August 12, 2025
Richmond-area Entrepreneur Establishing Artist Alley At Gayton Crossing With Fall Opening Scheduled
RICHMOND, VA (August 12, 2025) – Richmond-area entrepreneur Eunice Li has signed a lease with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC) for 1,200 square feet of space at Gayton Crossing to establish a new art studio offering classes and instruction in a variety of mediums. Artist Alley is expected to open this fall within the 160,000 square foot shopping center located at 9782 Gayton Road. CRC, a Baltimore-based real estate investment and management company, acquired the asset last year, representing the company’s entry into the Richmond-area retail market. Kristin Perry, Leasing Manager, Commercial for CRC and Nicki Jassy, Senior Vice President for Thalmaier represented the landlord this transaction.
Li explains that she “was introduced to the world of art at a very young age” and considers art as “a true language which enables people to communicate and express themselves.” She was later trained in traditional fine arts under the tutelage of Hong Kong artist Wei Qin, a graduate of the China Academy of Art in Beijing. After working as an art teacher at the Center for Creative Arts in Richmond, she started teaching classes at home before realizing she needed a larger art studio to accommodate demand.
Artist Alley will offer instruction to people of all ages in different art mediums, including acrylics, clay, collages, design, oil, printing, and water colors. Classes include “Mini Masters” for seven- and eight-year-olds, “Young Arts” targeted ages nine through 11, “Intermediate Techniques” suitable for kids aged 12 through 14, and “Art Portfolio” for 15- through 18-year-olds. Adult classes will also be available and two additional teachers will be on staff. The art studio will also offer party packages for private groups including creative canvas parties.
“When young people have an art idea in mind, it is important for them to sketch it out, and Artist Alley will provide the platform to fully develop this concept and show them how to execute it,” Li said. “We will provide instruction in skill-based techniques in a dynamic and enriching environment that will teach concepts that will last a lifetime. We believe in the transformative power of the arts to uplift and celebrate each child’s unique creativity.”
When choosing Gayton Crossing for the place to establish Artist Alley, Li explained that she “always liked the community, and have been watching Continental Realty Corporation bring the community together based on the changes they have made to the shopping center. I find the center charming and love the overall vibe.”
Delivered in 1981 and situated at the signalized intersection of Gaskins and Quioccasin roads in Henrico County, Gayton Crossing is shadow-anchored by the national supermarket chain Kroger and features more than 30 restaurants and retailers occupying inline spaces and five free-standing pad sites. Representative tenants include Bank of America, GOLD’S Gym, Goldfish Swim School, Jos. A. Bank, KidStrong, Starbucks Coffee, Virginia ABC store and The UPS Store. The property contains eight means of ingress and egress and is surrounded by a free surface parking lot suitable for nearly 700 vehicles.
“Artist Alley’s presence at Gayton Crossing aligns with our strategic objective to enhance the community experience through thoughtfully curated tenants,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Vice President of Commercial Operations at CRC. “By offering inclusive, arts-based programming for all age groups, Artist Alley contributes to a vibrant and engaging environment. This addition supports our long-term vision for Gayton Crossing as a center that not only serves the needs of the community but also fosters cultural and creative growth.”
More than 100,000 people reside within a five-mile radius of Gayton Crossing, including more than 75,000 households with an average household income exceeding $135,000. In addition, the daytime population within that radius is nearly 235,000.
The median home value in Richmond’s West End is $520,000, and the existing residential pipeline is expected to add more than 1,500 homes within a five-mile radius of Gayton Crossing. Household incomes are projected to increase by more than 11 percent within a three-mile radius over the next five years.
The University of Richmond, with approximately 4,000 students, is situated in West End and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), with its additional 30,000 undergraduates, is located approximately 10 miles from Gayton Crossing. Richmond’s central business district is 14 miles from the site and Richmond International Airport is 22 miles away.
Headquartered in Baltimore and founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company focused on acquiring and operating retail and multifamily properties. The privately held firm owns and manages a diversified portfolio of retail centers consisting of over eight million square feet of commercial space and more than 10,000 apartment homes across 14 states, with a portfolio valued at nearly $4.2 billion. For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.
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