CHUCK IN A BOX

Wow, it sounds so much harsher when someone else says it – “Whatever you do, do NOT stay in Petersburg“, this from SunDog’s Civil War Travel post over at Patrick Henry’s Tomb.  A couple of the new hotels out on Wagner Road near the new Southside Regional Medical Center are really quite nice AND they are actually IN Petersburg so, I would have no problem telling people to stay in those during their visit to the ‘burg.  However, I would never recommend anyone EVER staying in those seedy hotels on Washington or Wythe Streets – especially after learning about the prostitution problems at ‘The 4 Corners’.

“Do yourself a favor, stay in Colonial Heights near the mall, or stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Dinwiddie.” – that sounds like me when I go on my, ‘I’m not going to support a single Petersburg business except for Kristy’s because I hate living in this city!’ tangent with Keith.  Maybe if the city did a bit more to attract businesses where I would shop frequently *shrug* – Don’t get me wrong – Old Towne is neat if your into Antiques, Over-priced clothing, Dining out, or Beauty Treatments.  I guess the advent of the SouthPark Mall area (Southpark Blvd. and Charles Dimmock Pkwy) and shops along Temple Ave. (all of which is in Colonial Heights) spelled the death bell for Petersburg.  I really think there is something to the ‘build it and they will come’ mantra – they (Colonial Heights and Dinwiddie) just ‘built’ it first.

Interestingly enough, most of the stores that I COULD shop at in Petersburg have counter parts just a few miles away in Colonial Heights, Chester, or Chesterfield and I go there.  I’m sorry but I’ll travel to Ruffin Mill Road for a McDonald’s that understands the concept of fast food, service and cleanliness.  Sadly the pool of job applicants in Petersburg is rather lackluster – to say the least.  (Not that you cannot get bad service anywhere – there just seems to be a greater chance to encounter said service in Petersburg – or at least that’s my observation over the last 3 years living here).  I’ll save my stories of sucky service for another day though.