Caite has been at C-VILLE since 2007, when she started as a part-time proofreader. Over the last 16 years, she's held the positions of Online Editor and Special Sections Editor. Currently the Magazine Editor of C-VILLE, Caite oversees content in special issues and special publications (ABODE, Knife & Fork, C-VILLE Weddings, and Best of C-VILLE).
A personal trainer for more than 20 years, Cecil Hassell, it’s safe to say, knows how to help people feel confident about what they’re seeing on the outside. But he recently turned his attention to helping people—and more specifically, kids—feel confident about what’s on the inside, too. With his children’s book, The Adventures of the Bald-Headed Bear, he tells the story of (you might have guessed) a bear with no hair who takes a journey to learn more about self-love.
With a wedding industry like Charlottesville’s (read: booming), it seemed smart and even necessary to officiant Claire Frances to create a network of professionals. In 2010, she launched the Community of Charlottesville Wedding and Event Professionals.
“Over the years, CCWEP has played an integral role in bringing a community of small business owners together who service weddings and events in the central Virginia area,” says current owner Lisa Watson. “I saw how helpful it was to bring new and established businesses together to share ideas, and support one another, when I first joined in 2014.” Watson relaunched the CCWEP in the fall of 2023 after the pandemic forced it into hiatus in 2020.
The reboot continues the mission of the original members—to connect with and meet each other, share ideas, promote their businesses, learn from industry-leading speakers, and, says Watson, “overall make the Charlottesville wedding community stronger.”
The CCWEP has more than 200 members (and counting), from all corners of the local industry: photographers, caterers, officiants, DJs, and more. Watson says the organization benefits to-be-married couples by having world-class vendors to choose from, at all price points.
“The organization and local wedding industry is growing every day,” she says. “Promoting a strong and healthy Charlottesville wedding and event community is the core value of CCWEP.”
Those of us following the “Small Town, Big Crime” podcast—a locally produced show from journalists Courteney Stuart and Rachel Ryan that investigates the 1985 Bedford County double murder of Derek and Nancy Haysom—got a bit of a surprise while browsing Netflix at the end of 2023. The co-hosts had been tapped for commentary in the streaming service’s documentary, “Till Murder Do Us Part: Soering vs. Haysom.” “The two of them were a horrible puzzle that fit together just right,” says Stuart of Elizabeth Haysom and Jens Soering, the couple at the center of the case, in the series’ lead-in. Consider us hooked.
What’s an e-bike and is it right for you? Josh Carp will let you borrow one of his bikes to help you figure it out. Through his Charlottesville E-bike Lending Library, the electric bike enthusiast allows you to snag one of the eight in his collection for up to a week to see if you like it. There’s tons of benefits: E-bikes are sturdier than mechanical bikes, are designed for commuting, and are battery-powered (thus, eco-friendly). But they’re a little pricier than mechanical bikes, so Carp encourages you to try before you buy.
Managing big feelings is a tough job when you’re a little kid. Managing them while also going to school, learning, and socializing? Even tougher. Mountain View Elementary School counselor Charlotte Geddy gets it, which is why earlier this year she started what she calls “Coping Skills Café,” where she invites students to learn different ways to express their emotions when those emotions feel unmanageable. Taking deep breaths, moving their bodies, and talking it through with a friend are just a few of the skills she demonstrates. We just have one question: Can Geddy host an adult version, too?
Raise your hand if your toxic trait is buying new bras when you have perfectly good ones in your drawer. If your hand is up, Derriere de Soie suggests turning in the old to make room for the new, with its twice-annual bra drive. The West Main Street store chooses a nonprofit benefactor (this past spring, it was The Haven) and offers a 20 percent same-day discount in exchange for your gently used donations.
Laura Frantz wants to write you a poem. Luckily, the Charlottesville Poem Store owner is never too far away, parking her tent (and her vintage typewriter) at the Farmers Market at Ix, The Doyle Hotel (total Algonquin Round Table vibes), and special events like the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival and Common House’s Writers’ Happy Hour. Plus, she’s for hire. Have her stop by your event and craft an on-the-spot poem for each of your guests based on a set of agreed-upon prompts. Now that’s poetry in motion.
The homeowner of this Afton house envisioned an intimate and “materially rich” spot to rinse off after a day of working on the nearby farm. Mike Krop of Blu Haven Architecture took the idea and ran with it, creating an outdoor shower reminiscent of a garden arbor.
