Business notes: Photographer adds ‘luxury elopements,’ new business to take out trash and more in the Historic Triangle

Kristen Vann Photography adds elopements to list of services

Kristen Vann Griffith, owner of Kristen Vann Photography, recently expanded her services to add luxury elopement photography, jumping on a trend in which couples are forgoing a larger traditional wedding in favor of smaller weddings involving experiences.

“Elopements aren’t about running away in the middle of the night anymore,” she said. “More couples are doing adventure weddings. They are focusing more on experiences rather than a big party.”

Griffith, who first became interested in photography while working at Busch Gardens as a teen and launched her own business in 2016, had been primarily specializing in family photography until she did a wedding photo shoot in Colorado in 2022.

“It was so amazing, filled with so much love and beauty that I thought maybe this might be the direction where I wanted to go,” she said.

The luxury elopement trend is growing worldwide. Griffith’s dream is to capture adventure wedding moments in Iceland, one of her favorite places. She’s been to the country multiple times, where she’s taken workshops on elopement photography and done a few gigs, including one during a blizzard.

“Iceland is so pure and beautiful, with the Northern lights, the waterfalls,” she said. “It’s like you are on a different planet.”

She noted that elopement photography isn’t necessarily about traveling to an exotic destination. Memories can be captured locally as well.

“Even in Colonial Williamsburg, there are so many intimate spots where you can marry,” she said. “I really like the smaller weddings.”

In 2019, Griffith and her husband, Scott, had plans for a bigger wedding, but opted instead to marry at York River State Park, where her husband proposed, surrounded by a small group of family and friends.

“It was so intentional and intimate,” she said.

Griffith’s goal is to provide the same experience for her clients through her new services.

“It’s about enjoying the moment,” she said. “I love that I get to be invited to be a part of the most special moment of someone’s life and capture it.”

For more information on Griffith’s services, visit kristenvann.com.

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Coastal Thirst opening storefront at Yorktown waterfront

Jamie Albertson and Tina Borra, co-owners of the food truck Coastal Thirst, have announced plans to open a brick-and-mortar establishment in Yorktown. Coastal Thirst Beach Deli is anticipated to open this summer at 524 Water St. in the space that was formerly occupied by Larry’s Lemonade.

“The food truck was always a stepping stone to help us better gauge market demand and what types of menu items would be successful in our local community,” Albertson said. “The flexibility … has allowed us to bring our cuisine to a variety of different events, businesses and neighborhoods, introducing what we have to offer to a wider market than just being in one place.”

Albertson and Borra first began operating their food truck in 2020. The truck specializes in tacos, quesadillas, burrito and burrito bowls, as well as a variety of burgers and hot dogs. They plan to open their restaurant for breakfast and lunch.

“We will continue to feature local favorites like our brekkie burritos, breakfast tacos, avocado toast, specialty lattes and raw juice and will expand our breakfast menu to include things like specialty bagels, smoothies and smoothie bowls,” Albertson said.

In addition to tacos, burritos and burgers, the lunch menu will feature flatbreads, salads, sandwiches and grab and go items from a deli case.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring our creative vision to the Yorktown waterfront and expose locals and tourists from around the world to our food,” Albertson said. “We are excited to have consistent hours, and an extended menu. Also, you sure can’t beat the view.”

For more information on Coastal Thirst, visit its Facebook page at facebook.com/coastalthirst.

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New business brings trash and recycling to the curb for you

A new business will help people bring their trash and recycling bins to the curb for pickup. Brandon Hughes, owner of Pink Panda LLC, first came up with the idea while working as a landscaper.

“If the customer had a trash/recycling container sitting at the street while we were working on the property and it had been emptied, then I would retrieve it from the street and simply place it back to the home where the customer wanted it,” he said. “But the idea to really make it a business came when one day I noticed my elderly neighbor struggling with her cane in one hand and her trash container in the other. I asked if I could help her and with a look of relief, she accepted. I thought about how many days she struggled to do this absolutely necessary duty.”

The business is designed for older adults, those who are disabled, busy single parents, people who are headed out of town, owners of short-term rentals and “the busy and forgetful, the ones that just absolutely despise taking the trash out,” Hughes said.

Pink Panda offers monthly subscriptions, as well as one-week services for individuals who typically take care of the trash and recycling themselves but need someone else to handle the responsibility on occasion.

“In the early morning of your scheduled collection day, we will come to your home, move your trash/recycling containers and bulk items to the street for collection and send you a time stamped picture of the items sitting curbside,” Hughes explained. “Later that day, after your items have been collected and disposed of, we will return to your home and retrieve your containers from the street and return them to their original placement.”

The goal of Pink Panda, which began in May, is “to provide our customers with the peace of mind that they never again have to worry about dragging their trash and recycling containers to the street,” Hughes said. “My favorite part of this business is knowing that I’m helping someone. I am a strong believer in the power of helping someone.”

For more information on Pink Panda, call 757-810-4073 or email pinkpandallcva@gmail.com.

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Dots & Dashes

• Papi’s Creamery LLC leased 1,200 square feet of retail space at 2900 Hampton Highway in Yorktown in the Shady Banks shopping center.
• Educational toy and supply store School Crossing, which is under new ownership in Monticello Marketplace, will hold a grand reopening on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. The event will feature activities and prizes. A ribbon-cutting will be held on June 13 at 4 p.m.
• Two burger establishments appear to have closed. The Burger King location at 759 E. Rochambeau Drive has closed due to equipment issues, according to a sign in the window, while Burger Fi, located at 6610 Mooretown Road, is also no longer in operation. Burger Fi, which had its last day on Feb. 23, posted a window sign stating in part that “it is with a heavy heart that we announce our temporary closure. This was not an easy decision to make, but we believe it is the best one for our community.” Burger Fi first opened in 2021.

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People moves

• Williamsburg Winery recently announced that Riccardo Rinaldi has been named the new executive chef at the Gabriel Archer Tavern. Rinaldi has 22 years of professional experience in Italian, French, molecular and other cuisines.
• Michael J. Todd has been named William & Mary’s executive vice president for finance and administration. Todd, who currently serves as vice president for finance and administration at Lehigh University, will begin his new role Aug. 1.

Brandy Centolanza@bcentolanza@cox.net