vol. 321 / Come Hang OutKelli Lemon provides her tips on how to enjoy this place we love to call home.
VOL. 312 / COME HANG OUT
Meet this week's guest editor, Kelli Lemon.
Kelli opened Urban Hang Suite at 3rd and Broad with an idea: to create something much more than a coffee shop. She envisioned a place where good coffee, good people, art, and music could come together.
This Saturday, October 31, the Suite celebrates its eighth anniversary. But it's also facing a challenging moment, and Kelli has launched a Save the Suite effort to help keep its doors open. With that in mind, we invited Kelli to guest-edit this week's Here Weekly and share three little Richmond adventures, from her favorite spots inside the Suite to a few of the people and places that make the neighborhood special.
Take it away, Kelli ...
Hang Suite Perks
When we first designed Urban Hang Suite, we intentionally made the foundation of the space black, white, and brown. We knew the art, the food, the people, and the movement inside these walls would bring all the color we needed.
And when I first walked into 3rd and Broad, those BIG windows immediately caught my attention. IMO, the window seats are still hands down the best seats in the Suite. Get some work done. Have a good conversation. Or just people-watch on Broad Street. Eight years later, that's still what I love about this place. There's always more happening here than what's in your cup.
So grab a coffee (or the S'mores Latte pictured here), find a window seat, check out the art, and stay awhile.
Vitals:
We've hidden a handful of Here Weekly T-shirts at the Suite. The first five readers who stop by, make a purchase, and tell the team “Here sent me” can claim one. Just a little surprise for showing up and supporting local. While supplies last. / 304 E. Broad St.
The Art Seen
When creating Urban Hang Suite, we wanted you to feel like you were walking into an art gallery before realizing you were in a coffee shop. On the walls, you'll spot oversized black and brown frames that have held everything from photography and mixed media to jewelry as well as bold, oversized artwork.
Today, they've evolved into mini galleries featuring local artists curated by The Art Seen, where you can scan a QR code and purchase artwork directly from the artist. With galleries only blocks away, it's another opportunity to introduce local creatives to everyday customers and tourists who may have only stopped in for coffee.
Currently on the wall, you'll find Ashley Briggs’ artist showcase. Want to meet Ashley in person? She’ll be at the Suite this Saturday from 10 AM–2 PM. Stop by, experience the work, and show her some love!
One of my favorite things about Jackson Ward is the people who keep showing up, building businesses, and creating places where the community can come together. Not far from the Suite is Penny's Wine Shop, the neighborhood wine bar and bottle shop created by my brother Lance Lemon and Kristen Gardner Beal.
Penny's is all about good wine without the fuss. Natural wines, seasonal small plates, and a welcoming space where you can discover something new, catch up with friends, or just enjoy being part of the neighborhood. I love seeing local entrepreneurs create places that give people another reason to spend time in Jackson Ward. So next time you're in the neighborhood, make a little room for Penny's. Grab a glass. Stay for a bite. And show some love to another local business.
For eight years, Urban Hang Suite has been more than a coffee shop. It's been a gathering place for conversations, creativity, connections, and community. Now, as Kelli works to secure the Suite's future through her Save the Suite campaign, we wanted to do a little more than share her story. Here Weekly has made a donation to Save the Suite, and we'd love for you to join us. If the Suite has ever been part of your Richmond story, or you simply believe in keeping independent neighborhood businesses around, consider pitching in. Every contribution is another way to say these places matter.
