A grim thought crossed Elma Spena’s mind one day.  “I’m going to be working until the day I die”.  She dismissed the notion at first, but then a few days later, she got mad about it.  She decided if she was destined to work till the day she died, she’d rather make that journey working for herself.  That thought was the seed that eventually bloomed into the dream of Elma’s Corners.

About the same time the winds of change were blowing for Elma, she met a woman at a vendor fair who was selling organic cleaning products through a direct sales company.  When she researched that company, she found another to sign up with.  Her original thought was to sell the products at the Farmer’s Market, but soon found out that since the products were not locally made, she wasn’t permitted to sell them there.

That same summer, as fate would have it, Elma was invited to take part in a new tailgate market.  She put out a few crafts she’d made; mostly crocheted goods and jewelry.  She was very pleasantly surprised to find that her crafts sold faster than the cleaning products!  By the end of summer, Elma knew there was a store in her future.  While regaling friends with talk of her big dreams, she spent the next winter creating jewelry to sell the following summer.  She joined as many events as she could and became part of the Friday Nite Artisan Market.

Early summer of 2016, Elma took another step toward her dream when a local boutique owner agreed to sub-let her space.  On August 8 of 2016, Elma’s Corners opened in a 200 square foot space in The Station, where she consigned with other local artisans; filling the store with local, handmade gifts.

In January of 2017, she was able to spread into an adjacent suite; growing her space to 500 square feet and filling it with gifty goodness!
Since then, Elma has been working with local artisans, as well as a wholesale gift company, to pack the store with a wide variety of gift-giving needs.  Today, Elma’s Corners offers handmade jewelry, succulents, lucky bamboo, local handmade soap and lotion, local tinctures and salves, essential oils, perfumes, gemstones, and gently loved clothes.  The shop also features locally made Crystal Mountain beeswax candles, as well as Buffalo Mountain Kombucha.  Join the Kombucha Klub: buy 10 get one free!
Elma’s Corners also has year-round Christmas trees sparkling with ‘crystal expressions’ ornaments, and her “celebrate window” is always filled with holiday treats.
Though Elma’s Corners is the store Elma dreamed of, she is not finished yet!  Going forward, she’ll be adding more Floyd merchandise, expanding her gemstone offerings, and will be creating succulent terrariums and dish gardens as an alternative to cut flowers.  She has also just recently connected with a regional crafter of a unique clothing accessory called the “Ducho”.  This wrap is made from vintage, Indian dupatta scarves.  No two are alike!  The wraps can be worn multiple ways for a variety of looks, while always adding the mystic, elaborate beauty of Indian design!  Elma’s Corners is the exclusive, Floyd County dealer of these amazing wraps.

In addition to adding new and exciting merchandise, Elma also has her eye on expansion.  Though she’s letting the Universe guide her, she’s already taken a new step by developing an online store!  But until that online store is ready, you can take advantage of Elma’s specials, starting this Fall:
Earring Extravaganza: 5% off of 5, 10% off of 10
Color of the week sale – 10% off of the color of the week on the clothes
Visit Elma’s Corners today, located at 203 S. Locust Street in Downtown Floyd; in The Station next to the Farmer’s Market, across from the Floyd Country Store.  You can also find her online at www.elmascorners.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elmascorners.

Elma’s Corners
540-230-8451
Suites D & E in The Station (across from Floyd Country Store)
203 S. Locust Street, Floyd VA
www.facebook.com/elmascorners.

When Cocoa Mia owners, Jen and Gray Rudd, were leaving the movie “Chocolat” during Christmas of 2000, they could never have envisioned owning a chocolate shop.   And, like the characters in that film, they also could not see the winds of change taking them to unexpected places.  The first breeze came when walking to the car after the movie.  Upon musing about how beautiful the daughter’s name in the film had been, Jen and Gray agreed to change the name they’d already picked out for their unborn daughter.  But they had no idea that one day, they’d be creating similar chocolate delicacies in their very own shoppe.

Almost eighteen years later, the Rudds – now a family of four – are continuing the traditions of the sweet shop’s former owner by hand crafting their delicious truffles and chocolate bars in downtown Floyd.  They are also adding some new twists of their own, such as chocolate croissants, and stuffing dates with almonds then dipping them in their house chocolates.  They’ve added more beverages, but their signature Hot Chocolate and Mocha Java are as decadent and delicious as ever.

It is truly a family operation.  Formerly from the world of financial planning, Gray has transitioned to Cocoa Mia on a permanent basis.  Jen is a full-time Quality Manager at a diagnostic laboratory, but is often found experimenting at the shop, working with new and exciting flavors in bars and truffles.  One such experiment produced the new Avocado Lime popsicle, which is ridiculously good.   The two children are even there on weekends, pitching in with service and helping the team to research and develop new products.

The whole family fell in love with the shop when it was run by the previous owner.  When they saw the “for sale” sign go up in early Spring this year, they jumped at the opportunity.  With a love of food and chocolate, as well as the science behind both, they embraced the “hand crafted in Floyd” tradition with selections of truffles, bars, and other goodies made in shop.