From the timber home’s primary suite, a wood bridge leads into the heart of the structure, which is made of thermally modified slats and wrapped in a corrugated steel. Built by Against the Grain Woodworking, it sits on the home’s south side “to ensure its continued use into the swing seasons and to take advantage of visual privacy afforded by a large swale in the landscape,” Krop says.
Spoiler alert: Summer’s almost halfway over. But there’s so much more fun to be had! We’ve compiled 24 must-dos for your summer bucket list. Check them off as you go, and use hashtag #cvillesummerbucketlist to share what you’re up to.
Pop by the City Market.
Photo via Skyclad Aerial.
If you don’t visit the City Market at least one Saturday morning in the summer, did summer even happen? Head downtown to reunite with in-season favorites like Planet Earth Diversified, The Orchid Station, and Caromont Farm. And, duh, grab some Shenandoah Joe to go.
Float on the Rivanna.
Photo by Tom Daly.
In the movie of Charlottesville’s life, the Rivanna would be a major character. Not only is this 42-mile tributary of the James a glimmering topographical feature of our area, it’s also the coolest (literally?) place to be in the summertime. Grab an intertube and put in anywhere you can.
Be a tourist in your town.
If the last time you visited Monticello was on a sixth grade field trip (guilty), take advantage of Monticello’s Local Discount—if you’re an area resident, enjoy a two-for-one ticket price for a Gardens and Grounds Pass. (Or get in free when you accompany an out-of-towner who’s paying full price!)
Pick a peck of peaches.
White, yellow, or donut (the flat ones that are good for snacking), Chiles’s peaches are a must-have in the summertime. Pick your own, then grab a cone (or two) of the Crozet spot’s signature seasonal ice cream and enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountain view.
Get drippy with it.
The return of summer means the return of Chandler’s Ice Cream stand, that Instagrammable soft-serve spot on River Road.
Albemarle County Fair.
Two words: funnel cake.
Return to the Corner.
Ah, summertime. Birds are chirping, flowers are blowing in the breeze, and the Corner is all but emptied of undergrads. We like to take the opportunity to explore this uncharted (during the school year, at least) territory.
Dine al fresco.
We don’t have to tell you the best place to do this (ahem, the Downtown Mall). Another good option? Pack a picnic and stroll UVA’s Pavilion gardens.
Go on a bike ride.
Ready to feel the wind in your hair? Blue Ridge Cyclery offers bike rentals for $60 per day.
Go fly a kite.
No, really. Find a fun one at Alakazam or Shenanigans, then head to Pen Park and let ’er rip.
Eat a hot dog from the grill.
We say hot dog, but really anything will do (see: Pick a peck of peaches). The point is: Grill it, eat it. (Need a grill? Ace Hardware sells a classic Big Green Egg, but many picnic shelters at Pen and McIntire parks have grills, too.)
Root for the home team.
Head to Crutchfield Park, where the Tom Sox—40+ elite collegiate baseball players from across the country—kicked off their 42-game season in early June. Admission is free, and the schedule is at tomsox.com. Not a baseball fan? Charlottesville Blues launched earlier this summer and both the men’s and women’s teams are #goals. Find more info at charlottesvillebluesfc.com.
Shoot for the stars.
Photo by Jack Looney.
The Leander McCormick Observatory public night program (it’s free on the first and third Friday nights of every month) is a can’t-miss any season, but we especially like going in the summer. Register early to observe celestial objects through the observatory’s 26-inch McCormick Refractor—and keep your eye out for UFOs.
Drink on a rooftop.
You have four choices: Quirk Hotel, The Graduate, LEVEL10, or Blue Moon Diner. The first three offer sweeping views of the city, while Blue Moon boasts a charming view of West Main’s midtown stretch.
Eat watermelon.
Grab this classic summer treat from the City Market, slice it open, and go to town. Bonus bucket list points if you let the juice run down your chin.
Go fish!
Walnut Creek, Chris Greene Lake, Ragged Mountain Reservoir… There’s no end to the great places you could nab a fresh catch in our area.
Plant veggies for fall.
You reap what you sow, so get your fall vegetable bounty going in the summertime for optimum results. In July, plant beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, peas, radishes, spinach, and winter squash from seed.
Make lemonade.
