Floyd Virginia Magazine 2021 Fall/Winter

Fall/Winter 2021-2022 | Volume 13 Issue 2

magazine

Floyd Virginia Your FREE

Comprehensive Guide To

haven S tone eakfast Br Bed &

Celebrating the People & Entrepreneurs of Floyd Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Phoen i Hardw x ood

s

All Things Floyd

Lichen or Knot y Plant Compan

Blak

e Al exan d

er

Local Stories - Points of Interest - Maps of Floyd Food - Wine - Art - Lodging - Real Estate & Land

www.Fl oyd V ir g in ia Ma g a zin e . c owww.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com m

2

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

3

4

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Fall/Winter Fall/Winter 2021-2022 2021-2022

Serving Residential And Commercial Customers, Property Managers, & General Contractors!

The New River Valley’s Most Affordable Hvac Contractor!

Financing Available!

Services Include: • Cooling And Heating Services • Gas Log Installation • Tank Less Water Heaters • Whole Home Humidifiers • Air Filtration • Generators • Service Plans • AND MORE!

Family Owned And Operated!

540-251-3131 • www.AirTechNRV.com 421 Roanoke St, Christiansburg, VA Service@AirTechNRV.com Fall/Winter 2021-2022

/AirTechNRV/ Licensed And Insured. www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

5

magazine

Floyd Virginia Your FREE

Comprehensive Guide To

Fall/Winter 2021-22

Celebrating the People of Floyd!

Volume 13 • 2nd Issue

On The Cover

All Things Floyd

The cover photo is of Sweet Providence located at 3313 Floyd Hwy N

From Moran’s Meat & Grocery To Willis Village Mart............................. 8-11 Taking Local Hemp to the Next Level.................. 12-14 Floyd Legend Hands The Torch To Exciting New Restaurant................................. 16-18 LCF Group Has Been Serving Floyd County For Over 50 Years!......... 20-21 Pat Sharkey Retires as Tourism Director............. 22-24 Places of Interest.........................................................26 Town of Floyd Map.....................................................28 Directory.....................................................................30 Honoring Korean War Veterans and Celebrating 1950’s America in Floyd County......... 32-34 Sweet Providence Farm Makes Christmas Dreams Come True............ 36-38 Fall & Winter Happenings 2021.................................40 Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts Is A Dream Come True........................ 42-44 A Family’s Shared Love of Antiques is Behind New Antique Store in Riner................ 46-48 A New Leaf Gallery…A Real Sweet Spot............. 50-52

Alphabetical Listing of Advertisers Page 54 For publication information, call John Brill (540) 815-1079 For additional copies, email john@brilldesigns.org

Stonehaven Bed & Breakfast Quality Accomodations!

Delicious Food!

S tonehaven st Bed & Breakfa

nbfloyd.com www.stonehavenb

244 Christiansburg Pike NE, Floyd, VA 540-745-4018

Phoenix Hardwoods Handcrafted From Virginia Hardwoods!

Phoeni x Hardwo od

2540 Floyd Hwy N Floyd VA 24091 540-745-6403

www.pho enix-h

s

ardwood

Lichen or Knot

s.com

Seasonal Herbs, Annuals & Perennials! ot or Kn Lichen ompany C Plant not.com

203 Fox Street, Floyd VA 24091 540-267-6556

k

Floyd Virginia Magazine Team John Brill - Publisher Vickie Holt - Editor © 2021 FLOYD VIRGINIA MAGAZINE, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part, without written permission from FLOYD VIRGINIA MAGAZINE is prohibited. Every attempt has been made to verify the information contained in this publication. We assume no responsibility for incorrect, omitted or outdated information contained herein. We publish ads and stories without any implied endorsement of organizations, the views they express or the products/services they offer.

6

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

enor www.lich

Blake Alexander Primitives, Antiques, and More!

Blake 1917 Union Valley Rd Alexan Riner VA 24149 der www.bla 540-750-6510 kealexan derdesig n.com Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Great Food & More!

540-745-2501

1041 Floyd Hwy N • Floyd VA

540-745-3655 • FloydFlorist.com 106 W. Main St, Floyd VA • blueridgeflorist@swva.net

Beaver Creek Fencing Family Owned and Operated • Established 2000

ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS • PET MEDS • FEED SPREADING & SPRAYING • FENCING MATERIALS SEED • LIME • Lawn & Garden Supplies GATES • POSTS • Cattle Minerals & Feed FERTILIZER • Ritchie Waters & PaRts Priefert Equipment • Georgia Boots Pointer Bibbed Overalls • Chore Boots Bunk Feeders - Round Bale Feeders

Horse Fence!

Cattle Fence!

Deer Fence!

Privacy Fence! & More!

Farm & Residential

www.BeaverCreekFencing.net BeaverCreekFencing@swva.net • Floyd VA

540-745-4110 Fall/Winter 2021-2022

2107 fLOYD hWY NORTH open Mon - Sat 7 am - 6 pm

540-745-3201

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

7

From Moran’s Meat & Grocery to Willis Village Mart: They Grew and Modernized, but Kept Their Country Charm

by Vickie Holt When most people think of Floyd, Virginia, they think of the became a center of growth. From 1914 to 1935, the Post Office could charming downtown district with its shops, music venues, and art be found in a corner of the store. Blue Ridge Bank also became part of galleries. But there is so much more to be found in the wider community the complex. Situated just up the hill from the little store, visitors could of the county. Floyd County contains the towns of Check, Copper Hill, walk along a plank sidewalk that extended from the street in front of Indian Valley, and Willis.

Conduff ’s to the top of It’s in the town of the hill for their banking The Harmon’s Meats building. You can see Willis, Virginia, that S. needs. Eventually, even the sign of the Willis Village Mart on the left Peter Willis and Silas gas pumps were added. in the background where it was built behind Garrett Conduff got In 1953, Jimmie Harmon’s Meats and back from the road. together to open a general and Hilda Harmon store for the community. purchased the store and This was around 1883, and continued to carry most the wooden-built shop of the same merchandise could be found just about as Conduff. They even eleven miles southwest of kept the pennies that downtown Floyd along Conduff had put in the Floyd Highway South. cracks of the woodOriginally, this little plank floor near the community was called front counter. It was a Greasy Creek, but in 1880, conversation piece the the name was changed Harmons would enjoy to Hylton. This was to for the next twenty-five honor the Helton family years. Even though they who operated a store and sold the store in 1978, post office there. It was the Harmons are still a around this time, however, that the Willis family settled in the area part of Willis. Hilda and her daughters still live there. and began operating businesses in the community. Because of their In the years before that sale in 1978, a young couple were just influence, and because the Hylton Post Office was getting confused starting out together in life. Shirley Moran was working on an assembly with the Hilton Post Office in another part of Virginia, the name of the line at the Panel Sewing Machine factory. Her husband, Stanley, was town was changed to Willis in 1894. S. Peter Willis was a member of working on the assembly line at Valleydale Meats in Roanoke, Virginia. that influential family, and his partner, Silas G. Conduff, was the first Together with their new son, Stacy, the couple lived in a basement on postmaster under the town’s Willis name.

Stanley’s mother’s property. At the time, the basement was built as After a few years, Conduff became the sole owner, and the store a first step toward creating a family home. Like all solid endeavors, served as a hub for folks in Willis. In the years before mass auto the Morans started from the ground, up, and for some time, lived ownership, towns and villages were far more isolated. Travelling the just in the grass-covered basement. Eventually, however, they saved eleven miles to downtown Floyd for food and supplies would have been enough money to build a first story on top. That’s when they heard that a large undertaking. But thanks to Conduff, folks and farmers in Willis Harmon’s store was up for sale. could purchase everything from harnesses to fine China, to clothes, In the spirit of entrepreneurship, and wanting the work for meat, groceries, and even dynamite! themselves instead of others, the Morans took a leap of faith. They In the following years, the little store by the highway in Willis were a very young couple with a very young son. It was a huge risk, but 8

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

they gave up all they had worked for and all they had built – literally – and traded their house for the store. With the addition of a loan, the Morans sealed the deal and became the new owners of Harmon’s. They didn’t change the name of the store, as it was already so established.

Almost upon the day they took over, however, an auto accident destroyed the gas pumps! It was a huge setback. The goods in the store were staples for the community, but the gas pumps where what brought in the passers-by. None-the-less, the Morans moved into the apartment above the old, wooden store and got to work.

In 1978, Shirley was just twenty-six years old, and Stacy was just seven. With a tragedy on the first day, it wasn’t looking good for the Moran family. But Stanley had an ace up his sleeve.

Thanks to the experience he’d gained at Valleydale, Stanley was able to add meat processing to the services offered at Harmon’s. He was Harmon’s first butcher, though others were also hired for the job. First order of the day was to process the USDA inspected case meat that was sold in the store cases. After filling the case each day, work would begin on processing hunted and farm-raised meats for the local community. As Stacy tells us, that is still the ways it’s done today.

Shirley and Stanley got off to a shaky start, that’s for sure. But they knew people and they knew how to work hard. To run a business, however, you also need admin. For this, they enlisted the help of their good friend, Roger Hollandsworth. Roger worked in banking and was able to help by ushering the young couple through a bookkeeping course. “They knew the people-side and the work- side,” says Stacy.

“They just needed the books.”

It had been almost a hundred years since Harmon’s store was built, and Shirley soon came to realize it was a money pit. The furnace was old, and just couldn’t heat the building, anymore. As Stacy recalls, during clear nights in the stock room where feed and bottles of soda were stored, moonlight could be seen streaming in from the spaces between the boards that made up the outer walls. On many a winter night in their store-top apartment, the family could even hear the gentle “pop-pop-pop” of frozen soda bottles exploding.

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

However, despite sinking money into the old building each month and writing off ruined inventory, the Morans were able to move out of the apartment and into a family home in 1983. A few years later, Shirley and Stanley would go their separate ways, leaving Shirley the sole owner of an ailing property. This left her facing a tough choice: cut her losses and start over in a business she didn’t know, or adapt, rebuild, and move forward. Though there were no gas pumps, and the building was costing more and more in maintenance, Shirley didn’t sell.

“I am just so proud of her,” says Stacy. “Being a single mom, she just went for that venture at such a young age and took the risk to make it happen.”

It wasn’t easy. In the early 90’s, Willis was an even more quiet area than it is today.

Hours would go by between customers. If Shirley didn’t hear the bell for an hour, she’d become really worried for the day’s books.

Shirley Moran had grown into the store business from the age of twenty-six. She knew it well and was very good at it. But there was just no way to expand the business with what she had on-hand. No way to offset the increasing costs. In 1993, she’d made up her mind. It was time to adapt. Time to rebuild.

By the end of 1994, the old, white store building was gone. It had stood for over a hundred years, but the time had come to let it rest.

In its place, a new, modern brick complex was built farther back from the road. Not only did this allow room for a parking lot that the original building never had, Shirley was even able to re-introduce gas pumps. With nothing of the old store remaining, she also decided it was time for a new name, and so Harmon’s store took a step into history and the Willis Village Mart was born.

In addition to the new store, the new meat processing area, the parking lot, and the gas pumps, Shirley was even able to bring banking to Willis! Prior to this rebuilding, Willis customers using Bank of Floyd would have to drive the eleven miles to downtown Floyd to do their banking. When Shirley moved the post office out of the building it had previously occupied in her complex, she entered into an agreement with Bank of Floyd to upgrade the building and

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

9

From left to right: Back row, Stacy Moran & Shirley Moran. Front row, Kai Moran and Koen Moran.

make it secure. Now, folks in Willis can do their banking right there in the Willis Village Mart complex.

Shirley says that she couldn’t have done it without all the friends and locals who supported her and helped her throughout the process.

She’s so thankful for all those who helped to move the merchandise, equipment, and products from the old store into the new one.

Twenty-seven years later, and Shirley is still so grateful, offering a million thanks to everyone involved. They put in a lot of long days and a lot of long hours, but in the end, the job was done.

It was time to open Willis Village Mart and get back Purchased at the to normal, but even then, Harmon Store it was an uphill climb. “She did an incredible job moving forward,” says Stacy, “but without the employees and locals, she wouldn’t have stayed in business.”

Willis Village Mart has consistently provided local people with employment, allowing high school students to begin their employment learning experience.

In 2018, Vicki Turpin started out in the meat processing department, helping to process deer and other meats for the local community. Three years later, she is now store manager, and says the Morans are great to work for, and that they treat their employees like family. “And that’s the thing,” says Stacy. “The folks who have been with us a long time, all our employees, they are part of our family.”

One employee, Susie Overstreet, even retired after working twenty years behind the counter! She was very valuable as a local and an employee, and it was a tremendous loss when she left. “If you needed 10 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

to ask any question,” says Stacy, “no matter if it was about who or what, Susie knew!”

