What Is Midlothian Depot? The Whole Foods-Anchored Project and What It Means for Retail Space in Midlothian

Midlothian Depot retail space is the shop space in a new, Whole Foods-anchored development at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive in Chesterfield County. Atlanta-based SJC Ventures is building about 87,500 SF of commercial space on a 13-acre site, including a 36,000 SF Whole Foods, alongside 60 for-sale townhomes. As of March 2026 the shop space was nearly fully leased and the first businesses were expected to open in fall 2026 at the earliest.

This post covers what the project is, how it got here, and what it means if you are looking for retail space in the Midlothian Village area. For the wider Route 60 picture, including rent and vacancy for every stretch of the corridor, see our Midlothian Turnpike retail guide.

What is Midlothian Depot retail space, and who is building it?

The developer is SJC Ventures, led by principal Jeff Garrison. The firm specializes in grocery-anchored centers: when it first proposed Midlothian Depot in 2022, Richmond BizSense reported that 16 of the 19 completed grocery-anchored projects on its website had Whole Foods anchors, including Short Pump Station, which SJC built in 2008 and sold in 2010.

Shop tenants announced as of March 2026 included J.Crew, Lovesac, Petfolk, VIO Med Spa, Gloss Nails, Warby Parker, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Paris Baguette, Blue Fish Grill, Turning Point and Cheba Hut. Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant had planned to be part of the project but exited after a legal dispute that has since been settled, per Richmond BizSense.

How did the plan change between 2022 and today?

The project looks quite different from its first version. The shift from apartments to townhomes matters for retail because it changes how many people live on site.

1. 1September 2022: SJC proposed a $175 million mixed-use project with a 43,000 SF grocery store, 30,000 SF of other retail and 350 apartments with structured parking. The Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning in 2022.
2. 2April 2024: SJC filed to amend the zoning. An 80-inch stormwater pipe roughly 25 feet below the planned apartment site made that building cost-prohibitive, so apartments gave way to townhomes, the parking deck was dropped, and the grocery was resized to 36,000 SF with about 48,000 SF of other retail in four buildings. The revised plan was approved in 2024.
3. 3January 2025: Whole Foods was confirmed as the anchor, and construction began.
4. 4Early 2026: Chesterfield issued a tenant-upfit permit for Whole Foods’ interior buildout, and the commercial shells were close to complete.
5. 5Fall 2026 at the earliest: First businesses expected to open, per BizSense’s March 2026 report. SJC’s earlier schedule showed shell delivery to tenants in the third quarter of 2026 and a project opening in the second quarter of 2027.

The townhomes run 1,800 to 2,400 SF over three to four stories and were priced in the high $600,000s. Sixty units add rooftops, but far fewer than the 350 apartments first proposed. The retail will depend mainly on the surrounding trade area and Route 60 traffic, not on residents living on site.

What does Midlothian Depot mean for retail leasing in Midlothian Village?

Three effects are worth watching.

It sets a new rent comp. Cushman & Wakefield’s Q2 2026 Richmond Retail MarketBeat put the Midlothian Village submarket’s average NNN asking rent at $28.32 per SF with 5.6% vacancy, against a $19.71 metro average and 3.6% metro vacancy. The same report said most of the metro’s speculative retail construction was centered around Midlothian Depot. When new grocery-anchored shop space leases up, landlords of older centers nearby tend to quote against it, even when their buildings, parking and co-tenancy are not comparable.

It pulls tenants. Several Midlothian Depot tenants are national or regional brands that could have chosen an existing center. With only about 5,000 SF left as of early February 2026, the next brand looking near this intersection will likely be offered second-generation space nearby, or will have to wait for a new project.

It shifts where people shop. A Whole Foods draws shoppers from well beyond a neighborhood grocer’s trade area. Centers that share an access point, or sit on the way home from it, may gain visits. Centers that relied on being the closest specialty grocery option may lose some.

What should tenants weigh before leasing new shop space next to a grocery anchor?

New construction next to a strong grocer is often the best-located space in a trade area, and it is priced that way. Negotiate the following terms, not just base rent:

• Anchor opening co-tenancy: if the grocer has not opened by a set date, you should get reduced rent or the right to delay your own opening. Your sales projections assume the anchor is operating.
• Delivery date and condition: agree in writing on what “shell” or “vanilla shell” includes (HVAC, electrical service, storefront, restrooms) and what happens if the landlord delivers late.
• Rent commencement: tie it to the earlier of your opening or a fixed number of days after delivery, and make sure the build-out period is long enough for permits in Chesterfield.
• Operating costs in year one: NNN estimates in a new center are a guess. Ask how taxes will be reassessed once the project is complete, and negotiate a cap on controllable CAM.
• Exclusives and restrictions: Whole Foods and other early tenants may hold exclusives or prohibited-use protections. Confirm your use, especially prepared food, coffee or wellness, is not already restricted.
• Parking and access: the leasing page lists a 5.0 per 1,000 SF parking ratio. Ask how grocery peak hours affect your customers and where your staff will park.

Also confirm your use is allowed under the property’s approved zoning and conditions. Chesterfield’s new zoning ordinance took effect January 1, 2026, and prior case conditions carry forward (see our post on Chesterfield ZOMod zoning changes). The Chesterfield Planning Department, not a leasing flyer, has the final word.

Is it better to lease at Midlothian Depot or in an existing center nearby?

It depends on how much your business relies on grocery traffic and how much rent it can support. A concept that needs daily trips, like fast casual, coffee, fitness or personal services, may justify the premium. Destination uses such as medical, specialty retail and service businesses with appointment-based customers can often do just as well in a well-kept older center a short drive away, at a lower rent and with more landlord concessions. The broader Midlothian submarkets posted vacancy above the metro average in Q2 2026, so tenants still have room to negotiate on the rest of the corridor.

If you are comparing options, the listings page shows current availabilities, and the Midlothian Turnpike retail guide breaks down the corridor node by node.

Talk through your Midlothian search

If you are weighing shop space at or near Midlothian Depot, I can help you compare it against nearby second-generation options, pressure-test the lease terms above and build a realistic opening timeline. Get in touch and tell me what you need.