Champion defeated
Charlottesville staple Champion Brewing Company will close its doors on June 30.
In an Instagram post announcing the closure, @championbeer wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Friday, 6/30/23 will be our last day of operations. … It’s always an emotional journey to start, operate, and wind down a business, but through your support, we accomplished everything we set out to do and more.” The company turned off comments on the post.
This closure is the latest restaurant owned by Champion Hospitality Group to go under, with Passiflora shutting down abruptly earlier in June. Other locations operated by CHG that have shuttered are: Brasserie Saison, Brasserie Superette, Champion Grill, Champion Outpost, and Reason Beer.
Many in the Charlottesville community are blaming the spate of closures on CHG owner Hunter Smith, claiming the businessman overcommitted himself. Smith and CHG have been a hot topic in area circles for months, particularly on social media. On the Charlottesville subreddit, user atomicskiracer commented: “Gross mismanagement, complete disregard for the humans he employed, and an incredible ignorance (ego?) towards what brought him the degree of success at these places [Smith] enjoyed,” the user wrote, “and when the shit hit the fan, rather than stepping up and running the taproom serving beers, he was nowhere to be found. He’s someone born into privilege who pretends to know hardship, and when the hard times came, he ran away. Pathetic.”
While other posters argued there may be more blame to go around among CHG leaders, there is a seemingly broad consensus that Smith is at least somewhat responsible for the restaurants failing.
It is unclear if the closure of Champion Brewing Co. will coincide with an end to Champion beer production. In December 2022, Champion passed its distribution responsibilities to North Carolina company Bevana.
Arrest in WPD death
A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Wintergreen police officer Mark “Chris” Wagner II.
In a statement released June 19, Virginia State Police announced that Daniel Barmak of Towson, Maryland, has been charged with three counts, including capital murder. The incident occurred at approximately 10pm on June 16, when Wagner was killed while responding to an emergency call reporting an assault.
According to VSP, investigators currently believe that “during the course of the struggle over Wagner’s department-issued handgun, Barmak shot and killed the officer.” Barmak was also shot during the altercation, but his injury was not life threatening.
Wintergreen Police Chief Dennis Russell posted a memorial to Wagner on Facebook following the tragedy. Russell wrote, “Chris is remembered for always going out of his way to cheer others up and his infectious laugh was loud and echoed throughout the office.”
The WPD is a private police force, so the family is not eligible for state line-of-duty death benefits. A fundraiser has been organized for Wagner’s family by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, and can be found on the Wintergreen Police Department Facebook page.
In brief
Picking battles
Charlottesville “sign guy” Mason Pickett will face trial for misdemeanor assault and battery on June 29, 2023. Picket has been arrested multiple times for assault and battery, but has not received jail time for any of the incidents. According to an anonymous employee who works on the Corner, Pickett shows up more than twice a week with his signs, regularly yells profanities at workers, and has assaulted employees who work in the area.
Mulch combustion
According to Albemarle County Fire Rescue, smoky conditions around Panorama Road on June 15 were the result of the spontaneous combustion of a mulch pile. After speaking to landowners about fully extinguishing the mulch, the Albemarle County Fire Marshal’s Office said the smoke will likely dissipate quickly. According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, there are hundreds of mulch fires every year, and people should keep “a minimum of an 18-inch clearance between landscaping mulch beds and combustible building materials.”
ACPS appoints principals
Albemarle County Public Schools appointed Brad Handrich and Wendy Eckerle the new principals at Baker-Butler and Murray elementaries, respectively. Handrich is succeeding Seth Kennard, the new Mountain View Elementary principal, while Eckerle takes over from C’ta DeLaurier, Woodbrook Elementary’s next principal.