There is also Mike Keith, the Moran’s butcher, and Meat Department Manager. Mike has been working at Moran’s off and on since he was in high school in the early 1980’s. Stacy recalls when he was eight years old, Mike would teach him how to clean the meat department. Mike came back to Moran’s in 2004 and has been with them ever since.

“We are thankful for our outstanding staff,” says Office Manager, Judy Hylton. “Our employees are a tremendous help in keeping the store running smoothly.

With the strong support of customers and a friendly community, you have a win – a win in the neighborhood that we are proud of.”

Fast-forward a couple more decades, and Shirley was not only successful, but she had also been able to open two more stores; the Dugspur Deli-Mart and the Hillsville Deli-Mart, both of which can be found by continuing down Floyd Highway south!

Eventually, however, the time came when Shirley wanted to step back from the grindstone and take more enjoyment from life. By this time, Stacy had moved to California and started a family, but returned when his mother asked him to take part in the arrangements that would place her responsibilities into the hands of her key people and managers. Little did Stacy know at the time, but he was getting ready to move back to Floyd to personally take the reigns of the company.

They say old habits die hard, but lifestyles die even harder. After

Fall/Winter Fall/Winter 2021-2022 2021-2022

The

SCHROEDER

LAW FIRM, P.C.

four decades of working hard for her own company, Shirley still checks in on all her stores and is still involved. But when there is a choice between store work and spending time with her two grandsons, there really is no choice. The boys win.

Looking forward, a very deserved, happy retirement is in Shirley’s future. With Stacy managing the business, and with the help of folks like Judy Hylton and Vicki Turpin, Shirley can retire without worry, knowing the business she worked so hard to build will be in exceptional hands. “But,” says Stacy, “she will never be able to completely leave. Even though she’s not in the store, customers still ask about her every day.”

Though the year is now 2021, both Shirley and Stacy Moran have tried to continue the location’s General Store tradition.

When customers walk through Willis Village Mart, they may be reminded of a friendly country store offering local products such as honey, wines, craft beers, seasonal fruits and produce, handmade potholders, and wooden utensils. In the Spring, visitors can find garden seeds, seed potatoes, fertilizer, and mulch.

The Greenhouse also opens with a great selection of seasonal plants and flowers.

Willis Village Mart’s USDA inspected, fresh meat case is famous, both near and far, thanks to a staff with over thirty years of experience. Willis Processing is well known for its customer service, carefully catering to everyone. The skilled and knowledgeable butchers take time to ensure that steaks and roasts are cut to customer specifications. They also cut a variety of other meats, including venison, elk, lamb, bear, and pork. In recent years, seafood has also been added and has become a local favorite, as has the in-house ground pork sausage, select pork, ham, and chicken.

For hunters or fishing enthusiasts, licenses are also available, along with a selection of fishing accessories and bait. Folks can also find hardware, stamps and post cards, farm needs, automotive supplies, newspapers and maps, animal feed and pet supplies, canning supplies, household supplies, tobacco and CBD oil products, groceries, pizza by the slice, fresh coffee, lottery, an ATM, kerosene, a propane exchange, and of course, gasoline at the pumps!

The Willis Village Mart complex is located at 5602 Floyd Highway, South, and includes the General Store with Meat Processing, Jim Grill, Post Office, and the Bank of Floyd. The Willis Village Mart store is open Monday through Saturday, 5:00am – 10:00pm, and Sunday, 7:00am – 10:00pm. For more information about products and services, to contact Willis Village Mart, or to keep up to date with WVM news, follow them on Facebook by searching Willis Village Mart Inc. The Willis Village Mart Shirley Moran & Stacy Moran 5602 Floyd Highway South, Floyd VA • 540-789-7241

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

real Estate Transactions Business and corporate law wills, estates, and trusts family and divorce law civil and criminal litigation

540-745-4435

www.schroeder-law.com 304 East Main Street, Floyd VA

At the end of every journey should be a cold beer!

501 2nd St, Radford, VA • 540-838-2229

www.LongWayBrewing.com www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 11

From left to right: Daniel Sowers & Derek Wall

Taking Local Hemp to the Next Level Budding interest in hemp and cannabis in Virginia has led to healthy growth for The Buffalo Hemp Company. Having already established the Floyd location in 2019, TBHC has been so successful that it was not only able to open the second location at 1110 Main Street in Roanoke but has recently opened a third location at 208-A N. Main Street in Blacksburg! They are also pleased to announce that they have outgrown the original Floyd location at 315 East Main Street and relocated to a more spacious, historic building at 710 East Main Street. Co-owner Derek Wall attributes the company’s success to local relationships, persistence, and commitment to continuous evolution.

“We were fortunate to begin with our own crop, our products, and our own brand,” says Wall. But Wall and his business partner, Daniel Sowers, soon found that there were a lot of people growing excess hemp. This led to TBHC growing less of their own crop every year and opting instead to support local farmers who could grow hemp that met the company’s needs for quality and safety.

“Local sourcing is everything,” Wall continues. “Whenever possible, we buy local flower, and we’ve been successful in finding local farmers.

The hardest part is the processing aspect, where CBD is extracted from hemp flower for mixing into oils, vaping products, edibles, and topicals.” Wall also explains that understanding fluctuating timelines and workflows among local processors were tough lessons that the company is now steadier for having learned.

With positive early sales at special events, Wall and Sowers experimented with wholesaling through other outlets but knew their premium product was not meant to compete with the commodity brands. “We had to find a way to connect with people interested 12 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

in a premium product from a trusted source,” says Wall. “So that’s what we developed.”

The Buffalo Hemp Company opened its shop to offer the town of Floyd a personal experience that focused on its products. As a result, TBHC offers a more custom experience when compared to convenience store, big grocery, or even smoke and vape shops that sell many brands alongside non-hemp items. In those outlets, staff would have limited in-depth knowledge of individual hemp products.

“That’s why someone would come to a specialized shop like The Buffalo Hemp Company,” says Wall. “To ask questions about each product, where it’s from, how it affects you, how it’s used. You get that here. We want to be the leading source for education and responsible use.”

It can be a challenge, however, when competing with brands that don’t spend the money for laboratory quality testing or for maintaining a retail operation. However, it has been worth it for the Buffalo Hemp Company. Customers know the products are safe and effective. It also allows customers the personal touch of experienced staff listening to their needs and sharing essential knowledge of what is offered.

It is the Floyd location’s success with personal service and brandspecific knowledge that led to the opening of the stores in Roanoke (spring of 2020) and Blacksburg (spring of 2021). “Roanoke came at the beginning of the pandemic when nobody was coming into any store. Now, it’s our best sales location,” says Wall, attributing the achievement to Roanoke’s larger population. Though the Blacksburg location opened just before the summer lull in downtown traffic, the company expects that location to soon catch up with the pace of the

Fall/Winter Fall/Winter 2021-2022 2021-2022

Floyd Jewelry

Seasoned Hardwoods Cut, Split, and Delivered All hardwoods Custom lengths Short response time www.floydjewelry.com • Sarah Sowers, Owner www.facebook.com/FloydJewelry • 540-745-4653 610 East Main Street • Floyd, VA

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Year around service Wood heat is carbon neutral

Firewood always works!

540-320-3057

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 13

other two shops. Derek Wall says his staff has done a good job evolving with the industry and product developments. “They’ve stepped up to the plate to educate our customers. You can see that in our ratings and reviews. People comment on the great service they got from a staff member who helped them.”

The original store’s move in the summer of 2021 to the former Floyd Press building can “make Floyd proud of a brand that was developed here, and can show Virginia what Floyd has to offer,” says Wall, proud that the company’s dedication to knowledge and service will continue in the larger headquarters. “This new shop will give us a bigger storefront with more space to do things that were difficult in our first location. We may process in this location, or bring in a local processor, and it gives us growth potential for storage and shipping.”

In addition to growth, product quality, customer service, product knowledge, and supporting local farmers, Wall and Sowers are also proud that The Buffalo Hemp Company currently employs nearly a dozen people across the three locations.

Though many businesses in the pandemic era have had trouble finding employees, TBHC has gotten regular inquiries from people knowledgeable about hemp who want to work for an established and respected brand. “We want to be sure to employ people who are knowledgeable.

Many cross our doorstep with experience, and the rest learn from our tenured staff. We work hard to find the right staff and make sure they have the knowledge about our products to provide excellent service to our customers.”

Since July, when Virginia legalized adults growing up to four cannabis plants, as well as being in possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use, The Buffalo Hemp Company has seen more interest in recreational products. “People are starting to explore and embrace the potential of the cannabis plant,” says Wall, referring to hemp-derived Delta 8, a plant compound akin to the THC familiar to cannabis users. Where CBD is strictly for therapeutic uses, however, Delta 8 products are used more for recreation.

“We’re determined to be responsible about it,” says Wall. “As I learned from being in Colorado, where cannabis products are now mainstream, responsibility is everything to your business.” According to Wall, edible Delta 8 needs a higher level of special care when compared to Delta 8 vaping products that can be dosed at a desired level with ease. “With edibles at a high concentration of Delta 8, if someone unfamiliar consumes the whole product, they may not have a positive experience.”

With legalization, the company has also gotten inquiries about providing cannabis seeds. Since selling cannabis plant material is 14 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

not yet permitted, The Buffalo Hemp Company has had to politely decline. “We are an ethical company. We regularly get legal counsel to ensure we’re operating in compliance, because we want to make sure our customers can feel as comfortable with our practices as with our products.”

In an ever-changing industry, TBHC is always researching and finding people to help them along the way. No matter the situation, whether it be legal guidance, processing, or understanding FDA or state requirements for labeling, they are always grateful for the best insights.

“Changes can be confusing and sometimes frustrating,” says Wall, “but The Buffalo Hemp Company sees hemp and cannabis as here to stay, and with legalization of cannabis in Virginia, the company is staying alert to licensing opportunities.”

With growing customer need for education about hemp, CBD, Delta 8, and cannabis, Floyd’s own Buffalo Hemp Company can help lead the charge by finding the right information and sharing it through its staff, stores, and online presence. “We have a team of people always watching out for changes in regulation, new products in the market, and local suppliers to keep a finger on the pulse of the hemp industry.”

With its connections, growth, and outreach, The Buffalo Hemp Company is also able to share other benefits with the communities it serves. “We like to be involved in events like Steppin Out in Blacksburg,” says Wall, “as well as Floydfest or Yoga Jam here in Floyd. We also support local nonprofits, like Plenty! food pantry. We’re working with the Floyd Humane Society now to provide them with pet products at reduced cost.”

Wall sees The Buffalo Hemp Company’s role in the community as vital. “You have to work in your community to make sure your business is giving back. We’ve done well for the resources we have as a young company. It’s been embedded in me from family business values to give back to the community that supports you as a business owner. I think the biggest challenge for us as a company is to make sure we’re evolving and always doing the right thing so that customers can trust us.”

The Buffalo Hemp Company Derek Wall & Daniel Sowers www.TheBuffaloHempCompany.com www.facebook.com/TheBuffaloHempCompany Floyd store 540-745-8242 • Roanoke store 540-655-4367 Blacksburg store 540-315-9070

Fall/Winter Fall/Winter 2021-2022 2021-2022

Autoville Auto Repair

Bethesda “House of Mercy” Floyd, Va Wilt thou be made whole? ~John 5:6

Chris Newman - Owner

Pastor Eddie & Debbie Gallimore 540-230-9090 208 Howard Street turn on Howard Street across from Hardee’s

Good old Southern Hymns

Sunday School 10 AM Specializing in the love of God Sunday Worship 11 AM through Jesus Christ Sun & Wed right here in Evening Worship 7 PM downtown Floyd !!

Service On All Makes & Models Foreign & Domestic • State Inspection Certified • Oil & Lube • Brakes • Shocks & Struts • Alignments • Tires • AC Repair • Tune Ups • Fuel System Service • Check Engine Light Diagnostics • Driveline Diagnostics & Repairs • Fuel Injector Cleaning

Factory Trained Master Technicians

610 E Main St Floyd, VA 24091

(Beside Floyd Jewelry)

Over 35 Years Experience

540-745-4224

The Custom Frame Shop at The Maggie Gallery We design beautiful packages to compliment and protect your treasures!

• Hundreds of frames to choose from

• Reproductions

• Crescent acid-free mats available

• Framing Repairs

in every color imaginable • UV protective glass to prevent fading by harmful UV light • Only conservation level materials

• Tapestries and Rugs • Original artwork of all mediums • Cross Stitch and Needlepoint • Shadowboxes for 3D items

used inside your frame

540-745-8000

www.TheMaggieGallery.com 187 North Locust Street • Floyd, VA • 24072 Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 15

Floyd Legend Hands the Torch to Exciting New Restaurant

By Vickie Holt

American Pie Restaurant is one of Floyd’s newest eateries, taking up residence in a building recently vacated by one of its oldest. After thirty years, Ray’s Restaurant had become a legendary fixture in the Floyd community, located at 1041 Floyd Highway, North.