If life’s handed you lemons, Splendora’s—also a good summer stop!—owner PK Ross recommends the gelato shop’s lavender lemonade: Pour boiling water over two cups of dried lavender and four cups of sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cover with plastic to steep for 20 minutes with 1kg lemon juice in an eight-quart container. Strain the lavender syrup and then top with water to 5kg total weight.
Head to Blue Hole.
Photo by Tom Daly.
The final destination of a hike through Sugar Hollow, Blue Hole isn’t actually blue. It’s a refreshing swimming home with a small waterfall that cascades into the basin. In other words, a great spot to relax after a 1.5-mile hike.
Join a CSA.
Fresh veggies all season long and none of the work of planting, watering, or harvesting? Sign us up.
Dance to live music.
Summer offers an abundance of opportunities to get your groove on, from free concerts at Fridays After Five or The Garage to ticketed shows at Ting Pavilion. Or catch a glimpse of live music through the windows of downtown restaurants. Miller’s and The Whiskey Jar often have bands jamming loud enough to have a listen.
Catch a firefly.
When the weather warms up, humidity-loving fireflies come out to play. Trap one with your hands or in a jar and watch the magic of bioluminescence come to life.
Watch a sunset.
Sure, you could hike to Humpback Rock or Raven’s Roost to catch an epic sunset over the mountain range, but we recommend more urban destinations: the Belmont Bridge, the Lawn at UVA, or the top of a parking garage downtown.
Take a staycation.
Can’t get away? Live like a tourist in one of the area’s 300+ vacation rentals through Airbnb or, more locally, Stay Charlottesville. Let the hosts be your guide to the city, with recommendations for restaurants and tourist attractions.
Deborah Bell and Martin Burks of J.F. Bell Funeral Home. Photo by Amy Jackson.
In a city like Charlottesville, where Thomas Jefferson sneezed his creativity and innovation into practically every brick paver, it’s easy for entrepreneurs to feel buoyed enough to follow a dream. It makes for an ever-changing skyline, with new businesses springing up like wildflowers.
But amid that same skyline there exists a group of businesses that have stood the test of time—some even for centuries. With this year’s Power Issue, we’re taking a look at 40 over 40: venerable establishments that have, over the course of their tenure in Charlottesville, become pillars of the community, repositories of local lore, and witnesses to the city’s transformation.
Their endurance is a testament to their commitment to quality and service, certainly, but it also endows them with a unique form of power–one that’s not merely economic, but is woven into the social and cultural fabric of the city. It manifests in their ability to shape local traditions, support community initiatives, and even steer public discourse. As we delve into the stories of the longest-running businesses in our city, we uncover how their remarkable longevity grants them a potent and enduring legacy of influence and respect.
#lawyered
McGuireWoods 1834 (190 years)
Supplied photo.
The story of local law firm McGuireWoods starts nearly two centuries ago with President James Monroe’s private secretary, Egbert Watson. An Albemarle native who began his legal career as a law clerk for George Hay (a co-counsel in the treason trial of then-Vice President Aaron Burr), Watson started his one-man law firm—the very one that would become McGuireWoods—at the Albemarle County Courthouse at age 24. Watson’s first case, tried unsuccessfully, was the defense of two Black men accused of murdering a local tinsmith.
Today, McGuireWoods is a leading full-service law firm with 21 offices and 1,100 lawyers worldwide handling cases across multiple sectors: energy, commercial, fiduciary, products and consumer goods, transportation, and labor and employment.
“Our rich culture is one of a kind, in large part because we live our core values everyday—excellence, integrity, client service, diversity and inclusion, community, and collegiality,” says Michael Sluss, McGuireWoods’ marketing and communications manager.
According to National Law Journal’s 2023 NLJ 500, McGuireWoods is the 64th highest-grossing firm in the world. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the firm has changed hands multiple times since its founding but continues to hold its roots in high regard.
“Our history … imbues us with a profound sense of responsibility for the firm of today and tomorrow,” says Sluss.
Good, better, best
Better Living Building Supply 1893 (131 years)
Supplied photo.
Better Living has its stamp on buildings across the city. As general contractors, they built the McGuffey School, the Barringer Wing of the original University Hospital, and Peabody Hall at the University of Virginia—not to mention subdivisions like Camelot, Foxbrook, and Green Lea.
But when L.W. Graves started the business in 1893, the company had one product: lumber. And it was delivered by horse and buggy, no less!
