Smiling sea turtles, a snorkeling blue lion, fighter jet fish: Troy Summerell’s whimsical scenes connect Virginia’s Hampton Roads community in ways that are both visible and heartfelt. They adorn everything from hoodies and beach towels to vibrant murals that brighten local landmarks, like the Virginia Beach oceanfront, Old Dominion University, and Naval Station Norfolk — the largest naval station in the world.
“Our purpose is to uplift the places in our communities,” Summerell says. His company, OnieTonie, helps others live the beach life to its fullest. “OnieTonie is about being fun and making people feel inspired. With so much negative noise, we provide a happy alternative.”
OnieTonie’s splashy Virginia Beach mural brought color during the Something in the Water Festival. Photography courtesy of Old Dominion University
Summerell’s work mirrors the positive, coastal vibes of Hampton Roads, an area of more than a dozen waterfront communities in southeastern Virginia, just an hour north of Elizabeth City. With 1.8 million people, Virginia’s second-largest metropolitan area gets its name from “roadstead,” the nautical term meaning “port town.”
From coffee roasters and ice cream makers to burger slingers and brewers, local entrepreneurs like Summerell are channeling their shared spirit into businesses that celebrate the culture, traditions, and hometown loyalties that bring the waterfront region together. Read on to learn their stories and see where you can find them around town:
Start your day with a Monarch Morning Roast coffee and explore Norfolk’s nearby Town Point Park. Photography courtesy of Old Dominion University
For Town Center Cold Pressed Co-owner Tiffany Nieves, coffee shops are essential community gathering spaces. “A coffee shop is a place you can come and have a business meeting, first date, a meet-up, or support group — we’ve even had people get sworn into the military here,” she says.
Since Cold Pressed was founded in 2017 by a group of friends who wished to promote a healthy lifestyle, the juice bars and coffee shops have grown to include six locations across the Hampton Roads region. “Town Center is in our name because no matter where we are, we’re in the center of town,” Nieves says.
Monarch Morning Roast, with hints of chocolate, almond, and caramel, was named for the mascot at the nearby Old Dominion University in Norfolk. And Rescue Roast, created by their in-house coffee roaster — a retired Coast Guard officer — is now the official blend for 13 nationwide Coast Guard exchanges.
“It means a lot to us to ingrain our military and university ties in what we do,” Nieves says. “The entrepreneur life is a lot of hard work, but seeing our impact on the community is the thing that really wakes us up and keeps us going.”
Don’t forget the napkins! Settle in with a plate of saucy wings and a crisp lager at The Dirty Buffalo. Photography courtesy of Old Dominion University
A short drive from Norfolk’s waterfront, The Dirty Buffalo pairs boldly spiced wings with a family-friendly vibe. “We’re all about creating an atmosphere for everybody with good food and good people,” Owner Russell Gilbert says.
Gilbert grew up in Rochester, New York, where wings are practically a religion. He later moved to Hampton Roads to attend Old Dominion University. The grill master with a knack for marketing turned his passion into a career in the food industry.
Now 14 years later, he’s still experimenting — challenging himself to create a new flavor every week. With three locations between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, the restaurant draws locals, college students, military families, and new visitors who come to play arcade games, watch the big game on the TVs, or dig into a plate of wings tossed in one of their 40 sauces and rubs.
Featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, the eatery’s standouts include the Cajun Dry Rub and Sweet Heat Mesquite, along with the Big Blue Q barbecue sauce, Big Blue’s Belly Rub, as well as the Red, White & Big Blue hot sauce — a nod to ODU’s mascot Big Blue.
In addition to smashburgers, Chef Blake Sehestedt serves bacon-wrapped hot dogs, quesadillas, and chicken burgers from his Ghost Kitchen food truck. Photography courtesy of Old Dominion University
California native Blake Sehestedt also found a home in Hampton Roads, with easy access to beaches, waterfront communities, and a vibrant arts scene, including concerts at The NorVa.
“With the military bases and NATO located here, Norfolk brings in people from all over the world,” he says. So, he decided to specialize in making the most popular sandwich in the world: the cheeseburger.
Through his Ghost Kitchen food truck, Sehestedt puts his own spin on the universal favorite. “Our smash burger has especially taken off — it’s like a grown-up Big Mac,” he says. His simple recipe of fresh ground beef with crisp lettuce, onion, tomato, and signature sauce delivers every time.
Last fall, Sehestedt’s Big Blue Smash Burger — with the ODU logo branded onto the bun — earned national attention when it was featured on ESPN’s “Campus Cuisine” segment.
With inviting beer gardens and year-round live music, New Realm Brewery is the ideal spot to unwind. Their wood-fired scratch kitchens turn out great pizzas and elevated pub fare that pair deliciously with the brews on tap.
With outposts in fellow college towns like Auburn, Atlanta, Greenville, and Charleston, New Realm tailors its craft beer lineup for each community. At its two Hampton Roads locations, the local pride shines through with two craft beers created in honor of Old Dominion. ODU Lager is crisp, clean, and refreshingly easy-drinking while the ODU Golden Ale brings a fuller body with a subtle sweetness.
Treat yourself to a sweet scoop from Lolly’s Creamery. Photography courtesy of Old Dominion University
Another Hampton Roads company spreading joy, Lolly’s Creamery was named after founders Dom and Joey Launi’s family dog. Lolly’s operates three storefronts across Virginia Beach, plus vintage ice cream carts that bring sweet charm to local festivals and waterfront gatherings.
Beachgoers and visitors line up for original flavors like Real Deal Vanilla, Blueberry Lemon Bar, Nutella Oreo, and Cookie Monster. Their newest flavor, Ice Cream and Cake, with morsels of blue-tinted buttercake, is named for the Buckwheat Boyz song played at every Old Dominion University basketball game — which incoming freshmen must learn the dance steps to at orientation.
Spend some time in Hampton Roads, and visitors quickly discover what locals already know: Traditions have a way of bringing people together. And sometimes, the best way to celebrate is the same way Monarch fans do — with community spirit, a sweet treat, and a familiar refrain. Click here to learn more.
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