Recently another local family-owned business passed down through two generations, Davis-Merchant Equipment, was sold. We started thinking about the hometown businesses that are left in Powhatan. One by one they are quietly disappearing and in their place is Haley Chevolet, Wal-Mart, Tractor Supply, Food Lion, Advanced Auto, McDonalds, Wendys, Sheetz (Powhatan now seems to need 2 of them), Pizza Hut, Subway, C&F Bank, Essex Bank and the list goes on. All the local gas stations have been sold to foreigners.
I remember when Al’s Market was owned by a real Powhatanian, Al, and Red Barn by Larry and Juanita Adams. There was May’s Hardware and May’s Grocery where they knew you by name and the meat was actually cut and packaged in the store. Remember…. The Bank of Powhatan, Yates Ford, Yates Oil, Maxey’s Store, Brauer and then Adam’s Pontiac, Nichol’s Store, Powhatan Farm Supply, Dr. Bradley, Powhatan Locker Plant, Bloxton’s Pharmacy, Hatcher’s Restaurant, Gene’s Auto Parts, Goodwyn’s Lumber, and Browns Chevrolet. Did you notice how many of these business carried family names?
Bloxton’s Pharmacy was sold to another Powhatan Family, Jim and Carol Gregg, and morphed into Powhatan Pharmacy and Powhatan Plaza Pharmacy. Yates Oil was sold to the Adams family-another Powhatan long-time name, but one by one, most have simply disappeared.
Have you ever stopped to count how many family-owned businesses are left? Goodwyn’s Lumber was started in 1932 and is now managed by the third generation of Goodwyns. Frisby’s Convenience Store was started by the Moore family in 1978 and about five years later their daughter opened the side-door restaurant. This is a favorite hangout of the locals. The chicken & dumplings and fried chicken can not be beat by Wendys or McDonalds. Hertzler Farm and Feed had it’s humble beginnings in an old dairy barn in 1983 and has grown into a full-fledged retail store. Henry’s Market was started by Henry Ford Harris in the mid 80’s along with Powhatan Station Shopping Center which is filled with local-owned businesses: Sign Design, Country Food and Furniture and Flat Rock Glass. The County Seat Restaurant, featuring southern style home cooking and hospitality, is run by 4 generations of family members and Dr. Spaur is still a small one-man dentistry in the village of Powhatan. There are numerous other local-owned businesses but the well-known older businesses are quietly slipping away, replaced by box stores and national name brands.
Time moves on and change comes to every community but is sad to see the big, mega and national names replacing hometown. Please remember to shop and support the local businesses and let them know you appreciate their contribution to the community.
Note: There are numerous other family-owned businesses that are making a significant impact on Powhatan community. I can not list them all but if you send me names I will add them to this list.
- Byerly’s Auto Mart (Went out of business in 2018)
- Higley’s Chiropractic
- Napa (owned by Rick Barden)
