Shop Local…. Online.
It certainly has been a wild ride these past few months with so many of the little things we take for granted suddenly with operating rules of six foot distance, mask-wearing, or take-out dining only. Many people have been looking into alternative ways to get supplies to their homes and online shopping is often a go-to resource.
We all know that the big box stores are an easy click away, they keep your financial info and address stored so that you only need to whisper what you need and a few days later… poof! It’s at your door. But what about the small businesses that we have all come to love within our communities? In Shenandoah County, So many of the small businesses have stepped right up to the plate and knocked their Covid response right out of the park, offering not only curbside pick up or local delivery options, but full on web-shopping that can be delivered anywhere in the United States.
Now anyone can pick up a taste of Shenandoah County from the comfort and safety of home. Consider, the Shenandoah Valley is becoming known throughout the US as having amazing soil and climate for wineries to grow their grapes. Shenandoah County is home to nine different wineries and several are offering online sales for shipment. Take Star in the Valley Estate Winery near Strasburg for example. It is one of the newest wineries in the region but the owners are not new to the industry, Cara Mroczek is a fourth generation grape grower. Cara grew up on a 2,000 acre farm, with 40 acres of grapes, she and her husband, Shane Waller opened Star in the Valley Estate Winery and tasting room a couple of years ago. They offer online shopping and will ship to 38 states. And while you won’t be able to see the incredible views by day and the star-filled sky at night, it’s a nice thing to think about while sipping wine.
Get even more of a taste of the Valley with any one of these other great Shenandoah County wineries. Shipping to select states:
Muse Vineyards
Cave Ridge Vineyards
Shenandoah Vineyards
For your grocery needs, Jon Henry General Store has a great inventory of items on their website for online shopping. They are truly a general store in every way, offering local produce and canned goods, plus a unique selection of non-perishable items, everything from local apples and hydroponic lettuce to beef jerky and corn chips.
Swover Creek Farms and Brewery is an incredibly innovative Century Farm, meaning that it has been in the same family for over a hundred years. Their creative style has kept them in business through the generations. During this current situation, they were quick to shift gears and offer their amazing sausages, pizzas, homemade pretzels and even their handcrafted beer menu through their new online store. Then of course, Shenandoah County is home to the famous Route 11 Potato Chips. The chips are so good, you’ll really want to stock up. Their website even calls you to try out some interesting recipes made with Route 11 Potato Chips. See, you really CAN live off of them! They ship to all fifty states and offer a handy shipping guide to calculate the costs.
Finally, with galleries closed and most large public events cancelled throughout the spring, many artists are unable to sell their work or set up for street fairs which they spend a lot of time and money preparing for. There are at least two Shenandoah County artisans who utilize online shopping platforms to sell their pottery. Barbarah Robertson Pottery has been running a very successful online shopping experience through her ETSY shop. Her work is rustic, utilitarian and beautiful. Kary Haun Studio mostly sells her work through galleries and shops in Virginia and has switched to an online sales platform on her website click on the “Available Pieces” tab at the top of the page. The items listed would make wonderful gifts or better yet as a self-care purchase. Nothing like a handmade cup to sip your favorite warm beverage. Another Shenandoah County artist who has been a leader in online sales is Kay Witt https://kaywitt.com/ her realistic pastel paintings of animals are stunning and she has a full gallery of work for sale on her site, and while she had once maintained a full schedule of workshops and classes in her studio, she has now made her demonstrations available online through her Wild Wolf Portraits YouTube channel and offers free classes and demonstrations via Facebook Live.
We are really looking forward to a time when visitors can travel to Shenandoah County again to find our shops and restaurants open as normal. In the absence of normal, you know you can look online and have a little piece of our valley delivered to your doorstep. Until that time…. We’ll be waiting for you.