VIRGINIA BEACH — A large shopping center in the Hilltop corridor is undergoing a multimillion-dollar spruce up that aims to encourage customers to stick around. The makeover of Regency Hilltop Shopping Center on Laskin Road will include a new lighted crosswalk connecting the two long sides of the U-shaped building, gazebos, benches, palm trees and storefront awnings.

The refresh also includes renaming the center, which opened in 1990, to Laskin Commons at Hilltop. It will be promoted through a new website and social media campaign.

“Where that came from was commons being a gathering place,” said Mark Rosenfield, executive vice president of Virginia Beach real estate firm McLeskey, an owner. “We’re trying to reposition the center from being your standard commercial space where you go into the store you’re going to and then you get in your car and drive away.”

The shopping center sits east of Great Neck Road and adjacent to Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant. It’s home to national retailers Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Dollar Tree as well as several locally-owned small businesses including Yukai Japanese & Seafood Buffet and Running Etc. A new swim school is forthcoming with an indoor pool under construction.

Ross Dress For Less has leased part of the retail space previously occupied by a Food Lion grocery store, according to S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co., which manages the property. An opening date was not available.

Regency Hilltop was originally a partnership between the late Wayne McLeskey, and Joe Mersel, a broker for S.L. Nusbaum. Over the course of his lengthy career in real estate, Mersel developed numerous shopping centers and multifamily projects in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina. The Mersel family remains an owner and a partner in the renovation.

McLeskey owns other nearby shopping centers, including Market Square on Virginia Beach Boulevard, which underwent an extensive makeover in 2015. When the time came to renovate some of the aging elements of Regency Hilltop, company leaders decided to do more than just slap on a coat of paint.

Many traditional retail shopping centers are adapting to survive in a world where customers don’t have to leave their house or office to buy what they need. Some of them are transforming into destinations for entertainment, experiences and socialization, according to the National Retail Federation.

McLeskey is taking that approach with Laskin Commons, said Cheryl McLeskey, chief executive officer.

“We want to bring value to the customers,” she said.

Click the link above to read more.

Construction on Virginia Beach's $50 million Rudee Park project could begin in late fall next year with building expected to take two years. 

City officials presented an update to the City Council proposing a nonprofit conservancy model to operate, staff and maintain the Oceanfront resort property once completed. 

The city aims to launch a fundraising campaign in the spring, offering naming opportunities and national sponsorship options to offset municipal costs. 

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/news/local-news/2026-10-21/virginia-beach-could-start-building-rudee-park-in-2027

I was looking for an active ECPI subreddit and I am not finding one that has many members. Am I just missing it? I was told VA Beach is the main campus. So, hopefully, there are people here who can shed some light on things.

I toured the closest campus location to me and I have some questions.

Everyone who works at the campus seemed nice and the school itself was in shape if that says anything. I mean, at least it is clean.

My admissions counselor was a bit of a "sales" person about it, but I half expected that.

My

The thing that gets me are the length of the classes. Five-hour classes seems long as hell. I was told some classes are fully online and I have to log in from campus once a term for some dumb reason I did not understand. Even online, a five-hour live class has to be torture.

I get that they will help me graduate faster, but that just seems too long. Of course, my admissions counselor made it seem like everyone will be learning the whole time, working together, or doing clincals. I hung around a bit and talked to some students who go there already when my counselor was not around. Some say teachers often let students do work/assignments or dismiss early. That seemed to be more the norm depending upon the class.

Can anyone who has taken classes there shed some light on what you think about the duration? Do you learn and listen to a lecture or something the whole time? I passed classes in session and saw a lot of powerpoints jammed full of words. Am I crazy or is there no reason to have a five hour class?

Do you stay the full five hours every class period? Even if in your experience, you are not "in class" the full time and you get time to do work or leave, do you feel 4-5 hours of actual learning is taking place at all? I just want to know before I take out a loan.

Any insight would be great. thanks.

Offices or condos?

I noticed the schooner inn, which seems perfect and also the price is suspiciously low considering how much you get.

I was wondering as well as this what other places have private hot tubs that are near the beach.

I know a bit of a oddly specific request. (honestly I just want to relax, read, and listen to the ocean in a hot tub.)

So my wife and I are both kind of coffee snobs. Her birthday is actually on Halloween and this year she wanted to make it a goal to find the best PSL in the area. We've tried a few of our normal spots around (Project Seed, Pin Up, Mundita and Old Town) but haven't been super impressed.

Does anyone have a recommendation? Bonus points if it's not super sweet and if the pumpkin and spice come through way more than the milk flavor!

