The Shenandoah Valley wouldn’t be the same without independent businesses along the Beerwerks Trail. These companies provide jobs and local goods, and they are also dedicated to our communities. Each year, there’s a nationwide push to spend holiday dollars at local shops, but this year it’s more crucial than ever. Every product you buy helps these businesses stay afloat. Each dollar supports area providers and helps keep people employed.
Are you still trying to fill the gaps in your gifting list? Here are some local Valley businesses offering unique products this holiday season. Read on to find perfect last-minute gifts and wonderful treats for yourself!
Beerwerks Breweries:
Most Beerwerks breweries are offering gift cards, growlers and/or other merchandise. Stop by the taprooms or follow the links below to score fantastic gifts and stocking stuffers!
Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery: Not only can you have Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery wines shipped to many states, you can also order gift baskets online for store pickup. Choose between red and white wines, and your gift basket will pair the wine with a selection of delicious Virginia’s Finest snacks all packed in a festive basket or tin.
Heliotrope Brewery: “Give the gift of Heliotrope this year! Call us, order over the phone, and we will mail it anywhere.” 540-458-3846.
Devils Backbone Outpost Tap Room & Kitchen: Ready-to-drink cocktails ship to anywhere in Virginia. Merchandise includes growlers, bandanas, shirts, sunglasses, koozies, coolers, dog accessories, and much more. Order online or visit the brewery.
Rockbridge Vineyard and Brewery: Growlers and more for sale in onsite gift shop.
Stable Craft Brewing: Enjoy craft beer with up to seven of your besties in one of the igloos at Stable Craft Brewing. You’ll also want to grab some Stable Craft holiday gift cards, which make awesome gifts for foodies, beer and cider lovers. Buy them in the taproom or online and later redeem them for Stable Craft merchandise like t-shirts, hats, and new Beer Hound dog collars and leashes for your dog.
Seven Arrows Brewing: Get your hands on a 2021 beer calendar or a new Seven Arrows Brewing sweatshirt. If you know someone who really likes to make a good impression, Seven Arrows sells beer glasses for all your beer needs, including goblets, pints, and pilsner glasses.
Basic City Beer Co. sells gift cards, hats, shirts, and glassware in the taproom.
Skipping Rock Beer Company is serving up holiday cheer in special 2020 Christmas glasses. Get them as well as plenty more Skipping Rock merch like shirts, hats, glassware, koozies, and of course delicious beer at the taproom or online.
Redbeard Brewing Company has hoodies, hats, glassware, beer soap, and gift cards online.
Queen City Brewing is offering 20% off all gift cards in December.
Shenandoah Valley Brewing Co.: Stop by the taproom for t-shirts, stickers, and growlers.
The Friendly Fermenter: Stock up on all your homebrewing needs at The Friendly Fermenter. You’ll find specialty yeasts, grains, and more.
Brothers Craft Brewing has merchandise for sale in the taproom and online, including hats, beanies, and gift bags.
Pale Fire Brewing Co.: Check here to find gift cards as well as t-shirts, disc golf discs, beer koozies, posters, pins, and sunglasses.
Three Notch’d Valley Collab House: Check the taproom or website for gift cards and a nice selection of apparel and poster prints.
Restless Moons Brewing Company: Check out the taproom for merchandise like sweatshirts. Gift cards are available online.
Elkton Brewing Co.: Hats, shirts, steins, and other merchandise can be purchased in the taproom.
Cave Hill Farms Brewery: Gift cards, apparel, and glassware can be purchased on site.
Rockbridge County and Lexington:
Sugar Maple Trading Company
Sugar Maple Trading Company is one of more than 35 indie-owned shops and galleries in historic downtown Lexington. Peek in the window to enjoy a dynamic window display before coming inside to find that one-of-a-kind item that you don’t even know you’ve been looking for. You’ll find all kinds of wonderful gifts including scarves, lotions and personal care items, syrups, stationery, garden items, Virginia swag, and more. If you shop online, you can use the gift recommendation tool that helps you pick a thematic gift or something based on the recipient’s personality.
The Quiltery
If you have a quilter on your gift list, you can’t afford to miss a shopping stop at The Quiltery in Fairfield. This cheerful shop, touted as one of the best fabric stores in the mid-Atlantic, is packed with colorful fabrics, kits, threads and sewing supplies. The Quiltery offers classes that you can sign up for and take over Zoom.
