Karen Burke Poh was a teacher first, but she was born to business. When Mrs. Poh’s father, Thomas Carey Burke Sr., died in 1983, she and her mother took over his carpet business in Richmond’s Carytown district and never looked back. Carey Burke Carpets more than doubled in size at its once-cozy location at 3115 W. Cary St., and its business has increased tenfold since she took it over, said son Derek Poh of Richmond.

Chef Todd Johnson, Patrick Stamper and Randy O’Dell opened Mezzanine Restaurant in September 2008 with the goal of using as many local and regional products as possible. “We wanted to support our local economy and give back to the farmers,“ Johnson said. The concept appears to be working. The owners of Mezzanine have been able to keep menu prices affordable and still be “profitable and productive,“ Johnson said, though the three owners were skeptical at first about opening amid a recession.

Late last year, Alisha Thompson was at a crossroad. The cookie shop she’d been running for five years was changing, and she knew it would be tough—if not impossible—to keep going. Thompson could continue down the path and renew her expiring franchise agreement with Cookies by Design or reopen as a whole new business. It was a difficult proposition.

With the sale of Ukrop’s Super Markets now complete, the new owners will begin to transform a Richmond grocery institution, including Sunday openings and beer and wine sales.

Merchants in Carytown, long regarded as one of the Richmond area’s more unique shopping areas, are looking to sell the district’s hometown feel. “The whole idea about retail is to get feet in the stores. In Carytown, we’re looking to get feet on the street,“ said Bob Broomfield, the new president of the Carytown Merchants Association.

Bonvenu, a new Carytown restaurant serving nouveau American cuisine in a contemporary setting, is exhibiting modern art on loan from Crossroads Art Center.  For Bonvenu’s inaugural art show, owners Anne Stewart and sister Susan Doyle chose paintings by Richmond artists Inge Strack, who is German, and Mehmet Sahin Altug, who is Turkish. Both artists create colorful, vibrant works influenced by their European heritage.

At Babe’s of Carytown, employees spent Thursday prepping the establishment for that evening’s dance party, featuring a balloon drop at midnight. A few blocks east, Can Can Brasserie planned to usher in 2010 with a complimentary champagne toast for customers. And the general manager of the Byrd Theatre still planned to raise the New Year’s ball atop the historic movie house at midnight.

It was a small but still grand transition into the new year for Carytown’s unofficial celebration. Todd Schall-Vess, general manager at the Byrd Theatre in Carytown, reports that 1,000 to 1,200 people turned out for the New Year’s Eve ball-raising, with most showing up shortly before midnight. He described the crowd as well-behaved. “We raised the ball, everybody cheered and everybody went home,“ Schall-Vess said yesterday.

Wrapping paper is as much a part of the holiday season as mistletoe, menorahs and the mall. It covers gifts, decorates plain brown boxes and winds up in torn-up wads across living-room floors. But most people don’t stop to consider where the paper comes from—or whom it benefits. One provider is Richmond-based Ink & Paper, a division of design firm Punch created in 2006. The firm designs, manufactures and distributes wrapping paper at retailers across the country.

Dying to have a little fun in Carytown?  Head over Saturday, and you’ll have plenty of company. No promise you’ll find prom-date material, mind you, but what’s a little blood, guts and gore when you’re having a ghoulishly good time? 

The New Year’s Eve celebration that has attracted thousands of revelers to Carytown won’t be back for a fourth year. The Carytown Merchants Association isn’t planning the celebration because of the high costs of security and other expenses, said Thom Suddeth, president of the merchants group.

The Carytown Merchants Association isn’t planning the celebration because of the high costs of security and other expenses, said Thom Suddeth, president of the merchants group.

Three men were shot in separate incidents in Richmond last night, but all are expected to recover. The most serious shooting occurred shortly before 10 p.m. in the 600 block of Westover Hills Boulevard in South Richmond. The man was shot in the upper body near Somerset Glen Apartments. He was taken to VCU Medical Center in critical condition, but his status improved overnight and his wounds no longer are considered life-threatening, said Police Capt. Harvey Powers.

“We’re The Hard Shell of Carytown,“ our server said within the first few moments of “What can I getcha?“ talk.  Water Grill may be Carytown’s newest dining destination, but it’s also the latest addition to the Richmond Restaurant Group’s lineup, which includes hotspots deLux, Europa and you got it—The Hard Shell.

One of three suspects in an assault and robbery last night in Richmond’s Carytown business district was arrested after two witnesses chased the suspect. Richmond police Capt. Scott Booth said the woman was treated at the scene by an ambulance crew after the attack, which occurred shortly before 10 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Cary Street.