The structure itself was built in 1910. In the 1940’s, Ray’s father, Donald Hatcher, owned it, running the location as a grocery store and gas station. Its eventual evolution to becoming a restaurant, however, is thanks in part to Ray’s mother, who started cooking for some of the local workers in the 1940’s. After some time, Ray took the reigns of the business and it operated as his restaurant from around 1990. In 2020, however, Ray Hatcher decided to retire.

Even while Ray was thinking about retirement, Bill Taylor was sitting in Palm Beach, Florida, already bored with his retirement from the medical industry. “I didn’t enjoy it,” says Bill. “All that sitting around.” To make matters worse, the hurricane season in Florida was getting more and more serious, year after year. Bill didn’t want to wait around for a storm to destroy his home.

Though he was originally from New Jersey, Bill had lived in Floyd during the 1990’s. He felt a connection to the area because his grandfather had originally come from Floyd. As Bill explains, his grandfather was among the community of people who were workers in area, not really owning anything. Before WWI, many of the poor 16 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

folks working on the farms in Floyd for less than twenty-five cents a day began migrating out to the cities. Bill’s grandfather was among those people, leaving Floyd around 1914.

When adverse conditions in Florida made Bill want to migrate, he thought once again of Floyd. When he arrived, he admits he wasn’t particularly looking for anything to do. Still, retirement rankled him.

With more boredom on the horizon ahead, Bill called his friend, Guillermo Mateo-Castaneda, from Florida to join him.

Originally from Guatemala, Guillermo had worked for several restaurants in Florida, becoming a very talented cook along the way.

He’d even managed to open his own small restaurant in North Palm Beach. It was Bill’s idea that with Guillermo’s culinary capacity and Bill’s clerical skills, the two should open a restaurant in the meteorologically calm community of Floyd. Guillermo agreed, closed his restaurant, and headed north.

Bill and Guillermo looked at several restaurants and locations in Floyd before ultimately deciding on Ray’s. They bought the business in April of 2020 and closed it down the same week. After all, the building was over a hundred years old. They wanted to fix things that needed fixing. They also wanted to replace equipment and incorporate some cosmetic upgrades. Though it was a global crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic also provided a timely interval for the new owners to

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Fruits • Vegetables Meats • Honey And Many Other Local Products!

540-988-6318 10179 Bent Mountain Rd, Bent Mountain, VA

540-525-8444 3313 Floyd Hwy N Floyd, VA

Choose and Cut!

10am - 5pm Fri, Sat, & Sun Thanksgiving to Christmas

Christmas Tree Farm and Christmas Store

SweetProvidenceFarm@gmail.com • www.Facebook.com/SweetProvidenceFarm Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 17

renovate without the loss of customers.

Over the next ten months, the old Ray’s slowly evolved into the new American Pie Restaurant. Bill says that the place was dark and closedin, with a New Orleans theme before. He wanted to make it brighter and better lit inside. More lights were added, and more windows were installed. There was one aspect of the operation, however, that was not a problem. “No matter who we called for service” says Bill, “nobody needed directions. Everyone knew Ray’s restaurant.”

Once all the renovations were complete and the new atmosphere was set, it was time to get ready to open. Like many other restaurants since March of 2020, however, American Pie had a hard time finding employees. Eventually, however, Bill hired five servers and an additional cook from the Floyd community.

On February 22, 2021, American Pie Restaurant opened to the public. With Bill taking care of the business side and Guillermo taking care of the kitchen and menu, the co-owners kept many of the same menu items that folks had already come to expect from Ray’s.

Guillermo, however, couldn’t resist adding a few new specialties, such as the ribeye steak and the Philly cheese steak sandwich.

Mostly standard, American fare, the new restaurant offers a lunch menu that includes burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza, chicken tenders, soups, salads, and sides. For dinner, American Pie also serves pork chop, lamb chop, ribeye steak, BBQ ribs, and grilled salmon.

Though most of the menu is a hold-over from Ray’s, it is Guillermo’s hand that sets those dishes apart from their predecessors.

The first weekend they were open, a happy customer posted this review to Facebook: “The atmosphere is clean and bright. The wait staff were very nice. This was the first weekend since they opened and I was glad to see it busy.”

18 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Four months later, and the customers were still raving. “I have lots of great things to say about this place…The very best Ruben sandwich that I have ever had, the very best steamed broccoli that I’ve ever had, the very best Philly cheese steak that I’ve ever had, the very best mashed potatoes that I’ve ever had, the very best onion rings that I’ve ever had!

I have ate here for lunch about fifteen times so far and they always have your food out to you in less than eight minutes”.

Bill says that folks in Floyd have actually come to surprise him.

Occasionally, Guillermo will run a special item that isn’t on the main menu. A gyro, for instance. Where he would expect folks to be leery of food he’d consider unusual for Floyd, he found that the locals would snap it up!

American Pie restaurant is solidly a success story. Customers are happy with the food, Bill is happy to come out of retirement, and Guillermo is enjoying his new surroundings. Though Floyd Virginia may have lost a legendary local icon, it has gained an exciting new restaurant that will surely be a highlight for many locals and visitors, alike!

American Pie Restaurant is closed on Wednesdays but open every other day of the week from 11:00am to 8:00pm, with the bar staying open later. For more information about American Pie, or to view the menu, follow American Pie Restaurant on Facebook.

American Pie Restaurant William “Bill” Taylor & Guillermo Mateo-Castaneda 1041 Floyd Hwy, Floyd, VA • 540-745-2501 www.AmericanPieRestaurant.com AmericanPieRestaurant@gmail.com

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 19

LCF Group Has Been Serving Floyd County and the Surrounding Region for Over 50 Years!

Chantilly Farm Under New Ownership in 2021!

By Vickie Holt

Originally from Oregon, David Larsen received a degree in Business and Technology in Electronics from Oregon State University.

After working for a few years in the industry as an engineer, David became a teacher in electronic instrumentation at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia – a position from which he retired after thirty-one years in 1998. But it wasn’t all academics and electronics. During his tenure at Virginia Tech, David also assisted the Office of International Development. For many of those years, he worked with land and farming, starting up a Christmas tree farm and marketing organization.

With his hands in the land as early as the mid-sixties, David was able to establish the Laurel Creek Farms corporation (LCF) in 1968.

Named for the first area of land developed.

David was later joined in the business by his wife, Gaynell. In February of 2002, they were also joined by Dee Wallace, who completed the three-person group. Originally from Nebraska, Dee came to Virginia in 1992 for college. Once working with LCF, she was also creator of Floyd Virginia Magazine! Wallace tells us the original idea was to have a publication that would help promote LCF. The Group develop real estate and sell it “by owner” with owner financing available, and their unique approach to development, sales, and leasing have helped the company remain sustainable. When approaching development, the LCF Group works with rural land and adds value without overdeveloping. Once the land and lots are developed, the Group sells the properties directly to the buyer. Their subdivided lots and large tracts have supplied space for housing of all types, small farmettes, and large-scale agriculture.

LCF Group helps people find their dream lot or tract, even if it’s not

20 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

a current offering of LCF. LCF also leases various properties, homes, and offices to meet the growing demand for places in Floyd, with vacancies posted online and to social media.

Wallace says LCF has built its reputation by working directly with people. “Talk to anybody in Floyd County, and there will be a different thread that leads to LCF. Some still remember the Brookfield Christmas tree farm and the hayrides. Also, many have homes on land that was developed by LCF.” One of the best-known Floyd properties owned and developed by LCF is Chantilly Farm. Chantilly has served ten seasons as a premier events venue and camping destination. Now, this gorgeous twohundred acres is under new ownership and has been newly named, “Floyd Family Campground” (FFC).

A company specializing in the development of campgrounds made the purchase and plans are in the works to expand the camping and glamping options.

To help them move forward, the new owners have kept former Chantilly manager, Christian Cromer, on board as General Manager.

In addition to being the son of LCF’s Dee Wallace, Cromer was around more than ten years ago when the first shovel broke ground on Chantilly Farm. “It’s good to have the background,” says Cromer, who is very much looking forward to how Floyd Family Campground will develop.

After having spent most of his ten years in the office, he will finally have his boots on the ground, taking a more active part in the development.

“There will be a heavy focus on lodging,” says Cromer, explaining that four of the Chantilly cabins have already been renovated and updated with AC units and kitchens. There are also plans for updating

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

the bunkhouses. “There are other developments in the works, too” he continues. “We’ll be working with Paul Sullivan on more hiking and biking trails.”

Cromer and his team at FFC is working tirelessly to serve existing and new RV’ers, tent campers, groups, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Since peak season is currently underway and the fall “leaf peepers” are set to arrive soon, in-person customer service and COVID-initiated touchless check-ins are ongoing.

Everyone is curious about the latest developments, as well as the future of the property. Floyd Family Campground has updated contact information on the chantillyfarm.com website and they make regular posts to social media as Floyd Family Campground.

The former owners at LCF look on with interest, too, as they reflect on the past ten-plus years, which included surviving through many months of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

“We feel blessed,” says Wallace, “that some of our offerings, specifically camping and outdoor recreation, continued to be in demand throughout 2020 when many events businesses came to a literal halt, with no revenues whatsoever. We felt we could still engage our base and encourage people through a difficult time. Certainly, we commend FFC for their bravery in coming into a tough business climate and seeing their way forward.”

Both groups are proud of the campground and venue which has hosted a variety of events over the years: concerts and festivals, outdoor recreation events, weddings, reunions, and more. The annual Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, hosted from 2011 until 2019, brought the biggest names in Bluegrass and mountain music to Floyd, earning it a reputation as one of the best Bluegrass festivals on the East Coast. The annual Floyd Auto Fair resumed at the Farm this year, and still to come are the Floyd Livestock and County Fair, as well as the VW Bus Campout in September. Power Up Plenty!/Tour de Dirt and the annual Floyd Chamber Spooktacular are also on the schedule for October, providing no restrictions prohibit them.

The trail system that was developed through the woodland acres, as well as the 9-hole disc golf course, have both been healthy activity options over these many months. “The trails at Chantilly are currently the only trails open to mountain bikes in the whole county of Floyd,” says Floyd County resident and bike enthusiast, Paul Sullivan. “I know I am biased from being the builder of a number of these trails, but they really are fun and if you do them all you can get in over six miles, which is pretty significant.”

“It’s exciting to see that this project will take on a new life in the coming years,” says former events director, Jason Gallimore. “And it’s pretty remarkable to look back and see what we’ve been able to accomplish here over the last decade.”

During the transition of ownership, information about lodging, facilities, and events at the new Floyd Family Campground can still be accessed online by searching Chantilly Farm. To directly access the new website, visit floydfamilycampground.com.

The LCF Group offers visitors a home base for their Parkway Adventure. Tenants may stay in a transitional/seasonal space while they travel, look for land or home, or while they wait to build. Full hook up (30/50 amp) spaces are provided for RV or tiny home parking. To learn more and see the latest offerings from the LCF Group, visit virginiamountainland.com, or visit the LFC offices in person at 129 Needmore Lane in Floyd.

LCF Group • David Larsen, Gaynell Larsen, and Dee Wallace www.virginiamountainland.com • 540-808-4984 129 Needmore Lane, Floyd, VA Floyd Family Campground • 540-251-2250 www.floydfamilycampground.com 2697 Franklin Pike SE, Floyd, VA

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 21

Pat Sharkey Retires as Floyd’s First Tourism Director Floyd County’s very first Tourism Director, Pat Sharkey, retired from her position at the end of July after serving for eight years. Jewelrymaker and owner of Earth Dance Jewelry and Gems, Pat was also active and involved in the arts, as well as Floyd community-building efforts.

This included community service with multiple nonprofit organizations such as The Jacksonville Center for the Arts, Sustain Floyd, and the Blue Ridge Center for Chinese Medicine. She also worked for the state’s Round the Mountain program which resulted in the development of art tourism trails in the organization’s Southwest Virginia coverage area.

And finally, Pat also served as the Program Manager for a federally funded, employability enhancement program in Floyd.

John McEnhill, Executive Director of the Floyd Chamber of Commerce, has a long history of working with Pat. Not only was Pat a Chamber of Commerce board member, but when McEnhill was the Floyd Art Center’s Executive Director, Pat was the Center’s long-time Winterfest Coordinator, as well as the coordinator of the Floyd County Artisan Trail Tour.

“She was an excellent fit as the first tourism director,” says McEnhill, “given her experience, knowledge of Floyd, and extensive connections in the Floyd Community. She was able to hit the ground running with many highly effective working relationships already in place. It seems like she knows just about every other person in Floyd.”

One of Sharkey’s first accomplishments was creating the county’s first dedicated tourism website, which has become a go-to resource for both visitors and residents. It has a comprehensive calendar 22 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

listing events and activities, as well as local business information and resources, and economic development support.

