TMCNet: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va., Biz Buzz column

[November 12, 2012]

Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va., Biz Buzz column

Nov 12, 2012 (Richmond Times-Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Allen Bancroft watched football about two years ago when a violent collision caused a player's helmet to fly off his head.


Bancroft, a lifelong football fan who has seen helmets fly off hundreds of times, couldn't help but wonder what would happen if the player, suddenly vulnerable, got hit again.

"How could that possibly be acceptable " Bancroft, a Chesterfield County electrical engineer and inventor, thought.

He watched a little more closely that weekend and started to notice that helmets flying off players' heads occurred regularly.

Some research convinced Bancroft that helmet makers needed to do a better job of keeping chinstraps attached. If the chinstrap remained attached, he reasoned, helmets would stay on players' heads and thus reduce the risks for injury.

The problem, as he saw it, was that there was nothing on the market.

So Bancroft, who holds seven U.S. patents and has worked on robotics technology for NASA, invented a product that would do just that.

It's called HeadLOC. It's a clasp that attaches to helmets using a mechanism that makes it virtually impossible to pull off.

In a test video, the HeadLOC clasp remains attached despite being pulled by 50 pounds of pressure.

Bancroft expects that his product could eventually be used on a whole range of helmets.

Bancroft is completing the final step of the patent application on HeadLOC this week. He expects to begin approaching helmet manufacturers in the next several weeks.

The hope, he said, is for helmet makers to consider his clasp as yet another safety feature currently going into new helmet technology.

Concussions and head injuries have been a big topic in football circles in recent years after several high-profile suicides by prominent football players who suffered head injuries.

A class-action lawsuit was filed by dozens of former players against the National Football League. The league has taken steps to try to reduce the risk of injury.

While much of the discussion has been on making helmets safer by providing cushioning inside, Bancroft thinks a major risk remains if helmets don't stay on players' heads.

"Once you notice it, you see how often it actually happens," Bancroft said.

Family business Paul Farmer is leaving the Farmer's Foods grocery store chain.

Farmer, son of the chain's founder, Johnny Farmer, said in an email addressed to "associates and friends" that he was leaving the company, but "I do not know where I will be employed next and welcome any suggestions." According to the email, he worked in the family business for 22 years. His last day is Friday.

"I am leaving on good terms and wish Farmer's Foods, and each of the employees, the best life can offer," said Farmer, who is the chain's marketing and advertising director.

The chain has seven grocery stores in Virginia -- including two in the Richmond area and one in Louisa County -- as well as a store in North Carolina.

Johnny Farmer opened the company's first store in 1965.

Book store Dementi Milestone Publishing is setting up shop for the holidays.

The publisher will open Books About Richmond, a 400-square-foot store, on Thursday in The Village Shopping Center at Patterson Avenue and Three Chopt Road.

Steve Barnett, president of Barnett Retail Solutions who is working with Dementi, said the shop will carry 22 titles focused on Richmond's history.

Dementi Milestone Publishing was founded by Wayne Dementi in 2004. The company mostly publishes coffee-table books.

Eatery expands Kenn-Tico Cuban Bar & Grill in Richmond has nearly completed its expansion.

The restaurant on East Grace Street in downtown took over an adjacent space and added about 2,000 square feet.

The expansion allows for more space in the kitchen and for about 30 more seats, said Tico Sanchez, who owns the restaurant with his brother Kenny.

Sanchez said the idea for the addition was to create space reminiscent of a Cuban nightspot. It includes large picture windows that will open when it's warmer.

The brothers eventually hope to have live music.

Construction should be completed today. If all goes well, Sanchez said the expanded area will open Friday. If not, he plans for an opening Nov. 23.

New leasing company The Shops at White Oak Village has a new company handling its leasing.

The eastern Henrico County center named The Shopping Center Group to manage the property and help find tenants.

Phoenix-based Cole Real Estate Investments recently bought the center for $68 million from Forest City Enterprises Inc.

The 900,000-square-foot center is on Laburnum Avenue at Interstate 64. It opened in 2008.

Cole and The Shopping Center Group work together in several states, but this is the first time the two are partnering on a Virginia property.

The Shops at White Oak includes smaller shops in the middle of the development with larger national tenants around the property's perimeter. Its roster of current tenants includes Target, Lowe's, Martin's Food Markets, Red Lobster, Steak 'n Shake and several other national chains.

A Panera Bread is under construction in the center. The eatery is expected to open before Christmas.

Forest City, which also previously managed the center, owns Short Pump Town Center.

Contact Louis Llovio at: (804) 649-6348 LLLovio@timesdispatch.com Twitter: @RTDBizBuzz ___ (c)2012 the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) Visit the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) at www.timesdispatch.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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