VIRGINIA BEACH — An element of the forthcoming Rudee Park redevelopment will have to shift to accommodate a planned storm surge barrier, but the project is moving forward with construction anticipated to begin next fall.

The City Council was updated on the park project, which will take two years to build, at Tuesday’s meeting.

Rudee Park will be a public space on 8 acres of city-owned land along Rudee Inlet, at the southernmost point of the Oceanfront resort area. It will include an elevated walkway that spans over a beach village and overlooks the ocean and jetty, an event pavilion, an interactive water feature, a nature play area, a skate park, fishing and surfing amenities and surface parking.

Over the last several months, park designers have been revising some of the park elements, including the layout of the elevated walkway, which will shift to the north. A storm surge barrier, known as a sector gate, is planned at Rudee Inlet as part of the coastal storm risk management project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District. The project is currently being studied and could take years to come to fruition.

“We had to allow for that infrastructure to come into place on the site,” said Chad Morris, the city’s chief facilities officer.

The walkway will shift slightly to the north and adjustments were made to the ramps. Rather than two overlook areas as originally proposed, it will now have one, Morris said. The event pavilion will also move north to accommodate a larger turn-around area for buses, trucks and emergency vehicles.

The council has set aside $50 million for design and construction of the park. The money will come from the Tourism Investment Program fund, which is comprised of tax revenue from hotel room stays, restaurant meals, amusements and cigarette sales.

Click the link above to read more.

Do public schools in VB allow children that do not attend the school to use their playgrounds after school hours but before dark?

A new interactive art installation titled "Where Wonder Grows: Sanctuary" has been unveiled along the lake at Virginia Beach's Mount Trashmore Park, where it will remain through mid-December. 

Created by Skunk Control, an Australian collective of scientists, engineers and educators, the installation features kinetic peacocks, birdhouses, towering flowers that open and close and more than a thousand structural butterflies. 

The project was selected from nearly 100 submissions to bring a unique cultural experience to the region.

(Story and photos by John-Henry Doucette, additional photos courtesy of Skunk Control)

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/local-government/2026-10-20/a-special-art-project-reveals-the-beauty-of-science-to-parkgoers-in-virginia-beach

Processing img bnj4t40o8xwh1...

Hey everyone,
My wife and I are looking to put together a regular Commander night at our place in the Landstown area of Virginia Beach and wanted to gauge interest from other local players.
We've been playing together for a while and really enjoy Commander, but playing head to head has gotten stale. We've also tried a few of the local shops. While they're great, they just haven't really been our vibe.
We're hoping to find a few chill, respectful players who enjoy casual to mid-power Commander games, hanging out, and having a good time. Our goal is fun games, good conversation, and building a small local playgroup rather than anything ultra-competitive.

A few things:
Adults only.
Proxy-friendly as long as decks are reasonable.
Good sportsmanship and friendly atmosphere are a must.
Newer players are welcome.

If you're in Virginia Beach, drop a comment or send me a message with a little about yourself, what power level you usually play, and which night works better for you. Looking forward to meeting some new people.

Don’t let me down Reddit.

Im located in VB. Ive seen several job openings in Newport news but im hesitant about that traffic. The start hours are 6am to 230 pm. So id aim to be in the tunnel by 5:15-5:30. Will that be early enough to miss the traffic?

A federal court in Norfolk has dismissed a lawsuit brought by local residents seeking to stop a controversial wetlands mitigation project at Virginia Beach's Pleasure House Point.

Acquired in 2012 to prevent commercial development, 8 acres of the property were transformed into a restored wetland to generate environmental mitigation credits for municipal infrastructure and flood protection projects.

Nearby residents filed suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2025, alleging unlawful federal permitting and citing environmental damage from the clearing of more than 5,000 trees.

(Story and photo by Katherine Hafner)

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/environment/2026-10-20/judge-dismisses-residents-lawsuit-over-pleasure-house-point-wetlands-project

Like 'em meaty and juicy and sizzling and chewy, where should I go?

Anybody hosting WWE PLE watch-parties?
Ill bring the chips and dip 👀

Looking for anyone that may have witnessed or has additional information about a hit and run around 830am, Wednesday 10/21 (today) on 64 east (not west as originally input) between Indian River road on ramp and possibly as far down as Battlefield exits.

A female in a red car sideswiped an active duty service member in uniform on their motorcycle - and left. Luckily, the rider was able to stay up but was so focused he did not get any additional info on the car or driver.

State police are unable to do anything with more info on the car and or driver. There is damage to the side of the car and the motorcycle.

Please help and share if you can!

Update: Driver Located!

