The beautiful, historic 178-year-old structure at the intersection of North Locust Street and Oxford Street began as Proffitt’s Store. Later, Lather A. Hylton would come into possession of the store, adding the living space onto the storefront structure. The property was owned by several people prior to the early 1900’s. Eventually the store was removed, leaving the stately vintage house.
“The Maggie Gallery and Custom Framing” was established in May 2018 by Ron Campbell and he named the gallery after his grandneice. Known as “The Maggie” for short, Ron made the location an eclectic art gallery and frame shop located within one block of the stoplight in Downtown Floyd. Last year Ron Campbell rebranded the frame portion of the business as “Ron Campbell Art and Custom Framing” and has been relocated to Ron’s studio at 104 Campbell Crossing in Check. But that is not the end of The Maggie as an art gallery!
On September 1, 2022, Brenda Hopkins became the new owner of the art gallery portion of The Maggie. She has changed the name slightly to “The Maggie Gallery & Gifts”. Brenda is dedicated to continuing the artistic legacy of The Maggie and opening the doors to locals, travelers, and even more artists and artisans interested in being involved. The gallery displays the artwork of dedicated local artists and artisans to include many mediums from oils, acrylics, watercolor, pen and ink, alcohol ink, pottery, and much more!
A Southwest Virginia native with deep ties to Floyd and the surrounding county, Brenda grew up with an appreciation of art and creativity which was fostered by the elders in her family, church, and community. This appreciation grew exponentially during her over twenty five year career as an elementary school teacher and principal. The time serving in her local school district allowed her to participate in art, music, and theater projects. These experiences grew her creative spirit, making it only logical that she would eventually own a local art gallery.
This year has brought an exciting uptick in visitors to The Maggie. People from all over are surprised by the interior. On the outside, The Maggie is a stunning old home from 1884 that fits the beautiful Appalachian mountain home aesthetic. But on the inside, visitors will find a truly eclectic environment. The local resident artists are the best of the best and their art is truly incomparable. If you’re not quite ready for an original piece, you can purchase prints of many of the works. You can also visit the gift shop which features unique and interesting items for people of all ages.
Most importantly, visitors to The Maggie don’t just come in, browse, and leave. They grab a cup of coffee and a seat while they enjoy conversation with Brenda. Being a local herself, Brenda has a wealth of knowledge about Floyd, the backstory of The Maggie, Appalachian history, and more.
Events such as The Maggie Summer Music Series, Pop-Up Community Events and Activities, and Featured Artist Receptions will be held throughout the seasons to allow visitors to enjoy a fun afternoon or evening browsing the gallery, meeting the artists and other visitors, or watching demonstrations of the multifaceted talent represented at The Maggie.
Looking to the future, The Maggie plans to continue making changes not only to the inside, but the outside, too. The hope is to bring more traffic to the other side of the intersection in downtown Floyd. You never know when you’ll drive by and see a new landscaping layout, a new coat of paint, or even a brand new sign. Stop in to see the latest art releases in Floyd. Anyone and everyone is welcome ‘round the corner at The Maggie!
The Maggie Gallery & Gifts • Benda Hopkins
187 N Locust St, Floyd, VA • www.TheMaggieGallery.com
Thursday-Saturday 11AM-5PM • 540-745-8000