement to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 1984

#70 A candlelight vigil in Richmond honored AIDS victims and those fighting the disease, 1987

A candlelight vigil in Richmond honored AIDS victims and those fighting the disease, 1987

The march began at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and wound around Capitol Square. In June 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first handful of illnesses – rare lung infections and other signs of impaired immune systems in five men – in what became known as the AIDS epidemic.

#71 A guest sat near his bed at the Freedom House Community Shelter in Richmond, where there was no set length of stay, 1988.

#72 Virginia Beach-based religious broadcaster Pat Robertson sat on the set of his “700 Club,” the long-running program he continues to host on the Christian Broadcasting Network, 1986

#73 Robert Williams stood in his cell at the State Penitentiary, then located on Spring Street in downtown Richmond, 1985

Robert Williams stood in his cell at the State Penitentiary, then located on Spring Street in downtown Richmond, 1985

Williams was one of three men in medical isolation there because of a diagnosis of AIDS. In the preceding two months, President Ronald Reagan made his first public mention of AIDS, and actor Rock Hudson’s death raised awareness of the epidemic.

#74 Models showed off about 160 outfits during a fashion show organized by Thalhimers to benefit the Florence Nightingale Circle for Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital in Richmond, 1988

#75 A row of homes in the town of Fries, located in Grayson County in Southwest Virginia, 1988.

A row of homes in the town of Fries, located in Grayson County in Southwest Virginia, 1988.

The textile mill that had been the lifeblood of the town since that dawn of the 20th century was getting ready to close in the face of less expensive foreign imports. The town was named for businessman Francis Henry Fries, who had established the mill.

#76 The Richmond Coliseum, Ralph Sampson recorded three consecutive double-doubles during a memorable run in 1983.

#77 A trolley passed by a large screen that protected passing vehicles from sandblasting and painting under Interstate 95 on East Main Street, 1988

#78 Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Armstrong left the Cannon Memorial Chapel at the University of Richmond after marking a special day, 1981

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Armstrong left the Cannon Memorial Chapel at the University of Richmond after marking a special day, 1981

Fifty years earlier – on Aug. 29, 1931 – they were the first couple to marry in the then-new chapel. For their 50th wedding anniversary, they returned to the chapel from their Rhode Island home for a celebration service led by their son.

#79 WTVR-TV’s Gary Gilliam interviewed Ed and Debbie Bishop, applicants who wanted to be on a live traveling version of “The New Newlywed Game” that was slated for Regency Square mall in Henrico County, 1985.

WTVR-TV’s Gary Gilliam interviewed Ed and Debbie Bishop, applicants who wanted to be on a live traveling version of “The New Newlywed Game” that was slated for Regency Square mall in Henrico County, 1985.

The Bishops were among 25 couples selected at random – from more than 500 applications – for an interview. Four couples were selected for the event, which was hosted by Bob Eubanks as part of a promotional tour ahead of the fall television season, when the latest version of the game show would debut on WTVR and other stations. The winners got a weeklong trip to the Bahamas.

#80 East Grace Street between Fourth and Fifth streets in downtown Richmond was closed for a Sunday afternoon “dinner on the grounds,” hosted by Centenary United Methodist Church, 1980

#81 Tom Pivec, president of Master Clean Car Wash on Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond, showed off a new robotic washing system that used a 100 percent cotton cleaning curtain, 1987

Tom Pivec, president of Master Clean Car Wash on Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond, showed off a new robotic washing system that used a 100 percent cotton cleaning curtain, 1987

Pivec said the operation could accommodate 1,200 cars per day. The location previously had been Hot Springs Car Wash, whose owner, Joseph Enning, was a familiar face through his television commercials.

#82 Corey Green peeked out the school bus window on his way home after the first day of school at John B. Cary Elementary School in Richmond, 1985

#83 A group of Richmond school bus drivers modeled new uniforms, which included light blue shirts, navy slacks or skirts, berets or caps, and jackets and ties, 1982

A group of Richmond school bus drivers modeled new uniforms, which included light blue shirts, navy slacks or skirts, berets or caps, and jackets and ties, 1982

There was no money in the school system budget for uniforms, so Julia Armistead (right) initiated the effort to get drivers out of plain clothes. The school system’s 180 drivers had the option of buying a uniform, which cost about $80.

