The Story Behind The Virginia Times

The Virginia Times was the brainchild of Chris Walton, founder of the Kitchen33 concept restaurant and American River Restoration in Glen Allen. Faced with the high cost of printing traditional takeout menus, Chris stumbled upon a surprising solution: for less than a third of the cost of the menu, we could print an entire 20-page newspaper.

What began as a creative workaround quickly grew into something more meaningful. Our small but vibrant community in Glen Allen had no local publication to call its own— so we decided to make one. We imagined a paper that customers could enjoy with their meal and take home, filled with stories, updates, and perspectives that matter.

The retro print section encourages readers to unplug and rediscover the simple joy of holding a newspaper. No doomscrolling here— just honest, engaging content. Chris has also made it his mission to use this platform to raise awareness about the environment and what he calls “the ongoing stupidity of mankind.” In a world full of noise, The Virginia Times aims to inform, entertain, and spark conversations.

And it all started with a menu.

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