She also worked in partnership with the Chamber to establish the fully staffed Floyd Visitor Center; open seven days a week and located near the stoplight in downtown Floyd. She had a significant role in the development or expansion of many events, such as the Floyd County Health Fair and the Floyd County Livestock and County Fair. She tirelessly set up and staffed booths to promote Floyd County at events such as the Bluegrass Festival, FloydFest, the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Conference and Festival, and Yoga Jam. Sharkey effectively utilized many funding opportunities to create themed promotional campaigns in Floyd, such as “50 Years of Love” and “WanderLove”. She developed the Cycle Floyd initiative that created a cycling guide and other resources to support and promote cycling to focus on the outdoor recreation market in Floyd.

“Pat has helped numerous businesses in Floyd complete Virginia Tourism Corporation Marketing Leverage Grant (MLG) applications to bring thousands of marketing dollars into Floyd,” says Kayla Cox, Town Manager for Town of Floyd. “The town has worked closely with her on multiple successful MLG applications, including our tear-sheet walkable map project. She has poured her heart and soul into building relationships with our local businesses, regional stakeholders, and community members.”

Floyd County Community and Economic Development Director, Lydeana Martin, also has great respect and appreciation for Sharkey.

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Bella La Vita Inn An Extraordinary Bed and Breakfast Experience the Unexpected...

Floyd-Crafted Artisanal Chocolates Truffles ˜ Chocolate Drinks ˜ Coffee Baked Goods ˜ Artisanal Chocolate Bars 540-695-0224 • 109 E Main St, Floyd, VA Located across from the Floyd County Courthouse Locate Store Hours or Shop Online at

www.cocoamiachocolates.com

540-421-0433 •BellaLaVitaInn.com 582 New Haven Road SE, Floyd, VA

Zip the The Fall Colors! fall Ages 3 and up • Weight limit 275lbs

540-200-5234

zip@buffalomountainziplines.com

www.BuffaloMountainZiplines.com Located on Black Ridge Rd one mile off the parkway (one mile form Chateau Morrisette) MP 171.5 on BRP

Follow us on Facebook or check out our website for specials and events!

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 23

“Pat Sharkey has so much intelligence, wisdom, and heart for people that through her hard and strategic work, she did extraordinary things as our tourism director. I’ve had the honor of working with her on a few of those things, such as the Floyd Grown initiatives.

The Floyd Grown work included creating the logo to represent the tourism and economic development offices, providing technical support and mini grants to farm and forestryrelated businesses, and generating resources guides like Agritourism guides for visitors and how-to guides for businesses. It also has helped the Floyd Farmers Market create a robust online presence for local farmers to sell online.”

Sharkey also spearheaded critical programs during the pandemic. She created and managed the ShopFloydVA program to help local businesses set up or improve websites so they could sell online. She then linked those sites together at ShopFloydVA. org and marketed it aggressively.

“Pat had this vision for a long time,” says Martin, “of finding ways to ‘follow people home’ who have visited Floyd and fallen in love. How to get them to continue shopping from Floyd businesses and encouraging them to visit again. Now they can order gifts or their favorite items from Floyd no matter where they live, while being reminded to visit again at the same time.”

“Pat has been a tireless promoter of Floyd County,” says McEnhill. “Constantly sharing local events and news through the tourism office’s social media accounts, putting together local and regional advertising campaigns, and working with travel writers so that Floyd was featured in airline magazines and international media. She is a fierce advocate for Floyd in so many ways, always looking out for the best interests of our community, its businesses, and organizations. She was quick to offer her support to new businesses in Floyd, connecting them with resources to help them succeed.”

Lydeana Martin agrees. “Through all this Pat has directly helped so many farms, small shops, artists, artisans, accommodations, restaurants, venues, and more. She has truly been a gift to the people and businesses of Floyd County.”

John Brill, Publisher of Floyd Virginia Magazine, was often in contact with Sharkey.

When your magazine features stories about the people and businesses of Floyd, a great resource like Sharkey is almost essential.

“When I became the publisher of Floyd Virginia Magazine in 2018,” says Brill, “one of the first people I connected with was Pat. She is always amazingly helpful! With every issue, she has recommended businesses that are opening, or perhaps in some sort of interesting transition, such as opening a new location or experiencing a change of ownership. Very often that has resulted in articles being written about those businesses. It seems to me that Pat is always asking herself, ‘What else can I do?’

So much of what she does seems to be driven 24 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Pat Sharkey manning the Tourism Offices booth at Floyd Fest in 2017

toward answering that simple question.”

Stepping into the considerable footsteps of the pioneering tourism legend that is Pat Sharkey will be the new Tourism Director, Kathleen Legg. Legg brings to the position over five years of marketing and business experience within the nonprofit sector. She grew up in Roanoke and graduated from Roanoke College with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Kathleen joins the Tourism Department after working several years with Angels of Assisi in Roanoke.

It was there that Kathleen served as the

Director of Community Engagement and oversaw events, donor relations, grant writing, and communication efforts.

“As a travel destination, Floyd has an authentic feel that is full of stories,” said Kathleen. “I am excited about the opportunity to tell these stories, as well as utilize my marketing and business skills to help promote the growth of the community, and not only maintain but grow tourism in Floyd.”

Floyd Visitor Center • www.VisitFloydVA.com 540-745-4407 • info@visitfloydva.com.

In 2015, Pat Sharkey was the first recipient of the Business Leader of the Year award from Floyd Chamber of Commerce. From left to right: John McEnhill, Executive Director of the Floyd Chamber of Commerce; Pat Sharkey, Tourism Director; and Joy Gardner, 2015-17 Chamber President.

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

540-745-3700

Floyd’s Rural Property Specialists From 2 Ac to 600 Ac available!

Doug Phillips 540-320-1515 David Phillips 540-250-6730

PhillipsRealEstate@gmail.com PhillipsRealEstateVA.com NewRiverValleyLandSales.com 214 N. Locust Street (Only 700 feet from the Red Light)

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 25

Places Of of Interest Bent Mountain Mercantile Bent Mountain Bistro

Bent Mountain

Shawsville

Grateful Produce

Christiansburg

81

Radford

Floyd County, VA

AmRhein’s Wine Cellars

Apple Ridge Farm

Sinkland Farms Aly’s Restaurant

653

Buffalo & More

Fairview

Copper Hill Cakes & Goodies

Bent Mountain Lodge

Smith’s Grocery & Hardware

Blake Alexander

Riner

612

Check

Springhouse Community School

8

Snowville

642 Seven Springs Farm

Check Country Store

679 Whitlock’s Garage

The Eighty Four On the Water in Floyd

The Outpost

Bread Basket

s Will

Indian Valley

ge

Rid

Wills Ridge Supply Mickey G’s

Buffalo Mountain Brewing Company Pearce Heating & Air Slaughter’s Supermarket

Floyd Yoga Jam & Living Light River Studio Willis Village Mart

787

Dino’s

221

G.J. Ingram & Son ie nP t ica an er ur a Am est R ’s ey ses lan ou Du enh e Gr

Alum Ridge

787

221

Anahata Education Center

615

8

754

Copper Hill

T&E

Town of Floyd See Page 28 Blue Ridge Yurts

Wildwood Farms General Store C.W. Harman & Son

Streamline Timberframe

679 Floyd Family Campground

Griffith Lumber

Pine Tavern Lodge

Phoenix Hardwoods

Spencer’s Body Shop

681

e Ridg Blue y wa Park

Belle La Vita Inn

Rakes Mill Pond Roberson Mill

Willis

Tuggles Gap Restaurant & Motel

Buffalo Mountain Getaway Cottage

77 to

Buffalo Mountain Ziplines

799

Griffith Lumber Floyd Fest Grounds

Chateau Morrisette Winery

Villa Appalaccia Winery & Vineyard

8 Woolwine

Roads Also Roads

Mabry Mill

Blue Ridge Parkway

58

County Border

Country Road Realty

U.S. Hwy 81

0

Jerry & Connie’s House of Collectibles

Meadows of Dan

In Meadows of Dan: • Blue Ridge Visitor’s Center • Poor Farmers Market • Jane’s Country Cafe • Poppy’s • Concord Country Store

6 Miles

26 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Schoolhouse Located on Route 8 in the town of Floyd.

Fabrics A Sewing Paradise

The old school building converted into three floors of almost all types of fabrics available and craft supplies!

PLUS! An additional building of upholstery fabrics and supplies!

540-745-4561

30 minutes from Floyd on 221 North Fall/Winter 2021-2022

220 North Locust St. Floyd, VA facebook.com/schoolhouse.fabrics www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 27

To R

iner

Mickey G’s

Oak Haven Lodge

T&E Small Engine Stonehaven Inn

bs M

Web

Buffalo Mountain Brewing Company

ad N

Christian sburg Pik

e

ill Ro

Citizens Telephone

221

8

Bu ffa Co lo He m F pan mp Au loyd y tov J e ille we Au lry to R & epa ir

y Grille

Parkwa North L

Schoolhouse Fabics

Penn Rd

ocust S

St

Bell Gallery Jonesburg Pepper Company

in St est Ma

W

ic’s

Ch To Willis

221

es

u ntiq

A

ounty Floyd C ociety al S Historic Tattoo the Sun Under allery ggie G The Ma

treet

Lichen or Knot W Oxford

k

hec

To C

ile ant

ffi ra

eT

Th

t

igh

cL

E Oxford

erry

Barb

Rd

East M

Old Church Gallery

Floyd Cocoa Visitor Mia Center

Floyd Elementary School

rc

Me

ffee

ain St

Findersrs Keepe

Hotel Th eS Floyd tore tat S i o y r n* e s unt u o o C S tic adh yd Ro he At Q Lo Flo n t cu w B o n B i t st g Do ngels ootleg St .

A B t wM

St

DJ’s Drive In Blu e Alc Ridg Flo hem e yd y Ma XPre rke ss t

R Po ed R st O oo ffic ster e Co

Ne

• Tilted Tulip • Floyd Press • Little Dress Shop

The Traffic Light

28 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Floyd Center for the Arts June Bug Center

s Gap

Also Roads

8

Blue Ridge Yurts

Tuggle

Roads

*At The Station • A New Leaf Gallery • Troika • Farmer’s Market

ad

Floyd

Floyd County High School

Ro s Gap Wood

The Town of

Baker St

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

INC

benders n i T

Call us for all your heating & cooling needs:

• Service & Maintenance

• Installation

• Gas, Oil, Wood Furnaces

540-334-5841 www.tinbendersinc.com • tinbenders@tinbendersinc.com

• High Efficiency Heat Pumps

Use the earth to heat and cool your home!

Ask us about Geothermal!

Tim Telling

Office: 276-952-6582 • Cell: 540-695-0522

timtellingrealty@gmail.com • www.CountryRoadRealtyVA.com

“LET US TAKE YOU HOME” 646B JEB Stuart Highway • Meadows of Dan, VA 24120

Mon, Wed, & Sat 9-5 Tue, Thu, & Fri 9-6 • Closed Sun

540-745-5382

2167 Webbs Mill RD • Floyd, VA

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 29

Directory Location

Contact Info

Phone

Location

Contact Info

Phone

A New Leaf Gallery

www.ANewLeafGallery.com

540-745-7367

Floyd Jewelry

facebook.com/FloydJewelry

540-745-4653

All Pest Control & Solutions

www.GoAllPest.com

540-382-3181

G.J. Ingram & Son

540-745-3201

American Pie Restaurant

www.AmericanPieRestaurant.com

540-745-2501

Grateful Produce

540-988-6318

AmRhein’s Wine Cellars

www.Amrheins.com/fine-wine

540-929-4632

Griffith Lumber Company

276-692-8754

Anahata Education Center

www.AnahataEducationCenter.com

540-745-5811

Jerry & Connie’s House of Collectibles facebook.com/MeadowsOfDanAntiques 276-952-1095

