The Good: I wasn’t necessarily opposed to the pickleball courts being installed. The building had been sitting unused for quite a while, and in an age where social capital has been steadily declining since the 1950s, I thought—well, maybe a place like this could be a positive addition. I’ve been inside, spoken with the guys who founded it, and they were friendly and enthusiastic about creating a space where people could have fun with pickleball and padel. No issues there. The Bad: What I do take issue with is the erasure of what made this part of Richmond unique. Out-of-town money has come in and watered down the character of the canal walk, particularly the iconic murals. They never should’ve touched the outside. What used to be a vibrant, photogenic public space has been turned into a sterilized, gentrified backdrop for rich white women in athleisure, trying to keep their circulation going. Those murals were a piece of Richmond culture—whether for graduation photos, Instagram shots, or just a quick snap to send to a friend. Now it’s been repackaged as a sleek, soulless space with “cool” murals (murals are now gone and one remains) in the background, stripped of their original charm. Even Dopesick (starring the great Michael Keaton) filmed scenes there—you can see how it looked before this transformation. Anyone visiting or graduating after 2025? Sorry, you missed it. The Ugly: I’ve lived here long before this place opened, and I know others who are just as disappointed. Twice, I’ve walked through the mural area with my dog, and both times I was looked at like I had leprosy—just because my dog barked at people bouncing balls around. Look, I get it—no one likes being barked at while they’re playing. But my dog is a hunting breed. He loves balls: tennis, soccer, basketball—you name it. That’s not something I can train out of him. One lady gave me the stink eye. Another made a passive-aggressive remark while I was showing my visiting cousin what’s left of the murals. If that was you and you're reading this: I used to love this place before you rolled in with your country-club energy. If you don’t like my dog barking at what he sees as a toy—tough cookies. And next time, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face. I might have some choice words, sure—but my dog? He’ll probably greet you like an old friend, because that’s just the kind of soul he is. Please enjoy my pictures of what this place used to be. (Update - regular people can no longer walk through this area. The owners are still using the mangled looking fences used during their construction period to block off pedestrians).
2 months ago