On Saturday afternoons at Cocoa Mia, customers can also experience what it’s like to be a chocolatier! After choosing from a selection of nuts, dried fruits, and oddball toppings like potato chips, visitors can mix and create their very own bar.  “We also carry a unique selection of the finest Artisan chocolate bars from America and around the world,” Jen explains.  “We hope everyone will come and enjoy our family’s hospitality, as well as our delicious chocolate and coffee creations.”

The Rudds have lived in the area for over eleven years, and they love the town as much now as when they first arrived.  “It is amazing to see the growth and changes over the last decade,” says Gray.  “We can’t wait to see what the next ten years brings.”  It will be interesting to see where the winds will take the Rudds and their chocolate adventure in the future.

Cocoa Mia
109 E Main St, Floyd, VA
facebook.com/cocoamiachocolates
cocoamiachocolates@gmail.com
540-695-0224

by Vickie Holt

When Bill Bryant retired from the Air Force, he faced the question of what to do with the rest of his life.  As a teenager, he couldn’t wait to leave Floyd County, so he joined the Air Force after graduating in 1988.  Bill had no intention of ever returning to his home town, but life has a funny way of changing your plans.  After all, Bill’s family had lived in Floyd County since the late 18th century.  There are generations buried in the Floyd County soil, and roots like that have a strong influence on destiny.
Twenty-five years after leaving, Bill returned home to make his future as one of the newest additions to the character and culture of Floyd.
When considering retirement in 2012, Bill and his wife thought about moving to Alaska.  They’d spent a lot of time in America’s most northern state, and even had a house there.  However, when the couple came home to visit, the family strongly urged Bill to stay.  He’d been living in Washington DC at the time, so he went back there to think about it.  If he moved back to Floyd, what in the world would he do with himself?  He knew he didn’t want to farm but couldn’t think of any other options.
He contacted an old school friend, Lydeana Martin; now Floyd County Economic Development Director.  Lydeana helped Bill connect with the students of Pamplin Business School at Virginia Tech.  Always in need of projects for course work, the students created a feasibility study to determine the type of business that would do well in Floyd.  At the end of the semester, after all the work had been done, the study revealed that Bill’s best two options were either an organic Tilapia farm, or a microbrewery.
Though Bill had been all over the world and had sampled the best beers the world had to offer, he’d never made beer before.  Going into it, he knew that to make good beer, you need to have tasted good beer, and he’d certainly managed that crucial first requirement.  The next step was to try his hand at actually making a batch.
Still in DC, Bill bought some home-brewing equipment and a few recipes.  He had fun making those first couple of brews, and really enjoyed the process.  After such a great first impression, he jumped in head first!  Unlike many others who have gone into the microbrewery business, Bill was never a home-brewer by hobby.  His first approach to home-brewing had been as a starting point for bigger things.
He quickly bought a barrel pilot system from another brewery in Nelson County and started making barrel batches.  He seemed talented even in those early days, never creating what he’d consider a bad batch.  And with the beer-making question answered, it came time to find a location.
The current location at 332 Webbs Mill Road represents the third attempt to find a home for Buffalo Mountain Brewing.  The first two sites had ultimately been rejected for feasibility considerations and practical needs like water, sewer, electrical needs, logistics, regulations, and cost.  But then he saw the Webbs Mill Road house up for sale.  As a boy, Bill had milked cows for the previous owners, so he already knew them.  The house had everything he needed, but most importantly, it was the right price.
Bill bought the house in July of 2016.  The original thought was to tear it down and build from scratch.  After evaluating the structure, however, he decided to renovate.  Using 20,000 feet of timber Bill and his son had logged from the farm, the home was slowly transformed.  Every beam, every piece of trim, and even the bar and tables were built by Bill with the help of family and friends.  The bar is actually made out of wood salvaged from barns Bill tore down on his farmland.
Having spent a lot of time in European pubs and taverns during his Air Force days, Bill wanted to emulate the coziness and hominess he remembered of those taverns for Buffalo Mountain Brewing.  He wanted it to be a comfortable place where even the kids could kick back and make themselves at home.
After multiple delays, Buffalo Mountain Brewing finally opened on April 12 of 2018.  The event was marked by nothing more extravagant than Bill walking out to the edge of the road and putting up a sandwich board.  But even on that day, people drove by, saw the sign, turned around and stopped in.
Buffalo Mountain Brewing has been well-received by both locals and tourists alike.  When it comes to the future, however, Bill’s ultimate goal is to remain a home-town tavern.  This dream is even engraved into the wood of the brewery’s unique flight boards: “A Place To Gather And Meet With Friends”.