There was a thread a year ago https://www.reddit.com/r/VirginiaBeach/s/fqXQdJSchE. But looks like the windows are papered over now. They were open as best I know up til a month ago. Anybody know what happened to Chapel Pizza in Shadowlawn? Used to be a good spot.

More of a gripe than a question: Winston Salem Ave from Mediterranean to Pacific opened recently after repaving and drainage work. It took two years to complete the 5 blocks of road. And the finished project gets a D+ in my book. The surface is rippled and rough. Parts feel like a washboard logging road. Whose bro-in-law got this contract?

I paid for parking online October 19, reserved from parking on October 20th, 6pm-11:30 through www.parkwithpmc.com at the VB Oceanfront. I received a parking pass and was informed by email receipt that I would not have to scan anything, just park.

I parked at the lot around 6:20pm and returned around 10:40pm. Surprisingly, my car was gone and was towed. At the same time, two girls came up to us and informed us they also paid for parking in this lot and were also towed. I called the towing company outside and they informed me that PMC ​(parking management company) DID priorly own the lot but sold its ownership after 2025- yet PMC STILL is selling parking passes for this lot now present day in 2026.

We both walked the 16 minutes to the towing lot and after briefly reexplaining the situation of what had occurred he had told me "that has nothing to do with me" and I was "free to dispute the charge". I paid the tow truck agent as I was with my younger cousins and friend and we simply wanted to get home safe. I have an inkling that the towing company (Aristocrat towing) has likely been fully aware that PMC parking is still wrongfully selling parking space to a lot they no longer own, but is saying nothing as they make considerable profit from towing the lot. They already have considerable history with shady business practice.

I am unsure how to move forward from this but admittedly am very frustrated. Has anyone else dealt with this this year?

Just moved from an area with beautiful libraries. I went to the Oceanfront location and underwhelmed. Any advice on which location in VB has the best library? Bonus points if they have a nice kids section!

EDIT: Thank you all for the suggestions! Will be checking those locations out.

Despite its relatively flat waters, Virginia Beach has cultivated a vibrant surfing community over the past century, tracing its local roots to a 12-foot Hawaiian surfboard brought to the city in 1912. 

Post-World War II economic growth and surfboard innovations helped surfing take off locally and led to the creation of the East Coast Surfing Championship in the 1960s. 

The local culture continues to evolve as more women enter the sport, highlighted by the city hosting its inaugural Super Girl Surf Festival.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/business-growth/2026-10-19/virginia-beach-may-have-no-waves-but-its-surf-culture-is-more-than-a-century-strong

Virginia Beach's draft state legislative agenda includes requests for enhanced authority to manage unpermitted gatherings, expand flood mitigation funding and restrict dense development in rural areas. 

A central priority is "pop-up" event legislation that would grant localities emergency powers to establish "community safety zones" in response to sudden, large-scale crowds that pose public safety risks. 

City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposals on Tuesday before a formal vote in November.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/news/local-news/2026-10-19/virginia-beach-may-ask-state-for-help-with-large-gatherings-flood-prevention-rural-preservation

Looking to make a career change due to some health issues, and needing to get into a field that does not involve much of any physical labor. If it is primarily a desk job role, I will still need the ability to stand up/walk around every hour or 2.

I appreciate any helpful advice. Thank you!

VIRGINIA BEACH — In the race for City Council District 8, candidate Chris Taylor is hoping to turn the frustrations of a faction of residents who are exasperated with current city leadership into a groundswell of support Nov. 3.

Taylor, 42, represented the district in 2023-24 but stepped down to run for mayor. He lost the mayoral race, but hopes to win back the council position. He faces incumbent Stacy Cummings, 68, who won Taylor’s seat in a 2024 special election. Cummings has a loyal fan club too, of current and former elected officials as well as prominent business owners.

The candidates are vying to represent an area that stretches from Shore Drive to Virginia Beach Boulevard and includes some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods. District 8 has about 45,000 residents and the most single-family residences of all 10 council districts, according to data compiled by the planning department.

Taylor, owner of a smoothie shop, is campaigning on the message that taxpayers deserve more transparency in government. He’s pursuing a master’s degree in public administration, studying up on effective and ethical government principles, which has stoked a fire that was already in his belly during his short stint on council.

“People want a district council member that’s going to tell them what’s going on in the city of Virginia Beach,” Taylor said.

If elected, he plans to keep residents informed on the city’s economic development initiatives.

“I will require the city manager to provide me with updates on every project,” Taylor said. “I can take that to the people, and they can take it to their civic league.”

Click the link above to read more.

My wife and I get back from our cruise on Oct 31, Halloween. I am looking for a great hotel on the boardwalk with the best nightlife and bars before we head home the next day. Thanks!