Artisan Trail

www.FloydArtCenter.org/Artisan-Trail

540-745-7333

Lichen or Knot

www.LichenOrKnot.com

Autoville Auto Repair

540-745-4224

McHale Arborscape

facebook.com/ShaneMcHalesArborscape 540-810-1845

Bell Gallery and Garden

540-745-4494

Mickey G’s Bistro

www.MickeyGsBistro.com

540-651-2500

New Mountain Mercantile of Floyd facebook.com/MercantileofFloyd

540-745-4278

www.BentMountainLodgeBedAndBreakfast.com

On the Water in Floyd

www.OnTheWaterInFloyd.com

540-838-1877

Bent Mountain Mercantile

www.BentMountainMercantile.com

540-929-8046

Parkway Grille

facebook.com/ParkwayGrilleVA

540-745-4770

Blake Alexander

www.BlakeAlexanderDesign.com

540-750-6510

Pearce Heating & Air

facebook.com/PearceHeatingAndAir

540-745-4912

Blue Ridge Alchemy

facebook.com/BlueRidgeAlchemy

540-745-4904

Pine Tavern Lodge

www.ThePineTavernLodge.com

540 745 4428

Blue Ridge Yurts

www.BlueRidgeYurts.com

540-745-7458

Pine Tavern Restaurant

www.ThePineTavern.com

540-745-4482

Bread Basket

facebook.com/BreadBasket.floydva

540-745-5382

Phillips Real Estate

www.PhillipsRealEstateVA.com

540-745-3700

Buffalo and More

www.BuffaloAndMore.com

540-381-9764

Phoenix Hardwoods

www.Phoenix-Hardwoods.com

540-745-7475

Buffalo Hemp Company

www.TheBuffaloHempCompany.com

540-745-8242

Poppy’s

MODpoppys.com

276-952-8370

Buffalo Mountain Brewing Co

www.BuffaloMountainBrewery.com

540-745-2491

Rorrer Well Drilling

www.RorrerDrilling.com

540-745-6448

Buffalo Mountain Adventures

www.BuffaloMtnAdv.com

540-755-0910

Schoolhouse Fabrics

facebook.com/Schoolhouse.Fabrics

540-745-4561

Buffalo Mountain Ziplines

www.BuffaloMountainZiplines.com

540-200-5234

SETEC

C.W. Harman & Son

www.CWHarmanAndSon.com

540-745-2252

Slaughters’ Supermarket

540-745-2908

Carter and Company Insurance jcarterinsurance@outlook.com

540-267-5054

Spencers Body Shop

540-745-5880

Chateau Morrisette Winery

540-593-3647

Sticks & Stones Construction

540-763-2003

Chestnut Springs Retreat

540-745-2345

StoneHaven Inn

www.StoneHavenbnbfloyd.com

540-745-4018

Citizens

www.Citizens.coop

800-941-0426

Streamline Timberframe

www.StreamlineTimberframe.com

540-230-5505

Cocoa Mia

facebook.com/CocoaMiaChocolates

540-695-0224

Sweet Providence - Tree Farm

www.Facebook.com/SweetProvidenceFarm 540-525-8444

Concord Corner Store

facebook.com/ConcordCornerStore

276-952-3400

T & E Small Engine

www.TESmallEngine.com

540-745-8383

Country Road Realty

www.CountryRoadRealtyVA.com

276-952-6582

The Maggie

www.TheMaggieGallery.com

540-745-8000

Crockett Home Improvement

www.CrockettHomeImp.com

540-382-8747

The Schroeder Law Firm, PC

www.Schroeder-Law.com

540-745-4435

DeHart Tile Co

www.DeHartTile.com

540-382-3271

The Woodshed

540-320-3057

Dogtown Roadhouse

www.DogtownRoadhouse.com

540-745-6836

Thomas & Wall Real Estate

www.ThomasWallRE.com

540-745-8973

Dulaney’s Greenhouse

www.DulaneyGreenhouse.swva.net

540-745-2994

Tinbenders Inc

www.TinbendersInc.com

540-334-5841

Edward Jones - David Cross

www.EdwardJones.com/David-Cross

540-745-6851

Tuggles Gap Restaurant

www.TugglesGap.biz

540-745-3402

Elma’s Corners

www.ElmasCorners.com

540-230-8451

Troika Contemporary Crafts

www.TroikaCrafts.com

540-745-8764

Farm Credit of the Virginias

www.FarmCreditOfVirginias.com

540-745-2071

Under the Sun Tattoo

www.UnderTheSunTattoo.com

540-745-3080

Farmer’s Market / Sustain Floyd www.SustainFloyd.org

540-745-7333

United Country Real Estate

www.EdGallimore.com

540-230-9090

Floyd Center for the Arts

facebook.com/FloydArts

540-745-2784

Upon the Earth Construction

facebook.com/UponTheEarthServices

540-239-2362

Floyd County Historical Society

www.FloydHistoricalSociety.org

540-745-3247

Villa Appalaccia Winery & Vineyard www.VillaAppalaccia.com

540-593-3100

Floyd Country Store

www.FloydCountryStore.com

540-745-4563

Whitlock’s Garage

540-745-3585

Floyd County Tourism Office

www.VisitFloydVA.com

540-239-8509

Wildwood Farms General Store

540-745-5155

Floyd Family Campground

www.FloydFamilyCampground.com

540-251-2250

Willis Village Mart

540-789-7241

Floyd Hemp Factory

www.FloydHempFactory.com

540-789-2665

Wills Ridge Supply

540-745-2044

Floyd Humane Society

www.FloydHumaneSociety.org

540-745-7207

www.BellGalleryAndGarden.com

Bent Mountain Lodge Bed and Breakfast Inc

www.TheDogs.com

30 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

www.GriffithLumber.net

540-267-6556 540-745-2208

www.SoilAndEnvironmentalTechnology.com 540-381-0309

www.WildwoodFarmsDaylilies.com www.WillsRidge.com

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

SETEC

SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.

(540) 381-0309 • (540) 392-8049

• Professional soil consulting and soil survey for rural land development and conservation • Evaluation, design, and inspection of conventional and alternative septic systems • Perc Testing, Environmental Consulting, soil sampling and analysis

Professional Soil Scientists since 1989

www.SoilAndEnvironmentalTechnology.com Virginia Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators (AOSE) • Member VA Association of Professional Soil Scientists

Blue Ridge Land & Auction Co., Inc

Real Estate is Fun & Exciting in Floyd County

Ed Gallimore, Asso. Broker www.edgallimore.com

540-230-9090

Specializing in HVAC Installation & Repair: Oil Furnaces, Gas Heat, Heat Pump, Electric, & More!

Heating & Air Serving Floyd & the NRV for Over 25 years!

• Residential or Commercial • New Install or Maintenance Existing

Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning Service

540-745-4912

• Professional • Competitive Pricing • Trustworthy

Licensed & Insured

PearceService@gmail.com • Robert Pearce - Owner/Master Technician

24 Hour Emergency Service!

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 31

Televisions arrived in the American home bringing new traditions for families across the nation. The Wonderful World of Disney aired on Sunday evenings, bringing advertisements for enticing products to a growing consumer society.

The service hat from the U.S.S. Floyd County. This ship was commissioned in 1944 and delivered the first nuclear bomb to the Pacific.events perched on this bench and chatting with friends and family.

Honoring Korean War Veterans and Celebrating 1950’s America in Floyd County: The Floyd County Historical Society Exhibit Focuses on the Eisenhower Years

By Sheilah Elwardani The current exhibit at the Floyd Historical Society explores the dynamic world of 1950’s America in Floyd County and honors the men who served in the Korean War. The end of World War II brought tremendous change to the United States and the world: new global threats, economic growth on an unprecedented scale, and the U.S. emergence as a global peace-keeping force bent on stopping the threat of communism. Also, domestically dramatic shifts in gender roles and racial desegregation began to offer opportunities previously denied to some groups. The Floyd County Historical Society brings this dynamic period to life through the experience of Floyd’s citizens in the post-WWII era.

For the American citizen, the 1950’s brought hope and prosperity on a previously unimaginable scale.

Meanwhile, for the American soldier serving on the Korean peninsula, the threat of communist expansion became a cold, hard reality in a brutally hot war.

Going back to April 12, 1945, Harry Truman had no idea that he would approve the dropping of the 32 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

The Korean War uniform of Floyd County native, Billy Brammer.

atomic bombs on Japan when he was sworn into office. The exhibit at the Floyd County History Museum begins with the ending of the war in the Pacific.

The U.S.S. Floyd County was commissioned on August 11, 1944 in recognition of all the Floyd Counties in the United States, and it was this ship that transported the first atomic bomb to the Pacific Theater in anticipation of Japan refusing a peaceful surrender.

The exhibit features the hat of a Floyd County Navy veteran who served on the U.S.S. Floyd, attending the delivery of the bomb. At the time, the shipmen certainly had no idea of the magnitude of the cargo they carried. The exhibit then leads the visitor through the military and developing Cold War period which culminated in the Korean Conflict.

Floyd County lost at least two servicemen in the Korean War. Private First Class, Rufus Pleasant Craighead was killed in action during the retreat from the Chosin Reservoir. His body was never recovered. Carl Lawson was killed in action in May of 1953, just one month before the armistice was signed that ended the conflict in practice. It’s a Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Glass Gallery/Studio

r o F n Fu ryone!

Ev e

Delicious Craft Beers!

Food Specials!

Family Friendly!

Live Music!

Bring your pup!

540-745-2491 332 Webbs Mills Rd N, Floyd VA www.BuffaloMountainBrewery.com

• Live Glass Blowing • Visionary Art • Workshops Available • Artisan Made Gifts • Jewelry • Crystals

540-745-4904 BlueRidgeAlchemy.net 115 Sweeney St SE Floyd VA

@kenantiemeyer

All Natural Hemp Products!

@Liquidfireglass

We follow all natural and organic growing principals to create the very best Full Spectrum Hemp Extract related products!

www.FloydHempFactory.com

540-789-2665 • info@floydhempfactory.com Fall/Winter 2021-2022

We are licensed growers and processors of industrial hemp in Floyd County, Virginia.

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 33

The booming economy brought a multitude of new products into the American home, including hair dryers and vacuum cleaners.

The rotary phone, party lines, and the ‘gossip bench’.

Floyd County native, Connie Mitchell, remembers her mother keeping abreast of current Floyd County events while perched on this bench and chatting with friends and family.

matter of record, however, that no official peace declaration was ever signed. The uniform of Floyd County Korean War veteran, Billy Brammer, will be on display, as well as photos of several more Floyd County servicemen.

The exhibit explores the products and devices which first entered the American home in the post WWII years.

The war effectively, and finally, ended the Great Depression, and the post-war years saw a booming U.S. economy fueled by massive, war-time industrial expansions. A consumer economy developed rapidly as a growing portion of the population earned an income high enough to purchase new luxury goods. Cars, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and hair dryers found their way into American homes. The exhibit features many of the new items which dramatically changed American life: home hair dryers, roller skates, and the arrival of a television set in nearly every American home.

The exhibit then turns the visitors’ attention to the Polio outbreaks which raged across the globe during the early to mid-1900s. Although the presence of the virus has been recorded throughout human history, a means of identifying and preventing the virus had been beyond the reach of medicine until the 1950’s. The development of sterilizing vaccines for deadly viruses such as smallpox, however, finally led to the medical breakthrough of a sterilizing vaccine to prevent polio. This vaccine first became available to American, and Floyd citizens in 1955.

Floyd County doctors led the charge to protect children from the often-disabling disease. Floyd County’s own Ellen Walach Vest became the poster child for the March of Dimes; an organization dedicated to supporting children and families impacted by polio. The exhibit explores the impacts of polio on Floyd County and the work of local doctors, as well as the March of Dimes, in the effort to end

polio in the nation.

The current exhibit honors and celebrates and brilliant, vital, and often sobering history of the 1950’s in Floyd County while honoring the men who served with valor on the Korean Peninsula. This exhibit walks visitors through the history of the post-World War II years, beginning with delivery of the first atomic bomb to the Asian theater on board the U.S.S. Floyd, then progressing through the Korean War and Floyd County’s contribution to the war effort. Visitors will then explore the changing of life and developing consumer culture which blossomed in 1950’s America.

“This exhibit allows you to step back in time and imagine life in Floyd County during the Truman and Eisenhower years. From the building of backyard bomb shelters under the fear of nuclear attack, to the social struggle to desegregate schools, this exhibit will take you back to 1950’s Floyd and illuminate the good, the bad, the heartbreaking, and the hope-giving world of 1950’s America.”

This exhibit will be available for viewing at 217 North Locust Street in Floyd. The museum is open April through December: Thursdays and Fridays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, and Saturdays from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

Due to the impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic the current exhibit will continue to grow and evolve through the Summer and Fall of 2022. Be sure to stop in and explore this rich period in American, and Floyd County, history.

34 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

The Floyd County Historical Society 217 North Locust Street, Floyd, VA www.floydhistoricalsociety.org • 540-745-3247 info@floydhistoricalsociety.org Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Cabin Rental Step back 100 years and enjoy the Mountains as they were when things were uncomplicated!

You can stay in an original wormy chestnut log cabin home and enjoy the comforts of modern convenience in a beautiful mountain setting. The cabin has been beautifully restored and is fully furnished with a full kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath.

Relax by the fire at night and settle in comfortably!

1/2 Mile from the Stop Light in Floyd $100 per night $400 per week!