It wasn’t until the mid-1920s that Better Living—then known as Charlottesville Lumber—expanded into the construction business, and later, during World War II, produced portable barracks and large shipping crates to support the war effort. (Future company president Richard L. Nunley was at the time serving in the 13th Air Force in the Philippines.) It opened a furniture business in 1960, changing its name in 1969 to Better Living, but closed in 2016 to refocus on its speciality: building supplies, custom millwork, and cabinetry.
Stay fancy
Keswick Hall 1912 (112 years)
Photo via Keswick Hall.
The first 35 years of Keswick Hall’s centerpiece structure, Villa Crawford, were spent as a residence to five different owners, including Robert and Florence Crawford, the couple who built it in 1912. But, as with any home—even the upscale ones—the more people living in it, the more wear and tear it acquires, and by the 1980s, it was in shambles.
The property was rescued in 1990 by Sir Bernard Ashley, an English businessman who, with his wife Laura Ashley (yes, that Laura Ashley), had a growing textile and clothing empire. Laura Ashley had passed five years prior, and Bernard began purchasing estates to convert into hotels—two in America (including Keswick) and one in England. He transformed the residence into a boutique hotel, decorating it with his own collection of antiques and giving each room a theme.
From there Keswick changed hands a few more times, but unlike before, it leveled up with each new ownership. Today the hotel is owned by Molly and Robert Hardie, longtime guests and eventually members of the club who bought the property in 2017. Together they’ve upgraded its dining (Marigold by Jean-Georges), accommodations (standardizing room sizes and creating custom-scented in-room toiletries), and amenities (a revamped horizon pool, seven-court tennis facility, and a pickleball court). And the iconic Villa Crawford? It was transformed into Crawford’s Bar, “a beautifully preserved space that retains the charm of its 1912 origins,” says Molly.
“Our design philosophy draws direct inspiration from the region’s rich environmental and historical tapestry, offering guests an authentic journey through the area’s cultural past,” she says. “Our aim is for every guest to depart with cherished memories of a stay that captures the essence of Keswick Hall’s storied heritage and contemporary comforts.”
Resting place
J.F. Bell Funeral Home 1917 (107 years)
Photo by Eze Amos.
Today the oldest Black-owned business in Charlottesville, J.F. Bell Funeral Home might never have opened were it not for John Ferris Bell’s cousin, who lured the tailor to Charlottesville. A local dentist, John Jackson told Bell that the city was lacking a funeral home for its growing population of Black residents. Bell moved from Chicago, where he’d also trained as a funeral director and mortician, to the heart of Charlottesville’s Vinegar Hill neighborhood to set up shop.
He opened J.F. Bell Funeral Home in 1917 at 275 W. Main St., a two-story brick building across the street from the wooden boarding house where Bell lived. A few years after he married in 1919 to Maude Lee, who later became a funeral director herself, the couple relocated the business to its current location on Sixth Street NW, hiring a local contractor to build the funeral home with an apartment upstairs for the family.
Four generations later, J.F. Bell Funeral Home is today run by Bell’s granddaughter, Deborah Burks, and her husband Martin.
Turning the page
New Dominion Bookshop 1924 (100 years)
Photo by Amanda Maglione.
C.C. Wells, the UVA student who purchased New Dominion in 1926 and moved it to the Downtown Mall, had a dream.
“All I ever wanted to do was sell books,” Wells told Charlottesville’s Observer newspaper in 1989, two years after Carol Troxell had taken over as the shop’s owner. And that’s exactly what he did, to hordes of customers who will likely forever remember seeing their favorite author give a book talk at the base of the store’s iconic staircase, or having one of the knowledgeable staff members pick out their next favorite read, or even getting married (the shop has recently begun offering microweddings for bibliophiles)!
The oldest independent bookstore in Virginia, New Dominion continues to build on its legacy. In 2017, creative writing M.F.A. and former schoolteacher Julia Hoppe purchased the store, making a few modern changes (including a new cash register and website) while keeping the best of what Wells (and Troxell) had established before her.
Open to all
Barrett Early Learning Center 1935 (89 years)
Supplied photo.
Born to a formerly enslaved woman just after the Civil War, Janie Porter Barrett spent a lifetime advocating for the rights and education of Black girls and women. She studied at Hampton University, taught there and at industrial schools in Georgia, and eventually founded the Locust Street Settlement House, where local Black students would come for classes, entertainment, and childcare.
