Middlebrook General Store
After sitting empty for almost two years, the historic Middlebrook General Store has once again opened its doors, thanks to a tiny Shenandoah Valley village coming together to breathe new life into this heart of the community.
The weathered white building, which sits facing Rt. 252 in this rural Virginia farming community with acres of land surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, was renovated and opened by its former owners who spent more than $100,000 updating the interior in addition to adding a patio overlooking a meandering stream. After running it for several years, they closed the store in August 2009 when they purchased a Bed and Breakfast in Yorktown, leaving the store vacant in the months that followed.
The owners put the Middlebrook General Store up for sale. The surrounding community worked together to buy it in hopes of once again walking its worn wooden floors, enjoying a crackling fire while sitting around the potbelly stove on a cold winter day, and picking up groceries without having to drive the thirty-mile round trip to Staunton.
Thanks to a newcomer in town who helped set up the legal end of it, and thanks to the help of many investors, the store has recently reopened as the Middlebrook General Store Community Co-op whose members have a financial stake in its success. Shares were sold for $25 each with some folks purchasing a single share while others have made higher investments. Any profits generated is to be distributed back to the share owners, and expectations are that Middlebrook could be a model for other rural communities.
After several organizational meetings that attracted as many as 100 interested citizens squeezed into the community center to hear more about the plan, the co-op collected pledges and revenue that was set aside in escrow as the push continued to raise enough to approach the store owners with a credible purchase offer toward their $175,000 asking price. The co-op also needed enough capital to buy inventory to stock the shelves and pay part-time workers.
The community was successful in their quest, eventually buying and opening the store to once again provide a place for those share holders to stop there, shop there, help determine items to be sold, and volunteer to help. The store will once again buzz with activity, and music may once again float out the open doors as the popular Friday night music gatherings resume.
A local fiddler who not only worked at the store in the past but participated in its Friday night hoedowns, 26-year-old Hannah Short was excited about the store reopening to again serve the community.
Self-employed with several small businesses as well as working part-time with Joel Salatin at his nearby environmentally friendly Polyface Farm, Hannah invested in the co-op and helped spread the word on Facebook. She was enthusiastic as she talked about the local goods that would be offered at the store as well as grocery staples needed in most households.
"This is exactly what is needed in the community," she shared, adding that other ideas have sprouted such as a Saturday farmers market to highlight the productivity of local farms and perhaps a cafe-type addition.
Word about the co-op has been mostly by word-of-mouth supplemented by a bulk mailing to the community. Hannah has added social media, posting information on Facebook and expanding the idea beyond Middlebrook and Augusta County.
With the store located in the center of the village, its reopening will once again provide a place for locals and visitors to catch up on the news and grab a snack or perhaps munch on a hot dog or BBQ while waiting for car repairs at Rosen's Garage or visiting the library. Its cozy interior offers an oasis for patients waiting for lab results from Dr. Rob Marsh's medical clinic across the road.
The Middlebrook General Store co-op plan is on the internet for those who are curious about how to go about such an idea or for anyone interested in investing in a rural general store, keeping alive a long-time tradition and reviving the heart of Middlebrook, Virginia.
The weathered white building, which sits facing Rt. 252 in this rural Virginia farming community with acres of land surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, was renovated and opened by its former owners who spent more than $100,000 updating the interior in addition to adding a patio overlooking a meandering stream. After running it for several years, they closed the store in August 2009 when they purchased a Bed and Breakfast in Yorktown, leaving the store vacant in the months that followed.
The owners put the Middlebrook General Store up for sale. The surrounding community worked together to buy it in hopes of once again walking its worn wooden floors, enjoying a crackling fire while sitting around the potbelly stove on a cold winter day, and picking up groceries without having to drive the thirty-mile round trip to Staunton.
Thanks to a newcomer in town who helped set up the legal end of it, and thanks to the help of many investors, the store has recently reopened as the Middlebrook General Store Community Co-op whose members have a financial stake in its success. Shares were sold for $25 each with some folks purchasing a single share while others have made higher investments. Any profits generated is to be distributed back to the share owners, and expectations are that Middlebrook could be a model for other rural communities.
After several organizational meetings that attracted as many as 100 interested citizens squeezed into the community center to hear more about the plan, the co-op collected pledges and revenue that was set aside in escrow as the push continued to raise enough to approach the store owners with a credible purchase offer toward their $175,000 asking price. The co-op also needed enough capital to buy inventory to stock the shelves and pay part-time workers.
The community was successful in their quest, eventually buying and opening the store to once again provide a place for those share holders to stop there, shop there, help determine items to be sold, and volunteer to help. The store will once again buzz with activity, and music may once again float out the open doors as the popular Friday night music gatherings resume.
A local fiddler who not only worked at the store in the past but participated in its Friday night hoedowns, 26-year-old Hannah Short was excited about the store reopening to again serve the community.
Self-employed with several small businesses as well as working part-time with Joel Salatin at his nearby environmentally friendly Polyface Farm, Hannah invested in the co-op and helped spread the word on Facebook. She was enthusiastic as she talked about the local goods that would be offered at the store as well as grocery staples needed in most households.
"This is exactly what is needed in the community," she shared, adding that other ideas have sprouted such as a Saturday farmers market to highlight the productivity of local farms and perhaps a cafe-type addition.
Word about the co-op has been mostly by word-of-mouth supplemented by a bulk mailing to the community. Hannah has added social media, posting information on Facebook and expanding the idea beyond Middlebrook and Augusta County.
With the store located in the center of the village, its reopening will once again provide a place for locals and visitors to catch up on the news and grab a snack or perhaps munch on a hot dog or BBQ while waiting for car repairs at Rosen's Garage or visiting the library. Its cozy interior offers an oasis for patients waiting for lab results from Dr. Rob Marsh's medical clinic across the road.
The Middlebrook General Store co-op plan is on the internet for those who are curious about how to go about such an idea or for anyone interested in investing in a rural general store, keeping alive a long-time tradition and reviving the heart of Middlebrook, Virginia.
I met a friend for lunch today at the Depot Restaurant in the Wharf area of Staunton. Just as I parked behind the restaurant, a train slowly rumbled up and stopped right in front of my vehicle ... so I did what I so often do -- I picked up my camera and took a photo. It was the "Buckingham Branch" painted a nice red with yellow trim and it was so close I could have touched it.
The neat thing about the Depot is that the location in the original train station. One end of the dock still serves as an Amtrak station. Even during lunch we could hear the rumbling of another train passing by. Their chicken tender garden salad is yummy especially with honey mustard dressing, and they are known especially for two desserts -- the Boxcar Brownie and their Death By Chocolate cake.
It's Christmas at the Middlebrook General store with a variety of Virginia-made products available for those who are looking for unique gifts. Located on Rt. 252 in the heart of Middlebrook, Virginia, they are 15 minutes south of Staunton.
There is a great selection of Virginia-made wines for your Christmas list.
Bubba Beagle's Homemade Gourmet Dog Biscuits are brought in from Richmond ... and they are edible for humans, too!
