Inside Business

Cookie Plug serves treats that are part cake, cookie and brownie in Virginia Beach

With 35 locations, the growing cookie bakery chain blends hip-hop and street culture vibes with their thick signature cookies and wild flavors. The cookies are part cake, part cookie and part brownie — rolled into one thick stack.

Franchisees Doreen and Mike Walters opened a Cookie Plug location in Holland Plaza Shopping Center in Virginia Beach in May. (Lee Belote/Freelance)

Smithfield Foods, opened in 1936 and headquartered in Smithfield, is relocating about 115 of its U.S. corporate jobs to Hampton Roads. (Courtesy of Smithfield Foods)

Smithfield Foods relocating 115 corporate jobs to Hampton Roads

A retired vehicle from Norfolk International Airport's fleet is one of the automobiles up for auction during the online bidding that starts on June 22. (Courtesy of Auction757)

Norfolk International Airport auction to include vehicles, cellphones, toys and more

David L. Peebles was named the 2015 Daily Press Citizen of the Year in recognition of his work building Ferguson into a billion-dollar distribution powerhouse. He died Friday at age 96. (Staff file photo)

Peninsula legend David L. Peebles, former leader of Ferguson, dies at 96

By Sandra J. Pennecke

June 19, 2025 at 4:22 p.m.

He was named the 2015 Daily Press Citizen of the Year in recognition of his...

Owner Cameron Kania launched Tidewater Compost to divert food and organic waste from local landfills and make composting more convenient as a service in Hampton Roads. Residential pickup customers receive collection bins, compostable liners and easy-to-follow composting guides. (Courtesy of Tidewater Compost)

Virginia Beach company makes composting convenient for homes, businesses

By Lee Belote

June 18, 2025 at 8:39 a.m.

Tidewater Compost transforms food waste and other organic materials into nutrient-rich soil products that support...

Acoustical Sheetmetal manufactures sound-reducing and weather-protective enclosures for on-site power generation equipment, mainly for the data center industry. It previously expanded with a 23-acre campus on Hudome Way in Virginia Beach. (Courtesy of Acoustical Sheetmetal)

Acoustical Sheetmetal to add 350 jobs in $46 million Virginia Beach expansion

By Sandra J. Pennecke

June 16, 2025 at 5:56 p.m.

The company manufactures sound-reducing and weather-protective enclosures for on-site power generation equipment, mainly for the...

USAA, a leading provider of insurance for more than 14 million military members, veterans and their families, will expand its presence in Hampton Roads next year - and increase its workforce by more than 500 employees - when it moves into this building at 1341 Crossways Blvd in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake. (Courtesy USAA)

USAA to open a new office in Chesapeake and double its workforce

By Sandra J. Pennecke

June 14, 2025 at 3:22 p.m.

The new building — just a mile from USAA’s current location at 520 Independence Parkway...

Deborah Stearns, pictured in 2019, outside JLL's office in Norfolk's World Trade Center. She began working for JLL in 2013 as its senior vice president. Stearns retired from the industry on June 1 after a 50-year career in Hampton Roads. (Courtesy Deborah Stearns)

After 50 years of blazing a trail for women in real estate, a Hampton Roads magnate retires

By Sandra J. Pennecke

June 13, 2025 at 11:13 a.m.

Deborah Stearns worked in the local commercial real estate market for 50 years. She retired...

A rendering of the apartment community Brad Waitzer, president of Virginia Beach-based Signature Management Corporation intends to build on the property currently occupied by Regal Kiln Creek in Newport News.(Signature Management Corporation)

Developer wants to turn Regal Kiln Creek into Newport News housing

By Sandra J. Pennecke

June 10, 2025 at 2:29 p.m.

The property is in the city’s comprehensive plan for multi-family houses. Brad Waitzer has it...

Made In Norfolk apparel brand to open Selden Market store

By Maddie Mohamadi

June 4, 2025 at 3:04 p.m.

Owner Amir Driver wants his streetwear designs to resonate with the community. The Selden Market...

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