Former bank buildings in Hampton Roads given new life, but history’s preserved by new occupants
When the former Bank of Hampton Roads opened its branch in the Wythe section of Hampton in 1942, it was dubbed the Peninsula’s most modern bank building of its time.
A story from the Daily Press archives describes one of its features as ingenious: “the teller’s window on the outside of the building … through this window you make deposits in the bank while sitting in your car.”
Almost a century later, the structure still stands, but it no longer safeguards money.
Instead, the 2,000-square-foot building at the intersection of Kecoughtan Road and Pocahontas Place is where Kristopher “Kit” Wilgus and Misty Collins now operate their dog day care business, Red-Letter Runners.
Like many prominent bank structures built in the last century, time has given them new life and purpose.
In its heyday, the brick and stone edifice with ample parking and “artificially illuminated fluorescent interior lighting” was known for its modern and simple appearance. Another notable mention is the vault that was protected by a 14-inch-thick steel time-locked door and “ingenious selective sound-wave burglar alarm … consisting of a huge gong so loud it should arouse Wythe Center if it starts ringing.”
Today, the only sound passersby might hear is that of the 20 barking dogs at the day care five days a week.
Wilgus and Collins, who are a couple and share a passion for animals, signed the lease and opened their business in November. After a year of searching, Wilgus said this building fit the mold for their needs. Wells Fargo was the last tenant almost two and a half years ago.
“There’s been very little build-out that we’ve had to do,” Wilgus said. “We’ve been able to use the space as is and configure it for dog day care, but not have to put too much construction into it.”
Wilgus said they turned the teller lines into individual stalls with crib-sized mattresses and blankets for the dogs.
“It’s like a little room, and they have their toys and whatnot,” he said.
Some of the office space is used as office space, but another was turned into an open air lounge for the dogs, complete with couches, beds and a television for cartoon watching.
The former drive-thru is now a quarter-acre fenced dog yard, complete with an obstacle course and other play areas.
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Former SunTrusts spark ideas
In expanding her business to South Hampton Roads, Karen Barrs was searching for another quirky building when the former SunTrust building at 3300 Pacific Ave. in Virginia Beach caught her attention.
Barrs opened Little England Mercantile, a lifestyle store, at the former bank space at Beach Tower in November 2021.
She said her other location in Gloucester Point occupies the former A&S Feed there.
“I liked the idea of it not being a vanilla shell,” she said. “I’m just more attracted to it.”
Drawn in by the prospect of gutting the almost-2,000-square-foot space and renovating it to her liking, Barrs said she knew it sat vacant for a time because of the “staleness” in the air.
“It’s just kind of like they closed the door and they left,” she said.
The drive-thru window was replaced with a set of double doors to create an additional entrance and a paver patio covers the former driveway.
“We made it all one level,” she said. “It turned out really cool.”
The main vault remains intact with the safe deposit boxes because Barrs said they would cost a fortune to remove. She keeps artwork stored there, and the vault’s door remains open.
Barrs said she hears from patrons quite often that they ventured into the vault as children with their parents to access their safe deposit boxes.
A third notable former bank building at 6548 Main St. in Gloucester Village sold in July last year for $700,000, according to online county property records.
Vacant since 2017, the former SunTrust site was bought by C. Stewart Smith, a developer and owner of Smith Realty.
Much of the plans are still up in the air following a feasibility study and talks with architects, Smith said.
Smith, who also owns Eagle Point Plantation in Gloucester, said he has been eyeing the building for quite a while.
“We’d like to turn this into a multiuse event space where people can come for graduations, weddings and things of that nature to bring some more tourism into the Gloucester area,” said Michelle Sanderson, property manager for Smith Realty.
With a nod to the iconic property as one of the oldest and most significant buildings in the historic downtown district, Smith has named it The Vault on Main.
Constructed in 1902 in the heart of the village as the Mumford Banking Co., the building went on to house the Bank of Gloucester from 1906 until late in the 20th century when it operated as Crestar and later SunTrust.
Sanderson said they are still configuring the best way to use the space while keeping the integrity of the historical nature of the building.
“We want to include the vault as much as possible because the old doors and mechanics of the locks are still there and workable,” she said.
A preexisting outdoor walled garden and portico will also be incorporated into the venue.
“We’re really looking forward to being able to develop this, bring more tourism and really help with the economic situation of the downtown Gloucester area,” Sanderson said. “We think it’s just gorgeous, and we can’t wait to help out.”
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
