Published October 27, 2026 | Written by the Mission Realty Team.
Sheltering Arms, a nonprofit physical rehabilitation organization, has signed a lease for nearly 25,000 square feet on the second floor of the former Forever 21 store at Regency mall in western Henrico, according to Richmond BizSense. Reporter Jack Jacobs covered the lease in an October 26 article. This post is our own summary, with local context added. More coverage lives in our Richmond area news posts.
What Sheltering Arms is building
About 13,000 square feet will house adaptive and medical fitness programs for people with disabilities and for middle-aged or older adults at high risk of chronic disease, per BizSense. CEO Dianne Jewell said these programs have run out of therapy clinics, where “therapy takes priority.” The space will also hold an outpatient physical therapy clinic of 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, run under Sheltering Arms Institute, a joint venture with VCU Health, and about 8,000 square feet for a recreational day program for adults with physical disabilities.
BizSense reports the cost has not been set and that the facility is expected to open, or be substantially complete, by August 2027. J. A. Heisler is the general contractor and PSH+ is the architect.
Where this fits in the Regency redevelopment
BizSense describes the lease as part of the mall’s mixed-use redevelopment by owners Thalhimer Realty Partners and Rebkee Co., which has been underway for about 10 years. Former anchor spaces have become Performance Pickleball and NOVA Aquatics, apartments have been built on former parking lots, and Grove Eye Care and Tee Box are recent arrivals. Thalhimer announced the lease. The Henrico County website is the official source for county planning and zoning information.
What it means if you are looking in western Henrico
BizSense reports on tenants and square footage here, not on home prices or housing demand, and we have seen no data tying the lease to either, so we are not predicting any change. For buyers the practical point is how the mall area is changing: more services, more apartments and a different mix of daily traffic than a traditional enclosed mall. If a home near Regency is on your list, visit on a weekday and a weekend, and ask the county what is approved or pending on the parcels around it.
Our Henrico County hub collects our county guides, and our Tuckahoe and Short Pump pages cover two western Henrico areas. For another example of a retail center changing hands and tenants, read our post on neighborhoods near a major shopping center, and for a larger redevelopment see our Stony Point Village post.
Browse current Henrico listings in our property search and save the areas you like.
Our buy with us page explains how we work with buyers, and our preferred lenders page lists lenders who can answer financing questions.
Frequently asked questions
How much space did Sheltering Arms lease?
Nearly 25,000 square feet on the second floor of the former Forever 21 at Regency mall, per Richmond BizSense.
What will the space be used for?
About 13,000 square feet for adaptive and medical fitness, 1,200 to 1,500 square feet for an outpatient physical therapy clinic and about 8,000 square feet for a day program for adults with physical disabilities.
Who is the therapy clinic operated by?
Sheltering Arms Institute, a joint venture with VCU Health, per BizSense.
When will it open?
BizSense reports it is expected to open, or be substantially complete, by August 2027.
What will it cost?
BizSense reports the project cost has not been determined.
Who owns Regency mall?
Thalhimer Realty Partners and Rebkee Co., per BizSense.
Who is building it?
J. A. Heisler is the general contractor and PSH+ is the architect, per BizSense.
Does this affect nearby home values?
BizSense reports nothing on home values and we have seen no data tying the lease to them, so we cannot say.