Chestnut Springs Rd NW, Floyd Virginia

540-745-2345 • 540-250-1993

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 35

Photo by Kelly Phillips Photography

Sweet Providence Farm Makes Christmas Dreams Come True On a ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains during November and December, you can discover the rapid transition from late Autumn to early Winter. Through a carpet of fallen reds, oranges, and golds, evergreen pines master the landscape. The cool, frost-covered mornings and crisp, clear air give way to ice and blankets of snow. It’s the kind of scene that beckons the refrains of holiday tunes to the mind and to the lips. And if your Blue Ridge Mountain adventure brings you close to Route 8 from the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will surely want to take a detour into Floyd, Virginia.

Floyd Virginia is a bastion for many unforgettable holiday traditions: beautiful scenes fit for Christmas cards, sweet memorymaking at the local shops, music from all the town’s venues, and of course, the Christmas tree farms.

Folks living in Floyd can see that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when Floyd-grown Christmas trees begin their annual journey to retail lots and garden centers throughout the region.

But not all the trees are destined to join their fellows on the trailers.

At Sweet Providence Farm, trees are waiting for you to come and discover them!

Just imagine walking through frosty hills among thousands 36 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

of firs, pines, and spruces. Each has its own delightful scent and uniquely beautiful color. Each carries its own distinctive style and arrangement of branches and needles. With each step, you come closer and closer to the only tree that will do to make your home the perfect winter wonderland.

Once you have found your perfect tree, the helpful farmhand workers will cut it down. While waiting, visitors are encouraged to browse the Sweet Providence Christmas store and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or locally roasted coffee. Rosy-cheeked children, beaming with excitement, can also enjoy the delicious assortments of locally made artisan cookies and candy! Visitors may also have their picture taken with Sweet Providence’s cranberry red, 1950’s pickup truck!

When the visit is done, the shopping bags are heavy with holiday treasures, and tummies are filled with warm, sweet treats, visitors and their perfect trees can journey home where lights and baubles await their chance to complete the Christmas vision.

Sweet Providence Farm began with a family whose love for Christmas evolved into an experience that many others in the community have come to enjoy.

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

• Auto • Home • Business • Life • Medicare Supplements

Garden Center & Christmas Shoppe • Annuals, Perennials • Trees, Shrubs, Mulch • Potting Soil • Stone Decor • Starter Plants

Carter and Company Insurance Agency Johnny Carter - Agent 201 East Main St, Suite 6 Floyd VA 540-267-5054 jcarterinsurance@outlook.com Fax: 540-301-1787

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

• Top Quality & Low Prices • Farmers Finest Produce • Butchers’ Best Meats • Deli & Fresh Bakery • Great Lunch Specials

We Carry a Wide Variety of Gardening Items and Decor!!

536 Floyd Highway S - (540) 745-2908

A Business Favorite of Floyd Locals!

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 37

John Paul Houston & John William Houston

In 1999, just before the turn of the millennium, John Paul Houston and his wife, Rainey, bought the farm at 3313 Floyd Highway North, in Floyd. It was their dream to raise their kids on the land. They raised free-range chickens, turkeys, cattle, pumpkins, and hogs; eventually building a farm store and bakery on top of the hill next to the house.

Long before the land was purchased, however, John Paul had worked for a local grocery store that also grew and sold Christmas trees. He had loved his job during those years. He especially admired and was inspired by the process of growing the trees.

Once the farm was successful and the family thriving, John Paul decided to reach back and re-experience what he’d loved so much about working with Christmas trees.

With a hopeful hand, he planted his first seedlings. It takes eight to twelve years to grow an average-sized Christmas tree, so John Paul had to wait to see the fruits of his labor.

While the Houston children and the trees grew, John Paul and Rainey tried various forms of agriculture to give their young ones the chance to learn hands-on farming. They raised animals and sold pumpkins, but in the end, the trees would be what worked the best.

The fields that once held cattle are now filled with trees, and the building that was once the farm market is now home to the Sweet Providence Farm Christmas Store.

In 2011, the Houston’s eldest son, John William, wanted to work in the tree business full time; exploring its potential in the regional Christmas tree market.

John William’s first step was to begin a father-son business partnership with his dad, John Paul. After three successful years of growth, John Paul felt the time was right to pass the business into the capable hands of his son.

John William Houston became the owner and manager of Sweet Providence Farm, and it remains a family business to this day. When sales are busy, visitors can still see much of the family, including John Paul and Rainey, working together.

John William and all the Houstons at Sweet Providence are always working to learn how to grow the best trees possible.

Native to the Southern Appalachian Mountains from southwest Virginia, through western North Carolina and into eastern Tennessee, the Fraser Fir is currently the most sought-after Christmas tree on the east coast. Even though it is now mostly seen on Christmas tree farms, one may still find wild Fraser Firs growing high and proud on many mountain tops with an elevation above five-thousand feet.

It’s said that the Fraser Fir is the Cadillac of Christmas trees. The 38 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

dark green, full-limbed, conical-shaped evergreen with its strong branches, irresistible fragrance, and great needle retention has made this tree a Christmas favorite. It’s been chosen more than any other kind of Christmas tree to decorate the White House!

Sweet Providence Farm takes advantage of Floyd’s prime growth factors for this tree. The high elevation, temperature, and adequate rainfall allow the Fraser Fir to thrive. And though Sweet Providence may have not yet had the honor of supplying a Fraser Fir to the White House, it was chosen for the honor of supplying a twelve-foot Christmas tree to the Virginia Governor’s mansion in both 2013 and 2019, as well as supplying wreaths in 2017.

The mission of Sweet Providence Farm and its Christmas Store is excellence from start to finish. Whether it’s fun, charming, nostalgic, picturesque, or all the above, Sweet Providence is always adding new things to excite their Holiday customers.

Last year, John William gave a festive coat of red paint to his grandfather’s 1951 Dodge pickup truck. The vehicle had been in the family for fifty years, starting as a firewood truck. When John William was young, he learned auto mechanics and restoration while working on the truck with his grandfather.

This year, customers can look forward to a fully restored, hundred-and-twenty-year-old sleigh! There will also be a new line of locally made pottery, ornaments, candles, and other fine crafts for sale in the Christmas store.

For those whose travels may not bring them to Floyd, Sweet Providence Farm has a precut tree lot in Southwest Roanoke, and on busy weekends, the lot will have as many as a hundred and fifty trees on display! Located in the parking lot of Kohl’s department store on Franklin Road, the Sweet Providence tree lot is easy to find with its thirty-five-foot inflatable Frosty the Snowman welcoming customers in. This year, the lot will open Saturday, November 20, and will remain open every day of the week through Christmas.

For those wishing the full Sweet Providence experience, you can find them at 3313 Floyd Hwy N in Floyd, Virginia. You can also find them online at www.roanokechristmastrees.com.

Sweet Providence Christmas Tree Farm & Christmas Store 3313 Floyd Hwy N, Floyd, VA • John William Houston SweetProvidenceFarm@gmail.com • 540-525-8444 www.Facebook.com/SweetProvidenceFarm

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Phoenix

Hardwoods Handcrafted from Virginia Hardwoods

2540 Floyd Hwy N Floyd VA 24091 540-745-7475 Phoenix-Hardwoods.com New Construction Remodeling • Additions Decks • Landscaping Snow Removal

Contact David Morris for your free estimate!

540-239-2362 upontheearthservices1@gmail.com

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Class A #2705123178a

Fast, Affordable Shelters for a Variety of Uses

540-745-7458 www.BlueRidgeYurts.com

Also check out FloydYurtLodging.com

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 39

Floyd VA Fall & Winter Happenings 2021 Located atop the magnificent Blue Ridge plateau in southwestern Virginia and spanning nearly forty miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Floyd is a haven of natural beauty, renowned for the hospitality of its people, and for a vibrant culture of music, arts, local foods and wines, and outdoor recreation. Autumn is a wonderful time to visit!

For more information about below and other events, go to VisitFloydVA.com or call the Visitor Center at 540-745-4407.

SAMPLING OF MAJOR EVENTS: Saturday, Sept. 11 • Floyd County Fair at Chantilly Farm www.FloydCountyFair.com Friday - Sunday, Sept. 17-19 Buses at Chantilly, VW Bus Campout www.FloydFamilyCampground.com Sunday, Sept. 19 • Farm to Table Dinner at Floyd EcoVillage www.FloydEventCenter.com/farm-dinner/ Sunday, Sept. 19 The Floyd Americana Festival at Warren G. Lineberry Park www.VisitFloydVA.com/event/the-floyd-americana-music-and-arts-festival

Saturday, Sept. 25 Fall Festival at Buffalo Mountain Brewery and McDaniel’s Tavern www.BuffaloMountainBrewery.com/ Saturday - Sunday, Oct. 2-3 Floyd Arts and Crafts Festival at Floyd County High School www.FloydCountyWomansClub.org

Thanksgiving weekend Christmas tree farms open for holiday trees and wreaths through Christmas Saturday, Dec. 11 Junior Sisk Band performing live at the Floyd Country Store www.FloydCountryStore.com

WEEKLY Music happens in the town and county Thursday through Sunday (Thursdays through August). Check with venues for 2021 updates. Sampling: • Floyd Country Store: Honky Tonk Thursdays starting at 6:00pm.

Friday Night Jamboree. Saturday American Afternoon music 12:00-3:00pm. Sunday afternoon Music Jams including Oldtime and Bluegrass.

• Buffalo Mountain Brewery: hosts free music many nights, Thursday through Saturday.

• Wildwood Farm General Store, an affiliate site of the Crooked Road, has free Bluegrass music every Saturday night throughout the year. Sunday Music Jams every first and third Sunday afternoons.

• Dogtown Roadhouse features music Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. They also offer Trivia Night every Thursday, downtown Floyd.

• Saturday and Sunday Sounds at Chateau Morrisette Winery.

Free music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the courtyard through October.

• Floyd Farmers Market every Saturday through November, 9:00am – 1:00pm, downtown Community Market.

Cycle Floyd

Saturday, Oct. 16 Tour De Dirt, off road bicycle event at Chantilly Farm www.PlentyLocal.org/tour-de-dirt/

Fall is perfect times to check out Floyd’s Floyd County Bike Guide /Map in print and on-line. Available at the Floyd Visitor Center and on VisitFloydVA.com.

Friday, Oct. 22 Surrender Dorothy performing live at Dogtown Roadhouse www.DogtownFloyd.com

NOTE: The above events are scheduled as of time of printing.

We suggest that you check with the event organizers -- and visit VisitFloydVA.com and check the calendar for continual updates.

Tuesday, Oct. 26 Spooktacular Gala at Chantilly Farm provided by the Floyd Chamber of Commerce www.FloydFamilyCampground.com

More information is available online at www.VisitFloydVA. com. Or, you can visit or contact our Floyd Visitor Center, open and staffed seven days week by calling 540-745-4407 or emailing info@visitfloydva.com.

Friday - Sunday, Nov. 26-28 16 Hands Art Tour, Thanksgiving weekend • www.16hands.com 40 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Ask about our Italian Supper Club!

Chef’s Choice & Family Style dining available

Wed - Sun 12PM - 8PM

Call us or Check our Facebook Page for Updated Summer Hours!

www.MickeyGsBistro.com 540-745-2208

From

Concept To Completion ROOFING • SIDING • DECKING • ADDITIONS • SUNROOMS TURNKEY HOMES • CONCRETE • TILE • PATIOS • PORCHES GARAGES • CARPORTS • BATHS • KITCHENS • COUNTERTOPS CUSTOM CABINETS • FLOORING • STAIRCASES FIREPLACES • LIGHTING • PLUMBING

540-382-8747

www.crocketthomeimp.com

1255 Radford St • Christiansburg, VA • Est. 1986 • Fully Licensed and Insured

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 41

Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts is a Dream Come True

By Vickie Holt When Teresa Harris was little, she’d gather the artificial flowers from around the family home, take them apart, and rearrange them in her own designs. It should have been a sign for all around that this little girl was destined to be a florist. But destiny would have to wait for some time.

Teresa is a true daughter of Floyd, coming from grandparents who were farmers in the area. The dew on the morning crops, the honey from the hives, and even the nectar from Floyd flowers ran in her veins.

And like the personification of the Floyd County community today, Teresa loved both the land and the spirit of creativity.

There wasn’t much creativity to be found, however, in Teresa’s life after school. She found employment at the local EZ Stop and worked there for seven years. At year five, though, she was able to supplement her income and stretch her creative wings with a part time job at a local florist shop.

The opportunity came about when a friend, Vickie Keith, approached Teresa for a favor. Vickie was getting married, but all the florists in the area seemed to be booked. Vickie was at a loss for what to do about wedding flowers. Teresa was willing to help but admitted she wouldn’t know how to make the arrangements.

It was then that Vickie Keith had a fateful brainstorm. She borrowed a design book from Cathy Battle at Sue’s Flower Shop. With the help of the book, Teresa was not only able to save the day for Vickie, but it was revealed that she possessed a natural talent. She was so gifted with flower design that Cathy hired her on, part time. Teresa worked for Sue’s from 1997 to 1999, and fell in love with it.