#84 Tom Thomas kicked back on his Harley-Davidson outside Newgate Prison, a bar in the 900 block of West Grace Street in Richmond, 1985

Tom Thomas kicked back on his Harley-Davidson outside Newgate Prison, a bar in the 900 block of West Grace Street in Richmond, 1985

The bar was popular with bikers; other businesses in that stretch, including an adult theater, attracted a diverse clientele that could make the area a hot spot for police. The Newgate Prison site was later home to the Virginia Commonwealth University police headquarters for more than a decade.

#85 Edward Harris lighted the Virginia Special Olympics torch at the University of Richmond, which drew thousands of disabled athletes, coaches and volunteers, 1985

#86 Patrons at Regency Square in Henrico County filled the mall’s new food court, which included 11 eateries on the mall’s lower level between Miller & Rhoads and Sears, 1987

#87 Larry Ingram, president of Neighbors of Chimborazo Park, stood at a contaminated spring along slowly shifting land on Chimborazo Hill in Richmond’s East End, 1987

Larry Ingram, president of Neighbors of Chimborazo Park, stood at a contaminated spring along slowly shifting land on Chimborazo Hill in Richmond’s East End, 1987

The Church Hill neighborhood group had expressed concerns about the shifting hill; city officials said the issue was being studied as part of a multiyear improvement program.

#88 East Broad Street looking west into downtown Richmond from Church Hill, 1988

#89 Actors wearing 19th-century clothing strolled on a “snowy” street in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, 1985

Actors wearing 19th-century clothing strolled on a “snowy” street in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, 1985

The CBS miniseries “Dream West” was being filmed in the area – the program focused on 19th-century American adventurer John Charles Fremont, who was portrayed by Richard Chamberlain. The “snow” was a combination of soap, water and air.

#90 Farm Fresh Inc. prepared to open a grocery store on Brook Road in Henrico County, 1985

Farm Fresh Inc. prepared to open a grocery store on Brook Road in Henrico County, 1985

This was the fifth store in the Richmond area for the Norfolk-based grocer. The Brook Road location, which was open 24 hours a day, totaled 93,000 square feet and had 18 checkout lanes. In addition to groceries, the location had a bookstore, delicatessen, post office, cheese shop, restaurant, video entertainment center and bulk sales department.

#91 A crowd of almost 6,000 watched the Richmond Braves play their final Triple-A baseball game at Parker Field on the Boulevard, 1984

#92 Employees at a Car Pool location in Richmond wiped off vehicles after the wash cycle, 1985

Employees at a Car Pool location in Richmond wiped off vehicles after the wash cycle, 1985

The company was established in 1977 in Richmond; the first location was at 2900 Chamberlayne Ave.

#93 An explosion rocked a row of houses on Davis Avenue in Richmond’s Fan District, 1986

An explosion rocked a row of houses on Davis Avenue in Richmond’s Fan District, 1986

The blast inside one home blew out bricks, windows and a back wall. Police and fire officials also discovered a fire in the home’s basement, but the cause of the fire and explosion was not immediately unknown.

#94 A plaque dedication ceremony marked the addition of Richmond’s Fan District to the National Register of Historic Places, 1986

A plaque dedication ceremony marked the addition of Richmond’s Fan District to the National Register of Historic Places, 1986

The event, which included songs from the Fox School choir, capped a two-year effort by the Fan Woman’s Club in cooperation with state landmark officials. More than 3,000 buildings in the Fan were photographed and surveyed in the campaign.

#95 Richmond Mayor Henry L. Marsh III operated a backhoe to kick off Project One, which included the construction of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 1981

#96 Brown & Williamson workers left the Petersburg plant after its last cigarette production shift, 1985

Brown & Williamson workers left the Petersburg plant after its last cigarette production shift, 1985

The tobacco company had operated in the city for 53 years but was consolidating production in Georgia. B&W was founded in North Carolina in the 1890s and became a subsidiary of British American Tobacco in the 1920s; operations later were combined with R.J. Reynolds.

#97 Workers installed columns for the grandstands as construction progressed quickly on the Diamond, which was replacing Parker Field as Richmond’s minor-league baseball stadium, 1984

#98 A hillside in South Richmond’s Woodland Heights neighborhood, near 27th Street, where homes would be built, 1985

A hillside in South Richmond’s Woodland Heights neighborhood, near 27th Street, where homes would be built, 1985

The builders planned two-level houses with the living room, dining room and kitchen on the upper level and bedrooms and a sitting room downstairs. Both levels would have decks overlooking Riverside Drive.

#99 A television news set allowed media students at Virginia Commonwealth University to use a realistic backdrop for their studies, 1988.

