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General stores' lunch crowds shrinking
When the housing market shrunk, so did Hill High Country Store's lunch rush.
For years, the rustic, fresh-foods store and deli perched atop Route 7 near Round Hill had been a popular stop for construction crews working at dozens of sites throughout western Loudoun. But that was until the building industry went bust.
“Many [of the workers] would drive in from West Virginia for work,” said manager Kyla Heimburger, whose family has owned Hill High, which is known for its pies, since 1991. “But many of them have lost their jobs.”
To offset slower sales, Heimburger said the store has resorted to lowering some lunch prices and launching a new indoor farmers market. More tourist-attracting events are in the works.
“We're trying our best,” she said. “But we think we'll survive.”
Mom-and-pop general stores, some of them decades old, dot the county, especially in Loudoun's rural parts out west. As the construction boom brought thousands of hard hats to the county in the mid-2000s, it also brought general stores hordes of hungry customers. But like the housing market, business has slowed.
“We're taking a hit just like everyone else,” said Madeline Skinner, who owns the Philomont General Store, located between Purcellville and Middleburg, with husband Mark.
She said sales were down about 25 percent in December from the previous year.
To boost foot traffic, the couple recently launched a store Web site. They also organized for the first time a garden fair that will take place just outside the store on May 2 and 3. Wine tasting is also in the works.
“The events are what bring people in,” she said.
Maria Cruz runs the tiny Airmont Store at the intersection of Snickersville Turnpike and Airmont Road near Bluemont. The store attracts a large Hispanic clientele, many of whom work in construction and landscaping. Prior to the downtown, lunch had been a big draw.
“It has been a little slow,” Cruz conceded, also blaming the depressed building industry for fewer customers. As of yet, she has nothing special planned to lure more customers. “Right now, we're doing all right.”
But not all news is bad.
Kathy Walker, a clerk at the popular Bluemont Country Store near the Clarke County border in the village of Bluemont, said sales were up 30 percent in 2008 compared to 2007.
She thinks one reason the store is still thriving is that it's so isolated. The nearest chain grocery store is a 15-minute drive away in Purcellville.
She also cited the store's fresh goods -- especially its eggs, laid fresh on the premises -- and its loyal following for the store's continued prosperity in these tough economic times.
“We have some very supportive customers,” she said. “The residents of Bluemont are very dedicated to our store.”
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
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