Eventually, however, she left both jobs and went to work for the 42 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Health Department in the New River Health District. For the next sixteen years, Teresa was a Resource Mother (RM) in a mentoring program for pregnant and parenting teens. There, she mentored over eight hundred girls in Floyd and Pulaski, working with them not only during their pregnancies, but also until their babies were a year old.

She also did car seat training in both counties.

It was while working in the RM program that Teresa married her husband, Roger, in 2011. She enjoyed being a wife and mother and she loved helping to provide for her family. But she also enjoyed the work that helped other families. “RM is a great program and I enjoyed it for many years.”

In 2015, however, Teresa became concerned that the grant which funded the program would be coming to an end. As fate would have it, though, a particularly irresistible opportunity arose at the same time.

Located at 106 West Main Street in Floyd, Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts, LLC, had come up for sale. “It was something that I had wanted to try for many years,” says Teresa. “I figured if I didn’t do it then, I would probably never get another chance. So, I jumped in with both feet!”

On January 1 of 2016, Teresa took ownership of the florist shop, keeping the name Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts. She simply dropped the “LLC”. She also left much of the business the same, only adding some handmade local items. “If it’s not broke, you don’t fix it!”

When reflecting back on her brief, part-time job at Sue’s, Teresa says, “everything you do helps prepare you to do things in the future whether you realize it or not.”

Teresa has always loved being creative, and with her natural talent for floral design, owning Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts was the perfect

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

A little something for everybody!

Unique Yarn, Gift, and Book Shop!

The Maggie Gallery

We have Alpaca Products!

276-952-8370 • MODpoppys.com 10 Concord Road • Meadows of Dan, VA

Griffith Lumber Co.

Inc.

“Call Stacy (276-692-8754) or Bud (276-692-5308) for your lumber or wood product needs. We make paneling and flooring with a rustic and unique flair.”

www.GriffithLumber.net www.GriffithLumber.net

Unique Local Art and Gifts and Custom Framing Services

540-745-8000

www.TheMaggieGallery.com 187 North Locust Street • Floyd, VA • 24072

1284 Charity Hwy, Woolwine, VA • 1399 Franklin Pike, Floyd, VA

Friendly Home Town Service!

C.W. Harman & Son is a family owned Farm and Building Supply business located in rural Floyd, Virginia. For over thirty years, they have offered a wide variety of competitively priced farm products and building materials.

2894 Floyd Hwy S • 540.745.2252 www.cwharmanandson.com

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Bird Feeders, Blades, Car Batteries, Cleaning Products, Concrete, Coveralls, Doors, Drywall, Electrical, Fencing, Fertilizer, Gravel, Heaters, Ladders, Lawn and Garden, Lumber, Mulch, Paint, Plumbing, Plywood, Pumps, Purina Feeds, Roofing Supplies, Rubber Boots, Sand, Tools, Trailers, Water Heaters, Water Filters, Windows, Wood Stoves, Vinyl Siding, and much, much, more!

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 43

next step in her life. The timing was perfect. Still, it was her first time owning a business, and for that, there was a learning curve.

“It’s been a learning experience,” says Teresa. She had been in management at other jobs, but it didn’t quite prepare her for ownership.

She had to learn the best way to handle money, how to order products, and how to predict inventory need against sales. “Owning my own business has really taught me a lot.”

It was an education that has really paid off. Today, Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts services not only the folks in Floyd, but also the outlying communities of Bent Mountain, Check, Copper Hill, Dugspur, Hillsville, Indian Valley, Laurel Fork, Meadows of Dan, Pilot, Stuart, Vesta, and Willis!

In addition to servicing these areas, Blue Ridge Florist also frequently delivers to popular facilities like Blue Ridge Nursing Home, Chateau Morrisette Winery, Gardner Funeral Home, Heritage Hall Nursing Home, Hotel Floyd, Landmark Assisted Living Center, Laurel Meadows Nursing Home, Maberry Funeral Home, Moody Funeral Home in Stuart, Pioneer Community Hospital of Patrick County, Primland, Skyline Manor Nursing Home, Warm Hearth Assisted Living Center and Nursing Facility in Hillsville, and Woodberry Inn. Teresa particularly likes arranging sympathy designs for the folks in the area. Times of bereavement are difficult on us all, but Teresa hopes that the flowers can bring a little comfort to those who have been left behind.

For other occasions, Teresa has two more talented designers on board. Originally from Willis, Carla Britt does most of the weddings, using both fresh flowers and silks. Hailing all the way from Pittsburg, Suzy Hastings specializes in fresh arrangements. All three ladies keep up to date with the latest trends in popular colors and designs.

44 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Though customers are always asked for preference of flower or color, most go with designer’s choice. Teresa has found, however, that the folks in Floyd like the wildflower look – something more natural.

While most of the flowers at are sourced from TFS in Roanoke, Teresa tells us that they support local farmers by sourcing as much as possible from local growers during the summer. Teresa’s favorite flower is the free-spirit rose.

In addition to Carla and Suzy, Teresa’s whole family pitches in to help. Roger loads up the orders and delivers them, while the kids, Sarah Keith and Jamie Howell, drop by occasionally to lend a hand. Even Teresa’s granddaughter, Miya Keith, helps out! It’s a real family affair.

Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts offers plants, flowers, and silks, both in-store and for ordered delivery. They also offer a selection of gift items such as balloons and plush animals. Though there is already a scattering of local crafts on the walls and the shelves, Teresa hopes to incorporate more ideas in the future that will complement the flowers and attract more walk-in customers. After all, Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts is so much more than orders and delivery. It’s a family endeavor.

It’s a dream. It’s a place filled with the beauty of nature and crafted beauty wrought by the hands of Floyd.

Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts is located at 106 West Main Street in downtown Floyd near the stoplight. The store is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and by appointment or chance on Saturdays. You can also follow on Facebook by searching Blue-RidgeFlorist-and-Gifts.

Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts • Teresa Harris 106 West Main Street, Floyd, VA www.FloydFlorist.com • 540-745-3655

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Bent Mountain Lodge Bed and Breakfast Inc. Lodge, Pavilion and Gazebo Suites for Weddings & Reunions!

Owned and Operated by Bonnie and Jesse Lawrence

Wildwood Farms General Store

9039 Mountain View Drive, Copper Hill, VA 540-651-2500 • mscmom74@swva.net

www.BentMountainLodgeBedandBreakfast.com

Unique Gifts, Home & Garden Decor

Tim Telling

One of the largest daylily gardens in VA! 5 minutes from the town of Floyd!

Enjoy A Delicious Meal From Our Kitchen!

Check our website for our complete menu, music schedule, & daylily price list!

Call us or check Facebook for current hours!

timtellingrealty@gmail.com • www.CountryRoadRealtyVA.com

540-745-5155

“LET US TAKE YOU HOME”

2380 Floyd Highway South • Floyd, VA 24091

Office: 276-952-6582 • Cell: 540-695-0522

646B JEB Stuart Highway • Meadows of Dan, VA 24120

www.WildwoodFarmsFloyd.com

Gas - Diesel - Propane Exchange - Hardware

WILLIS VILLAGE MART

Your LOCAL One Stop Shop • 32 Years in Floyd County

Groceries • FRESH Produce • Seasonal Plants & Fruits

es & LOCAL Win eers!

60+ Craft B

D BOAR’S HEAes es Meats & Che

OPEN 7 DAYS - 5602 Floyd HWY S. Willis VA - (540) 789-7241 11 SCENIC MILES SW OF THE STOP LIGHT

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

facebook.com/MercantileofFloyd/ Seafood & Fresh Cut USDA Steaks!

540-745-4278

114 S Locust St. Floyd, Virginia Mon- Fri 11AM-5PM • Sat 10AM-5PM • Sun 12-3PM www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 45

A Family’s Shared Love of Antiques is Behind New Antique Store in Riner

By Vickie Holt Originally from West Virginia, Mary and Jeremy Ridenour relocated to the area in order to pursue careers as Veterinary Technicians at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg. Hailing specifically from Beckley, Mary and her two sisters lived in a beautiful, historic house that their parents had restored. Meanwhile, about three hours north along I-19 and I-79, Jeremy was born and raised in Fellowsville. Jeremy’ s young life was spent on a hundred-and-twenty-acre farm that his family had worked for generations.

One thing their early lives had in common was that both sets of parents loved collecting and antiques. And so it was that antique surroundings and traditions would be the backdrop against which both Mary and Jeremy would enter the world and find one another.

It had been a difficult decision to move away from their families, but both felt the choice of accepting positions at the College of Veterinary Medicine had been a good one. Jeremy continues to work there full time as a supervisor, but after working ten years in the small animal intensive care unit, Mary felt it was time to take 46 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

her life in a new direction.

The couple had adopted two sons, and though Mary greatly appreciated her experience with both the amazing animals and her supportive colleagues, she felt it was time to take a step back and focus more on her young family.

To help with the new order of her life, the couple decided to fulfill a long-term goal they’d been discussing for years. Both Mary and Jeremy love antiques, and they had dreamed about opening an antique store one day. “One day,” however, has so often meant “never” in the lives of others. “If you wait for the perfect time,” says Jeremy, “it’ll never happen.”

Blake Alexander Primitives, Antiques, and More opened on April 20, 2021. Located at 1917 Union Valley Road in Riner, the store’s name comes from the middle names of the Ridenours’ two sons, Fynn Alexander and Wyatt Blake. The names were chosen to honor the boys’ grandfathers.

Situated in the Floyd-adjacent, Montgomery County, the modest storefront began its existence as an antique store back in the late

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Full Service Restaurant!

Patio Seating • Indoor Seating • Carry Out • Curb Side • Catering

1980’s. Since then, it has been a storage facility for a flooring company, and the offices for a real estate company. Now, the building has returned to its roots, once again housing a collection of memories from yesteryear.

Blake Alexander’s was founded on a passion for family collections and heirlooms. Mary and Jeremy both come by their love of collecting honestly, each having inherited it from their parents. This is evidenced in Mary’s impressive collection of Raggedy Ann and Andy memorabilia, as well as Jeremy’s collection of old tools and farm implements.

This shared admiration for all things antique has led to more than a few family journeys to visit the dozens of antique and collectible stores scattered around Virginia and West Virginia, as well as throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

Family time for the Ridenours has always been top priority. Now, that special together-time also includes searching as a family for the rare items that can make their store a unique destination for those seeking special treasures to check off their wish list.

“You never know what will cross your path,” says Jeremy, “and with each piece, there is an opportunity to learn.”

Jeremy explains that it’s difficult to know anything about something you’ve never seen before. When they find something unusual in another antique store, however, there is often someone there to tell them all about it. Likewise, when local folks bring things by Blake Alexander’s, they are happy

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Bison Meat for Sale!

Great Housemate Sides and Desserts!

4041 Riner Road • Riner, VA

540-381-9764 To see our full menu, google “Buffalo And More Restaurant” and click on the menu

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 47

to tell the tale of what the object is, how it was used, what era it was from, and how much it meant to their parents or grandparents.

“Wow! That really takes me back!” is a sentiment uttered by both customers and store owners almost every day.

Jeremy tells a story of a retired fire chief from Radford visiting the store one day. The man immediately homed in on a pair of antique fire extinguishers. Not only was the man able to tell the Ridenours all about the extinguishers and how they were used, but he also returned to the store with several pieces from his own extensive collection of fire memorabilia! Those items now make up a beautiful display at Blake Alexander’s.

Though the Ridenours source from other antique shops to select the special items for their store, many of the antiques come from customers who visit and say they have something perfect. A unique item the couple must see.

It happens on almost a daily basis, and in this way, they have seen things they never thought would have ever been in their possession.

Through all the conversations with the expert owners of precious antique treasures, Mary and Jeremy have continued to broaden their knowledge of all things antique.

In addition to the items they come by organically, the Ridenours also get requests for specific antiques or primitives. This drives them to further expand their skillsets and knowledge while also producing sincerely satisfied customers.

Mary and Jeremy thoroughly enjoy discussing the antiques with their patrons, and they take great pride in putting quality products into the hands and homes of others who will cherish them for years.

Having the odd piece, the conversation-starting piece, or even a simple piece displayed in a must-have manner is a great source of pride at the store.

A specialty vision at Blake Alexander’s is to embrace the concept of incorporating antique items into everyday home and outdoor décor. This use of antique items for everyday décor is partly behind 48 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

the Ridenour’s desire to open Blake Alexander Primitives, Antiques, and More. They want to share that same joy and style with others.

Though the Ridenours and their customers share a love of antiques, Mary and Jeremy also enjoy mixing the old with the new.

They like adding modern pieces to accent the antique decor that so often invokes fond, childhood memories.

To this end, support for local businesses and artisans has been incorporated into Blake Alexander’s. The store proudly showcases a wide range of local products such as handmade cutting boards, wine racks, jewelry, raw honey, metal art, and various crafts.

