Entrepreneurs

NRV Small ‘n Bold small businesses with bold entrepreneurs

New River Art & Fiber Blacksburg - supplies and gifts for artists, makers and hobbyists

Staying home more than ever prompts the time and inclination to craft all kinds of things with kits and supplies found here. Owner Jessica Jones majored in art at Virginia Tech, worked at Mish Mish and relocated to New York City, only to miss life in the New River Valley. The yarn shop and art supply store serves all ages, and she and her staff have the knowledge to guide you, your kids and grandchildren into new hobbies, gifts and creative activities.

Rockhouse Marina Dublin - to provide the best experiences on Claytor Lake

With great food, drinks, boat rentals and whatever you need for fun times at Claytor Lake, the marina offers apparel, accessories, tackle, gear and live music on and off the water. Mountain 2 Island based here is a leading paddleboard and water Rockhouse Marina

adventure company and local dealer for Bentley pontoon boats with Honda outboard motors.

Crab Creek Country Store Christiansburg - old time country store with décor for every home

Shopping here is an experience in warm nostalgia blended with style and function in quilts, table linens, candles, primitive accents, country themes and charming contemporary home decorative accessories. Their line of unique jewelry is very attractive as well, and reasonable prices for quality merchandise is like frosting on the cake.

Vance & Rorrer CPA Radford - where the client is the most important person in the room

Imagine for a moment sitting across from someone in a professional office who is taking notes on a yellow lined pad of paper with a sharp #2 pencil. You have all this person’s attention and no high tech gadgets in sight. This is the way they roll at Vance & Rorrer CPA in Radford, and their vast experience includes digital filing and advanced financial software and technology.

Blacksburg Feed & Seed Co Blacksburg - for all things lawn, garden and fishing, too!

This third generation local business, established in 1947, offers flowers, fertilizer, mulch, seeds, wheel barrows and bird feeders for the yard, quality grain for livestock, fishing equipment and supplies and much, much more. Martin Hanbury works alongside his son Phillip daily, and Hanbury’s Tackle features hand-tied fishing lures and an expansive stock of fine rods and reels.

Smith’s Super-Aid Pharmacy and Gateway Gifts [Text by Becky Hepler]

Rich Creek - The Buy-One-Get-TheNext One-Free is a great sales ploy and sometimes even businesspeople enjoy

Sheri and Todd Smith it. Just ask Todd and Sheri Smith. They live in Peterstown, W.V., where Todd grew up next door to Rich Creek, Va., where Sheri grew up. For years, Todd drove to Bluefield where he worked as a pharmacist, and Sheri was a secretary at the middle school. In 2005, a building in Rich Creek containing a working pharmacy became available for purchase and they snapped it up, “…excited to establish a business as part of the greater community,” says Holly Smith, their daughter-in-law. Smith’s Super-Aid Pharmacy, an independent drug store, was born.

WHAT‘S LURKING IN THE CORNERS OF YOUR HOME?

MOISTURE POLLUTANTS CHEMICALS LEAD DANDER RADON

DRAFTS CARBON MONOXIDE ALLERGENS VOCs FUEL LEAKAGE

BETTER AIR QUALITY IMPROVES HEALTH COMFORT SAFETY

WE HAVE SOLUTIONS!

While the former drug store had used part of the lower level for gift items, Sheri saw an opportunity to carve out her own business, and Gateway Gifts came into existence. “It is 45 minutes each way to a mall and 20 minutes in either direction to Walmart,” Sheri explains. “Plus we offer things that you can’t get in those places.” Gateway Gifts specializes in American-made items such as Tyler Candles from Texas, QMT Windchimes from Manassas, Va., and American Greeting cards. It carries boutique clothing and personal care products, such as bath bombs, soaps and lotions. The store sponsors special events like the Christmas Open House and, during the pandemic, Facebook Live Events with curbside delivery. While the pharmacy and the gift shop are two separate entities, they share employees and services. Some clerks float between the two, depending upon the need. Social media and digital services like text reminders for both stores fall to Holly. The office staff does billing and accounts for everyone. The store technician, who also handles errands and clean up, does it for the entire building. “Our employees are so important,” says Sheri. “They’re like family to us, and we treat them the way we would like to be treated.” It’s that attitude that makes Gateway Gifts more than just a store, it’s like home.

More comfort. Less energy. 540-443-9966 www.wecheckenergy.com

First & Main Marketing Director PearAivey Street

Blacksburg’s lifestyle center First & Main may have a new director of marketing, but her face is probably familiar to many town residents. PearAivey Street has lived in Blacksburg for seven years and owned three very popular restaurants with her family. Two of the restaurants that still serve the community – Café de Bangkok and Next Door Bake Shop - are favorites with both locals and college students. Born in Thailand, PearAivey moved to the United States to attend college at Purdue University where she studied management and finance. Instead of returning to her home country, she decided to follow her dream of starting a business in America. “I visited my sister Pie while she attended Virginia Tech, and I just love Blacksburg,” she says. “I thought we could bring something different to town back in 2006 when there weren’t many international restaurants. So my sister Pie, a cousin and I opened Café de Bangkok and decided to serve authentic Thai flavors and a variety of foods that we enjoy eating.” In the summer of 2010, PearAivey and Pie – who always wanted to own a coffee and bake shop – opened Next Door Bake Shop with a menu of baked goods with Asian flavors. An unmistakable cornerstone of the North End shopping area, Next Door Bake Shop is popular with students who enjoy such delights as banana chocolate bread, blueberry scones, lavender soy tea latte, tomato pie, other breakfast and lunch foods and cookie baskets. Back in the day, the sisters would come in early to prep the kitchen, bake all morning and then take turns heading to Café de Bangkok to help the chef in the afternoons. PearAivey relates that during those years, she loved running Next Door Bake Shop because she would see customers every day – some who became close friends – and became more active in the community volunteering for non-profits and supporting local causes. “If you work with passion and try hard every day to do things that help brighten the lives of people around you, the community will support you.” PearAivey and her sister didn’t have previous restaurant experience before opening their businesses. However, their parents had restaurants, clubs and real estate investments in Thailand when they were growing up. “We grew up learning about how to run a business; we knew what it took and how important it was to be available to your customers,” states PearAivey. That same work ethic and accessibility is what PearAivey hopes to bring to First & Main. “We want New River Valley residents and visitors to view us as part of the community, adding to everyone’s quality of life when here. We know that Blacksburg is a great place to start a small business, and we are happy that many local business owners choose to operate at First & Main. In the future, we hope to have more events and quality programming to bring people together at the center and celebrate the businesses that are here.”

Text by Krisha Chachra

To contact PearAivey directly, email her at: marketing.firstandmain@gmail.com

Or visit the website at: www.firstandmainblacksburg.com