Clothing chain Franco’s back in Chesterfield

Franco's Fine Clothiers is opening a store this week in the Chesterfield Towne Center for the holiday shopping season -- and maybe longer.

The store will take over the 4,100-square-foot space once occupied by Bachrach, which was closed in August after less than a year.

Franco Ambrogi, who co-owns the upscale clothing retailer, said that if sales during the holiday season go well, he likely will keep the store open permanently. The short-term lease runs through January, he said.

"We're going to give it a try," Ambrogi said.

This isn't Franco's first foray into the Chesterfield County market.

The company had a store at The Shoppes of Belgrade on Huguenot Road until 2007 after operating there since late 1994. That location was closed in part because there was so much competition in the area.

One of those competitors was Jim Altis, who owned J. Altis Ltd. for 30 years, the last 13 years at the Stony Point Shopping Center on Huguenot Road.

Altis, who joined Franco's in February after closing his store in December, will manage Franco's Chesterfield Towne Center store.

Ambrogi says opening the Chesterfield store is a good way to try to recapture customers his company might have served in the past.

"The whole idea came from people on the South Side telling me they were sorry we left," he said.

Franco's has two other stores in the area -- at the Short Pump Town Center in western Henrico County and on Lakeside Avenue in Henrico.

Work began this past weekend to get the Chesterfield Towne Center store ready with suits, shirts and other merchandise. Ambrogi hopes to open as early as Wednesday, but delays getting the store ready could push it back until Friday.

A decision on whether to continue operating at the mall will be made in January.

Stony Point happenings

Stony Point Fashion Park has added several stores to its roster leading up to the holiday shopping season, which officially begins Friday.

Three stores are temporary for the holidays, while three others have long-term leases.

The temporary stores are:

• Calendar Club + go!, a store that sells calendars and board games, which is next to the Gap;

• See's Candies, which is next to the GameStop; and

• Collector's Heaven, which sells collectibles and sports memorabilia, located next to Ann Taylor.

Mall management wouldn't say how long the leases run.

Stores that signed permanent leases are Alchemists, a gift and book shop between Sur La Table and Possessions; miLA Bridal, a high-end bridal boutique between Movado and Gap; and Philan Fashion, an eco-friendly women's fashion store between Ann Taylor and Peyton Hall.

Stony Point, off Chippen ham Parkway in South Richmond, also will offer free ice skating during Thanksgiving weekend.

Mobile recipes

Grocery shopping might have gotten a bit easier for iPhone users, thanks to an app created by You've Got Supper.

On its Web site, youvegotsupper.com, the company gives members weekly menu ideas and helps them create grocery lists based on the recipes they choose. It's owned by Richmond-area residents Susan Aprahamian and Michelle Jenkins.

The service is free.

Aprahamian and Jenkins have launched an app for iPhone users. To pull up a recipe, users select food types and ingredients. They then shake or hit spin on the phone to get a list of recipes.

The app costs $1.99. Critical Technologies Inc., a local software development and consulting firm, created it.

Ukrop's expands Fit Rite

Fit Rite Medical will have products available at all Ukrop's stores by today.

The Tennessee-based company manufactures and sells socks, leggings and panty hose for people with circulation problems, diabetes or to prevent swelling. In June, it began a pilot program with the grocer and placed products at three Ukrop's stores.

The chain agreed this month to allow Fit Rite into its 25 stores.

Cathy Cannon, one of the owners, said the company is working to get into several larger grocery chains. She said success working with Ukrop's has helped open doors.

The "name carries a lot of weight in the industry," she said.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or . Follow him at http://twitter.com/RTDBizBuzz.