The Ridenours have been amazed by, surprised by, and thoroughly pleased with the true talents that abound in the area. They tell us they will continue looking for and partnering with local artisans whose wares can complement their store. They enjoy being part of a small community, and they spend as much time as possible visiting local destinations and supporting local businesses along the way.

Mary and Jeremy have lived on a small hobby farm in Riner for the past seven years and they have instilled in their sons the same love of animals that has always been within their own hearts. The Ridenour farm is now home to a collection of chickens, turkeys, ducks, goats, dogs, cats, and a cow.

The addition of Fynn and Wyatt to their lives has planted the couple’s roots even deeper in Riner and affirmed a desire to follow their dream – to seize the opportunity and develop a family run business to share with their boys. Fynn and Wyatt have already begun immersing themselves in the toys, tools, and one-of-a-kind objects from eras far before their time.

Blake Alexander - Primitives, Antiques, and More Mary and Jeremy Ridenour • 540-382-8095 1917 Union Valley Road, Riner VA 24149 www.BlakeAlexanderDesign.com www.facebook.com/BlakeAlexanderDesign

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Sticks & Stones

Construction, Inc.

Distinctive Woodworking & Stone Masonry New Homes • Renovations Additions • Stone Masonry Custom Decks & Porches Timber Framing

540-763-2003 Floyd VA

Class A Licensed, Fully Insured

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 49

From Left: Karen Sewell and Jenny Traynham. Photo credits: Daniel Roberson

A New Leaf Gallery…a Real Sweet Spot The world may seem bleak and full of uncertainty in these troubled times, but there is a real sweet spot where visitors are sure to find a consistent font of artistic creativity and aliveness! That sweet spot is A New Leaf Gallery in Floyd, Virginia. This is a gallery where fourteen local artists have come together to express passion and enthusiasm for a shared field of endeavor…art!

The lively energy at A New Leaf Gallery comes from the wide diversity of quality art that is kept fresh and current with the artists’ newest works. Displayed on crisp muslin wall panels and pedestals, the works are tastefully arranged for easy viewing and for clear passage. Visitors may find that the gallery setting is like a beautifully proportioned frame containing a fine work of art.

The variety of art to be found at the Gallery includes free-standing alabaster sculptures, relief wood-carved wall hangings, and paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolor.

There are also encaustic (beeswax) paintings, block prints, scarves of nuno wool felting, photography, ceramic and clay works, stained glass sculptures and hangings, books by local writers, and creative greeting cards.

Visitors will also be enthralled with fine jewelry made from various materials such as sterling silver, precious stones, wrapped wire, and stamped leather.

The artists themselves help to generate the stimulating atmosphere found in the Gallery’s environment. The space is staffed by the artists, so visitors may be welcomed by a professional writer, a teacher, a nurse, a musician, a business owner, an architect, a physician, or even an environmental activist. In addition to the art, discussion is always on the menu for any who wish to exchange ideas with the artists. The varied backgrounds, expertise, and personal experiences bring a wide range of perspectives that are often expressed in the art as well as in thoughtful conversation.

Though the Covid virus resulted in tough distancing restrictions that kept people from socializing, it can be said that the constraints served to awaken humanity’s deep physical and psychological need to be together. Close connections among the New Leaf Gallery 50 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

artists directly contribute to the Gallery’s feel for being the physical manifestation of a cohesive unit.

Soon after social gathering guidelines were eased earlier this year, Gallery artists gathered for a potluck and business meeting in the pavilion adjacent to the Station. The gathering was invigorating, and the shared food was delicious! It was the first opportunity to reunite with friends who hadn’t been seen in over a year. The opportunity was also taken to welcome three newcomers: Bob Rotche, Rene Armstrong, and Ruth Lefko! Formal introductions around the circle reminded the group of the depth of talent and diversity among the artists, as well as the flat-out joy of being together.

There is something about A New Leaf Gallery that’s especially important in these times, and that’s synergy. The gallery is an LLC business with two financially responsible owners, Karen Sewell and Jenny Traynham, who are responsible for making the final decisions. Meanwhile, the twelve other participating artists share in the task of keeping the Gallery thriving with a vibrant spirit of cooperation. Those mutually beneficial bonds lend to the idea of the whole being greater than the sum of its individual parts. Each artist has an agreed upon role in contributing to the well-being of the Gallery. It’s been an ongoing process of learning to work together, not only for the success of each artist, but for the success of a Gallery that has a mission to support and promote local art while contributing to the creative arts culture in Floyd and beyond.

“Turning over a new leaf ” is a popular phrase that means making a positive change or growth. The name, A New Leaf Gallery, reflects the Gallery’s intention to be flexible as new opportunities arise.

For example, the rapidly evolving marketplace requires the rapid adaptation of marketing skills. In keeping with this concept, A New Leaf Gallery has developed a promotional team that works to better understand the customer’s interest. It is their task to engage and inspire viewers through daily postings on social media sites. The

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Why just visit?

Live & Work Here!

Experience All Floyd Has to Offer!

Traditional handcraft & renowned fine art Farm-to-table dining & farm products Bike, Hike, Float

with 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and our Little River

Sip the Spirits

Strong Workforce, vibrant community life Crenshaw Lighting

Space and Land Available Accomodating a wide variety of business needs

sample our wineries, distillery & brewery

Floyd Innovation Center: Memberships available for meeting space

Move to the Music

with music Thursday-Sundays weekly & festivals throughout the year

Business Support Programs Business networking, financial resources, incentive program

Floyd C4 Business Winners

YesFloydVA.org 540-745-4407

540.745.9300 info@yesfloydva.org

Floyd Visitor Center 109 East Main Street (across from the Courthouse)

Entrepreneurship • Craftsmanship • Innovation

VisitFloydVA.com Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 51

Elliott’s Military Surplus & Fishing Tackle

540-639-1038

2114 W. Main St - A, Radford VA Gallery’s handsome website includes an online store with offerings from all Gallery artists, timely announcements, interviews with the artists, and short biographies of each artist.

Ready for the fall holiday buying season? A New Leaf Gallery is announcing its new Buffalo Art Boxes! What local feature can possibly be linked to Floyd County better than Buffalo Mountain? There’s a surprise in very box for art lovers who love being surprised. Within each box is a small piece of Floyd that can be taken home by newly inspired collectors, reminding them of their visit.

The small, 8x8 inch, tastefully wrapped boxes come in various gold, black, and white combinations, and are priced at $85, shipping included. They can be purchased individually or by yearly subscription featuring four boxes per year. Every surprise box holds a piece of original, quality art by a New Leaf Gallery artist.

A New Leaf Gallery invites visitors to its fine arts gallery inside The Station across from The Floyd Country Store. New guest artist exhibits are scheduled every two months with First Friday Receptions to honor the featured guests. For more information about the artists, the work on display, or for scheduled events and exhibits, visit online at anewleaf-gallery.com. Also, follow A New Leaf Gallery on Facebook.

A New Leaf Gallery • 540-745-7367 Karen Sewell and Jenny Traynham 203 South Locust Street, Suite J, Floyd, VA www.anewleaf-gallery.com 52 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Autoville Auto Repair Chris Newman - Owner

Service On All Makes & Models Foreign & Domestic Factory Trained Master Technicians

• State Inspection Certified • Oil & Lube • Brakes • Shocks & Struts • Alignments • Tires • AC Repair • Tune Ups • Fuel System Service • Check Engine Light Diagnostics • Driveline Diagnostics & Repairs • Fuel Injector Cleaning

610 E Main St Floyd, VA 24091

(Beside Floyd Jewelry)

Over 35 Years Experience

540-745-4224 Fall/Winter 2021-2022

Wills Ridge Supply

build • New Homes GREEN • Remodeling with • Additions • Treated Lumber • Plywood • West Windows • Empire & Buck Stoves • Oil, Gas & Wood Stoves • Salt & Snow Shovels • Propane Refill & Exchange • Heat Pumps & Dehumidifiers • Plumbing, Electric & Paint

Home of “BIG JACK” & “BIG BEAR”

Building Materials • Lumber • Hardware ,Inc.

www.willsridge.com • 202 Lumber Lane, Floyd VA

540-745-2044

Green Building Products • Eco Friendly Stains & Glues • Kiln Dried Lumber Envirosafe Lumber • Hardie Board Siding • El Dorado Stone • Cultured Stone

- Produce - Meats Country Mercantile Goods!

Everything’s Better at the Merc!

We are striving to improve the lives of our mountain residents and our mountain visitors by giving them healthy local farm food options as well as a selection of items that can save a trip into town.

www.BentMountainMercantile.com

540-929-8046 • 9513 Bent Mountain Rd. Bent Mountain, VA SEASONAL HOURS: Mon – Sat 9am to 7pm • Sun 11am to 6pm

Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 53

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A New Leaf Galley..................................41 Airtech Home & Business.........................5 American Pie Restaurant............................7 AmRhein’s Wine Cellars..........................27 Anahata Education Center.......................47 Autoville Auto Repair.................... 15 & 52 Beaver Creek Fencing................................7 Bell Gallery and Garden..........................31 Bella La Vita Inn......................................23 Bent Mountain Mercantile.......................53 Bent Mountain Lodge Bed and Breakfast.......................45 Bethesda - House of Mercy......................15 Better Sofas..............................................35 Blake Alexander................................. 1 & 6 Blue Ridge Alchemy................................33 Blue Ridge Florist & Gifts.........................7 Blue Ridge Folklife Festival......................4 Blue Ridge Yurts......................................39 Bread Basket............................................29 Buffalo and More.....................................47 Buffalo Hemp Company............................2 Buffalo Mountain Brewing Company ....33 Buffalo Mountain Ziplines.......................23 C.W. Harman & Son................................43 Carter & Company Insurance..................37 Chestnut Springs Retreat..........................35

Citizens....................................................29 Cocoa Mia................................................23 Country Road Realty...................... 29 & 45 Crockett Home Improvement..................41 DeHart Tile Co.........................................29 Dogtown Roadhouse..................................3 Edward Jones...........................................47 Elliott’s Military Surplus.........................52 Farm Credit of the Virginias....................19 Floyd Center for the Arts.........................27 Floyd Country Store.................................39 Floyd County Economic Development Authority...............51 Floyd Tourism..........................................51 Floyd Farmers Market..............................27 Floyd Hemp Factory................................33 Floyd Jewelry...........................................13 G.J. Ingram & Son.....................................7 Grateful Produce......................................17 Griffith Lumber Company.......................43 LCF Group...............................................25 Lichen or Knot................................... 1 & 6 Long Way Brewing..................................11 McHale Arborscape.................................17 Mickey G’s...............................................41 New Mountain Mercantile of Floyd........45 Pearce Heating & Air...............................31

Spencer’s Body Shop “We Take The Dents Out Of Accidents”

Phillips Real Estate..................................25 Phoenix Hardwoods.................... 1, 6, & 39 Poppy’s.....................................................43 Red Rooster Coffee Roaster.....................25 Rorrer Well Drilling.................................49 Schoolhouse Fabrics................................27 SETEC.....................................................31 Sinkland Farms........................................13 Slaughters’ Supermarket..........................37 Southern Heritage Homes........................37 Spencers Body Shop................................54 Sticks & Stones Construction..................49 Stonehaven Bed & Breakfast............. 1 & 6 Streamline Timberframe..........................55 Sweet Providence - Tree Farm.................17 T & E Small Engine.................................53 The Maggie.................................... 15 & 43 The Schroeder Law Firm, PC..................11 The Woodshed..........................................13 Thomas & Wall Real Estate.....................56 Tinbenders................................................29 Troika Contemporary Crafts....................35 United Country Real Estate.....................31 Upon the Earth Construction...................39 Wildwood Farms General Store...............45 Willis Village Mart...................................45 Wills Ridge Supply..................................53

Voted

1st Place Body Shop 12 Annual Aw ards

by Reader ’s Ch oice

Insurance Claims Welcome!

• Complete Collision Repair - Foreign & Domestic • Modern Equipment We Carry Rental Cars • Frame machine For Your Convenience!

• Precision Measuring • Professional Refinishing • ASE Certified Technicians

“Superior Quality Workmanship”

Kenny Gardner - Owner -

540-745-5880 Fax: 540-745-5864 • Email: sbsgardners@hotmail.com 1276 Franklin Pike, Floyd, VA 24091

54 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Paints

“Locally Owned & Operated for Over 22 years” Fall/Winter 2021-2022

architectural design • building

StreamLine Timberframe

Inspired • Innovative • Timeless

999 Harvestwood Road Floyd VA 24091

Stop by 999 Harvestwood Road or call 540 230 5505 Steve Arthur • sarthur@streamlinetimberframe.com / StreamlineTimberframe.com ~ /StreamlineTimberframe Fall/Winter 2021-2022

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 55

56 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Fall/Winter 2021-2022