#100 A $50,000 façade renovation neared completion at the Village Shopping Center at Patterson Avenue and Three Chopt Road in Richmond, 1986

#101 Patrons toured an exhibit on stamps at Richmond’s main post office at 1801 Brook Road, 1980

#102 U.S. Postal Service employee Victoria Booker operated an optical character reader device in a Richmond branch to electronically read addresses on letters, 1986

#103 Workers dismantled the Morgan Fountain in Richmond’s Shockoe Slip in preparation for its rebuilding, 1989

Workers dismantled the Morgan Fountain in Richmond’s Shockoe Slip in preparation for its rebuilding, 1989

The marble horse fountain, donated by a Baltimore woman in 1909 in memory of a Confederate cavalry captain, was rebuilt on a larger stone base to help protect it from traffic. It also was moved a short distance to better align with surrounding buildings.

#104 Capitol Restaurant had just opened at the Richmond International Airport, 1988

Capitol Restaurant had just opened at the Richmond International Airport, 1988

The restaurant, operated by Concession Air Corp., gave diners a view of takeoffs and landings. Dinner menu items included a chicken strips appetizer for about $3, a grilled chicken teriyaki entrée with salad and potato for $6.95 and an apple pan dowdy dessert for $2.95.

#105 The Executive Mansion at Capitol Square in Richmond was home to an outdoor tent for the wedding reception of Gov. John Dalton’s daughter, 1980

#106 George and Brenda Huggins opened their Everything Yogurt outlet in Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield County, 1988

George and Brenda Huggins opened their Everything Yogurt outlet in Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield County, 1988

Frozen yogurt was just starting to gain popularity locally – the Everything Yogurt chain was started by Lane and Sara West after they moved to Richmond from Charlotte, N.C., and noticed the absence of yogurt shops.

#107 Barbara Gregory stood outside her Truckers Inn in the Sussex County town of Wakefield, 1980

Barbara Gregory stood outside her Truckers Inn in the Sussex County town of Wakefield, 1980

Gregory almost lost her lease until a trucker known as “Country Gentleman” stepped in: In a two-week period, “Country Gentleman” gathered more than 150 signatures on a petition to help save the inn. That convinced the property owner to negotiate with Gregory for a month-to-month lease, which allowed her to keep her business open.

#108 Buck Fuller awaited the lunchtime crowd at Tubby’s Burgers in Sandston, 1988

#109 Lynette Douglas modeled an outfit from Attitudes, a specialty clothing boutique at Fourth and Grace streets in downtown Richmond, 1989

#110 A refurbished Navy landing craft, which sunk earlier that month, was afloat again in the James River in Richmond, 1981

A refurbished Navy landing craft, which sunk earlier that month, was afloat again in the James River in Richmond, 1981

The plan was for it to be used as a public ferry to Belle Isle – the city was in the early stages of turning the island, a former Civil War prisoner camp, into a recreational destination. This setup was created a decade before construction of the suspended pedestrian bridge that reaches Belle Isle today.

#111 Dick Harman – shown preparing for his role as broadcaster for a hockey game in Richmond – was about to begin a call-in sports talk show on WLEE radio, 1981.

#112 Virginia Commonwealth University students moved the top section of their “Goddess of Democracy” reproduction to the Student Commons, where it was displayed for several days.

#113 The Spiderettes, the University of Richmond pompom squad, practiced a routine at the university, 1981

The Spiderettes, the University of Richmond pompom squad, practiced a routine at the university, 1981

The group, which performed during football pep rallies and at halftime of basketball games, had won a first-place trophy the previous month at a national cheering competition in Knoxville, Tenn. The winning routine was choreographed to The Brothers Johnson dance track “Stomp!”

#114 A family of Weimaraners stood in the back of owner Doug Solyan’s pickup truck ahead of an exercise session at Byrd Park in Richmond, 1984

#115 Hilda West worked on a car in Fredericksburg, where she had addressed an apprenticeship conference, 1986

#116 Dika Newlin and her band, Apocowlypso, performed during a save-the-whales protest in Monroe Park yesterday, 1988

#117 An old wooden caboose was hauled by truck on West Broad Street en route to John B. Cary Elementary School in Richmond, 1981

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Written by Kevin Clark

Kevin Clark is a historian and writer who is passionate about sharing the stories and significance behind historical photos. He loves to explore hidden histories and cultural contexts behind the images, providing a unique insight into the past.

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