Back to School: A Local Business Guide for College Freshmen

the exterior of shyndigz with signs pointing to different richmond locations

Aug 16, 2023 | Find Local, Itineraries

It’s officially back to school season, and for thousands of freshmen, that means relocating to a new city and finding new spaces and places that feel like home. With so many great universities in the Richmond region, we’ve put together a quick start list featuring everything from local coffee shops to where to go when Mom and Dad are footing the bill or when you ace an exam to help students (and visiting parents) get acclimated with some of our local favorites.

The exterior of Grit coffee shop with a patio filled with tables and chairs

Grit Coffee

University of Richmond
West End 

Dinner with Parents: Conejo
Aced an Exam: Pearl’s Bake Shoppe
Local Market: Libbie Market
Drinks with Friends: Bar West

 

the exterior of Shyndigz Market with a bicycle in front

Shynidgz Market

Virginia Commonwealth University
Downtown

Coffee: Rostov’s (also great for tea!)
Dinner with Parents: Lillie Pearl
Aced an Exam: Shyndigz Market
Local Market: Stella’s Grocery
Drinks with Friends: 3 Monkeys Bar & Grill

 

A bar at The Park RVA

The Park RVA

Virginia Union University
North Side

Dinner with Parents: Southern Kitchen
Aced an Exam: Ruby Scoops
Drinks with Friends: The Park RVA

 

Iron Horse patio in Ashland.

Iron Horse Restaurant

Randolph Macon-College
Ashland

Coffee: Foodio
Dinner with Parents: Iron Horse Restaurant
Aced an Exam: Monique’s Crepes

 

 

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