In 1915, Barrett opened the Industrial School for Wayward Colored Girls near Hanover to serve Black girls paroled from the prison system; it was renamed the Janie Porter Barrett School for Girls in 1950.
But it was in 1935 that, under FDR’s Works Progress Administration program, the Janie Porter Barrett Day Nursery opened its doors in Charlottesville’s Vinegar Hill neighborhood. It remained there until 1958, when the United Way (then Community Chest) gifted it a new home on Ridge Street. In the years since, it has become a fixture for the neighborhood as one of the few affordable childcare options for low-income residents, and it still attracts generations of mostly Black families.
In 2013 it nearly shuttered due to financial hardship, but residents rallied, forming a board of directors that within a month raised more than $30,000 to keep its doors open, demonstrating its vital role in the community.
Pipes to t-shirts
Mincer’s 1948 (76 years)
Supplied photo.
Everyone’s favorite UVA merch spot didn’t always sell apparel with the University logo. In fact, the Corner shop’s first product was … pipes?
Robert Mincer started the business just after the end of World War II, following a layoff from his job as a foreman at a Long Island-based pipe manufacturer. Too many military-issued pipes had made their way back to the United States post-war and, thanks to increased supply and demand, Mincer needed to find his next step. He and his wife moved to Charlottesville, where they opened a 100-square-foot smoke shop.
The store evolved over time to the sportswear business it is today, moving to its current location at the corner of Elliewood and University avenues, and expanding the product line to include everything from t-shirts and sweatshirts to books, water bottles, and toys for kids. It’s the go-to spot for UVA merch—especially after UVA wins a game.
Today the store, which opened a second location at Stonefield Shopping Center in 2013, is run by Mincer’s great-grandson, Cal, who took the reins in early 2023 following the passing of his father, Mark, who himself had run the store since graduating from the University’s McIntire School in 1985.
Spree spot
Barracks Road Shopping Center 1957 (67 years)
Before there was the Downtown Mall, there was Barracks Road Shopping Center. In fact, the success of Barracks Road was a major impetus for the Mall’s conversion. The shopping center touted “acres of free parking” on its first run of advertisements from developer Rinehart, luring shoppers from Main Street’s metered spots and prompting studies in 1959 to reboot downtown’s popularity shortly after Barracks Road opened.
Today Barracks Road is one of the oldest shopping centers in the country, with a mix of 80+ stores, restaurants, and experiences that include both big-name brands like Madewell, Warby Parker, and Ulta, as well as locally owned boutiques like Scarpa and Happy Cook.
“Known for its evolving collection of popular national and regional brands, intertwined with the allure of specialty local boutiques, eateries, and convenient services, Barracks Road continues to attract and maintain retailers,” says Sarah North, senior director of marketing for Federal Realty, who owns the shopping center. “Barracks will remain a fundamental member of the community and we look forward to the next 40 years.”
Play’s the thing
Shenanigans 1974 (50 years)
Photo by Eric Kelley.
When Kai Rady moved to Charlottesville with her family in 1974, she was surprised (and dismayed) to find it didn’t have a toy store. Her son was active and curious, and she needed things to keep him stimulated.
Rady remembered seeing an article in Ms. Magazine (“a terrific list of at least 100 items, 90 percent of which were not in the area—including LEGO!” she told C-VILLE in 2013) and it spurred her to start her own store. She opened Shenanigans in her Ivy Road home before moving it to Barracks Road Shopping Center and, eventually, to its current spot on West Main Street.
Now 50 years in, the store hasn’t changed much in terms of its mission: “I’m looking always for play value,” Rady told us. “A toy can be very educational … but if they’re not going to play with it, it’s not [useful]. It has to appeal to a child’s sensibilities.”
Amanda Stevens, a former elementary school teacher and principal, purchased the beloved shop with her husband Jimmy in 2019 and has since made a few valuable changes, including creating an online inventory.
“Generations of families have shared in the wonder of Shenanigans Toy Store over the last 50 years, and our family considers it a tremendous honor to be a part of this legacy,” Stevens said in a press release announcing the store’s 50th anniversary. “We treasure our customers’ loyalty, the opportunities we have to interact with families, and the chance to give back to children in the community.”
Making history
The story of Charlottesville’s life wouldn’t be complete without each of these well-established players:
