Going green is more than driving fuel-efficient cars and recycling -- it's a piece of everything you do, says Stephanie Ackermann, owner of ecologic, an environmentally friendly redecorating and remodeling retailer.

The store held its grand opening this past weekend.

An avid environmentalist who left the insurance business last year, Ackermann said opening ecologic was not her original intention. She and husband Fred wanted to start a remodeling business that used environmentally friendly materials.

But as they began looking for supplies, they were unable to find a business carrying only green products.

"So we decided we had to be the source," she said.

Ecologic sells products made from recycled and natural materials, free of chemicals. It carries flooring, carpeting, paint, window treatments, furniture, countertops, cabinetry, light fixtures, wallpaper and tile. Each item, they say, is environmentally friendly.

While Ackermann acknowledges that ecologic's merchandise could be more expensive than what competitors sell, the products are more durable and of better quality, she said. And the price differences will change, she said -- as green-friendly materials become more common, prices will drop.

The 4,000-square-foot building the couple rented on Main Street off of Lombardy Street in Richmond was empty for two years and zoned as a warehouse. The Ackermanns needed to get the zoning changed and bring the building up to code.

Since ecologic's customer base will primarily be do-it-yourselfers looking to work on their homes, the Ackermanns are trying to diversify to serve those customers. They leased space to an interior designer to help customers create home designs, and Fred started a contracting business to help consumers with installation.

More smoothies soon

Tropical Smoothie Café will open 12 Richmond-area restaurants over two years, joining the 11 already here.

The restaurants serve fruit-blended smoothies and gourmet sandwiches.

Of the dozen new restaurants, three -- in Hanover, Chesterfield and eastern Henrico counties -- will open next year, according to Gemini Patel, who owns the franchise.

The others should open in 2010.

Early start at White Oak

The Shops at White Oak Village in eastern Henrico County won't open until next Monday, but curious shoppers can get an early look at several of the center's retailers.

The Ukrop's Super Market and PetSmart open tomorrow, Target opens Wednesday, OfficeMax opens Thursday, and Lowe's opens Sunday.

The center, off Interstate 64 and Laburnum Avenue, sits on 136 acres and has more than 900,000 square feet of retail space.

Watkins Centre CVS

The CVS Pharmacy at the new Watkins Centre development on Midlothian Turnpike and state Route 288 opens next week.

It is the first retailer to operate at the 640-acre project, which is set to open in March.

The CVS is in The Shoppes at Westchester, a 175,000-squarefoot retail center developed by The Rebkee Co.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or LLLovio@timesdispatch.com.