Bill Bryant has no plans to expand or distribute.  “I want my beer sold right here,” he tells us.  “I’m not doing this to get rich.  I’ll never enter my beer in competition.  I’m doing it because I like people.  My blue ribbon is when I hear someone say, ‘this is the best beer I’ve ever had’.  What more can you ask for?”
Bill loves when the place is filled with people having a good time and laughing.  “That’s what it’s about for me,” he says.  He also loves how it brings folks together.  He’s been told by more than one guest that every time they visit, they see someone they hadn’t seen in a long time.  Bill feels the brewery adds to Floyd’s already eclectic mix.  If it makes Floyd a more enjoyable place and gives folks a place to drink fresh draft beer, Bill is happy.  He has no ambitions other than to “keep it Floyd”.
Though music does happen at Buffalo Mountain Brewing, it’s rarely scheduled.  With so many musicians in town, however, music happens organically.  Folks just bring along their instruments to play for the joy of it.  With so many wanting to play, however, a calendar has been created and is available on the Facebook page.  You can usually find a jam session, however, on Thursday nights.  Bill calls it “Pickin’ on the Porch” and the most formal thing about it is the tip jar he puts out for the band.  Everything is casual, relaxed, and friendly at Buffalo Mountain!

Buffalo Mountain Brewing
332 Webbs Mill Rd N, Floyd
(540) 745-2491
Facebook: BuffaloMountainBrewingCompany

by Ron Campbell

Ok so it’s four o’clock in the morning.  I have been awakened by the sounds of the night in Floyd.  Maybe it was the cat who wants out if she is in, or in if she is out.  Or was it the dog who tippy taps outside the bedroom door because there might be raccoons snooping around on the porch and she feels I need to know about it.   Or maybe she just heard the horse banging his water bucket around at the barn because he ate too much alfalfa and drank all of his water.  For whatever reason, I’m up and pondering the question of whether or not to wave at the driver of the car coming in my direction.   Yep that’s the question of the night.

You might be thinking there are better things to do at four o’clock in the morning, but it’s a thought that has concerned me for fifteen years.  At this early hour, though, I think I just might be able to answer this question for new-comers to Floyd…or ‘fer-ners’ as we are sometimes referred to in jest by my neighbor down the road, bless her heart!  Yep I’m one of them fer-ners, and I’m ok with this label because the native Floydians seemed to have welcomed me into the fold a bit.

I came to Floyd about fifteen years ago, and the first thing I noticed was that it was a very friendly place.  I also noticed that the pace among the Floyd population, in general, was a lot less frantic than what you’d find in cities like Atlanta or New York.  Going to town and such, I observed that as I drove around and passed drivers on the road, people most always waved.  This created some problems for my logical mind.  It challenged me to decide whether or not to join in on all this waving, and if I did, how to do it at the ooooh so important proper time.  Not wanting to be rude, I told myself that I have to get a handle on this or else forever be a “fer ner” (bless her heart).

When I was young, say nine, we would visit my grandparent’s farm in Darlington Heights, Virginia.  Travelling around the countryside there, the people we passed would raise their index finger off the steering wheel and wave as we passed.  The first question I asked my dad, as I sat in the front seat with no seat belt, (they weren’t invented yet so don’t be alarmed) was, “do you know those people?”  And he would say “nope”.  My next question was, “then why did you wave”?  The answer that came back was “we just want each other to know that we are friendly”.  What a beautiful thing to be taught at such an early age!

Now here is what I know about waving as it pertains to Floyd.  It just might help you with your decision to wave or not, and help prevent you from over thinking it.

• First, if you are approaching a driver with his hand on the top of the steering wheel, he is probably going to wave.
• If the sunlight is shining brightly on his steering wheel, and you can see his index finger, you are more apt to time your wave properly. However, he may not wave because the sun is in his eyes and he can’t see that you have your hand on the top of your steering wheel. Oh well.
• If you are in an old truck, say 1980 or order, and they are in an old truck, they will probably give you the index-finger wave. The Floyd salute as my neighbor calls it.
• If you are in a new truck, clean and shiny, and they are in an old truck, they may not wave. I think this has something to do with who has the hardest job and who has more free time to wash his truck.
• If you are in an old truck and they are in a new truck, don’t bother to wave, it’s probably a young, full of vinegar, “I’m really cool” kind of guy, heading to pick up his girl.
• If you are in a car, and they are in a truck, don’t waste your time.
• If you are in a truck, and they are in a car, it’s your call.
• If they have a baseball cap with “GJ Ingram” or “CW Harman’s” or “Wills Ridge Hardware” stitched on them, they will absolutely give you an index finger nod.
• And for sure… if you are at the stop sign turning right and they are turning left, and you can see their eyes, they are definitely going to wave. This applies to you turning left as well.

These are my observations.  Use them as guidelines.  Don’t feel bad if you wave too late.  Don’t be embarrassed if you wave and they don’t.  You will both get over it because you probably didn’t really know each other anyway.  And if you really want to feel good, wave but don’t look at them.  You will never know if you really hosed it up.  So, go ahead and wave…  It’s a very friendly place here in these mountains.  Besides, your little buddy buckled in the seat next to you just might ask why.

Ron Campbell is the owner of The Maggie Gallery. The Maggie Gallery features art, gifts, and custom framing. Come by and say hi!

187 N. Locust St, Floyd VA
facebook.com/TheMaggieGallery
www.TheMaggieGallery.com
540-745-8000

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