When G. Robert Aston Jr., chairman and CEO of TowneBank, started the community bank in his garage 18 years ago, he dreamed of having a nice headquarters space in downtown Richmond one day.
Fast forward to September 2016, and Aston was telling that story Thursday to a crowd of about 300 who turned out for a splashy grand opening and reception for the bank’s Richmond headquarters space at Gateway Plaza in the city’s business district.
Amid towering floral displays, tables of food and plenty of dignitaries, Aston told of how his bank had grown from 90 employees to more than 2,000. The Hampton Roads-based bank leases about 39,000 square feet in the building — Richmond’s newest office tower — on two floors. A retail banking branch and commercial and private banking office are located off the lobby on the first floor, and the company’s Richmond headquarters is located on the seventh floor.
