Name of Business and Year Opened: The Virginia Store, 1992
Name of owner: Ruth Simmons and 4 partners
How would you describe your business?
We carry items made in Virginia and representative of Virginia so that local people and tourists will have Virginia gifts to give
Briefly describe your typical client/customer.
Our typical customer is 35 years old or older and looking for a peanuts and barbecue sauces and women for jewelry. Business people often want artwork for their offices or gift baskets for clients. Tourists look for peanuts and souvenir items such as magnets, shot glasses, t-shirts and postcards.
What is one thing most people do not know abotu your business that would surprise him/her?
Many people do not realize that we are open seven days a week and only close four days during the year. Some are not aware of the fact that we try to literally have “Virginia Gifts for All Occasions” as our slogan says.
What do you enjoy most about doing business in your district/community?
We have the most wonderful customers imaginable. They are helpful, honest, fun and a pleasure to work with. We have seen them teach each other, carry package for one another, help pay for purchases, give money to a foreign exchange student to enable her to see historic sites in our area, and give other customers advice, directions and coupons for places they would be visiting.
What do you enjoy most about doing business in Hampton Roads?
We deal with a number of small businesses which are close by and unbelievably helpful to one another. We also meet people who come here from all over the world.
What challenges do you face as a business owner?
We are a destination shop as there are not a lot of stores on our street.
What’s in store for your business in the future?
We look forward to a renewal of efforts to bring businesses to downtown. We also look forward to seeing the creative new products which people continually bring to us.
What could local government do to help small busienss owners in your business district (besides lower taxes)?
We need for them to bring more retail shops and restaurants to downtown.
What is one thing your business district needs?
We need to have more shopping options throughout the downtown and for people to understand what is encompassed in the downtown area.