Wade’s Mill
Wade’s Mill has been grinding 100% natural, whole grain products with no additives, preservatives or bleaches since 1750! You can visit Virginia’s oldest continuously operating commercial grist mill for a shot of beautiful scenery and a taste of history. Take home bags of delicious fresh-to-order products sourced from local or regional farms or order them online.
Virginia Gold Asian Pear Orchard
Select a bag of scrumptious Asian pears while enjoying the mountain view from the Virginia Gold Asian Pear Orchard. Up to 16 tree-ripened varieties of this hard-to-find fruit are hand picked and waiting. The family-run orchard also sells persimmons, chestnuts, Chinese dates, black raspberries, blackberries, raw honey, apple cider vinegar, Asian pear marmalade and syrup, produce, and other local products. Visit the farm store to pick up freshly harvested fruits and local produce, or order online for home delivery.
Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro:
The Cheese Shop
If you’re planning to bake or put together gift baskets this holiday season, The Cheese Shop is a wonderful source for bulk and organic ingredients, spices, snacks, deli items, and local treats like honey and jams. You’ll also find baking tools including inexpensive but quality Rada knives. The Cheese Shop has added an online shopping page so you can order ahead of time for pickup.
Valley Pike Farm Market
Weyers Cave’s Valley Pike Farm Market stocks a wide variety of Virginia-made goods, wares, foods, and more than 300 different craft beers and wines. Stock up for the holidays and support small business and local agribusinesses. Grab a burger from Old School Burgers, a cup of locally roasted coffee at Rumor Mill coffee, or a triple-layered cake at Sweet Creations.
ltd7
If you’re looking for something cute to wear for the holidays or for a unique gift to brighten someone’s home with a boho cottage vintage vibe, stop in to see what’s new at ltd7. They carry casual, trendy fashions for men, women, and children as well as home decor, gifts, jewelry, handbags, and holiday items.
JMD Farm Market and Garden Center
JMD Farm Market and Garden Center is located in beautiful Augusta County between Staunton and Waynesboro. Peruse the selection of quality local plants like annuals, perennials and veggie starts as well as eggs, meat, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and other local farm products. Shop the new retail space for pottery, garden décor and gifts like bath bombs and snacks.
Art for Gifts
The Staunton Augusta Art Center’s annual Art for Gifts event is open until December 31st. Select special one-of-a-kind gifts created by 70 local and regional artists. This juried marketplace features paintings, drawings, photography, textile art, pottery, stained glass, jewelry, holiday ornaments and more. The hours for in-person shopping are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m. You can also shop online or make an appointment for a 30-minute private shopping experience on a Wednesday afternoon.
Made; By the People
Since 2013, Made; By the People has been bringing local products and quirky gifts to downtown Staunton. Make sure you grab a 2020 Staunton holiday ornament. You’ll find more Staunton swag as well as artisanal chocolate, tarot cards, books, jewelry, clothing, garden gifts, Click here to see the online catalogue. If you’re really in the festive mood, why not grab up to nine of your best buddies and reserve a private shopping hour? Your $50 deposit will be donated to the food bank and Made will match your donation.
Pufferbellies Toys & Books
Pufferbellies is the biggest independent, specialty toy store in the Shenandoah Valley. You’ll find delights for all ages, including books, games, art supplies, and building toys. The carefully curated collection is designed for inventive and imaginative play. This magical store opened in 2006 and is owned and operated by the mother/daughter team of Susan Blanton and Erin Blanton. Susan, a former children’s librarian, handles the book ordering while Erin is in charge of the toys.
Initial Inspiration
Waynesboro’s Initial Inspiration sells apparel, jewelry, and bags that can all be personalized with in-house embroidery to identify the owner or commemorate a special event. If you’re looking for a gift, or if you want to unify your bridal party or inspire your team, Initial Inspiration can make it happen!
Pyramid
Pyramid is a new age apothecary in Waynesboro serving your Appalachian magick and holistic remedy needs. This unique shop sells natural items like stones, feathers, bones, and shells as well as candles, herbs, and teas. The store is open for in-person shopping, but you can also shop their attractive webpage.
Luke’s Hobbies
Luke’s Hobbies brings all major brands of RC Surface and Air vehicles to Waynesboro. You can also find slot cars, model kits, hobby supplies, paint, and accessories. Try your hand (and your slot car) on the onsite scale ¼ drag strip. Check out the website for RC race rules, events, and to connect with this exciting community.
Faded Poppy Mercantile
Faded Poppy Mercantile’s inventory of fresh floral arrangements and merchandise like candles, clothing, stationery, decor, and quirky gifts is located online at this point. You can also consult with them for your wedding day floral needs and wedding coordination services.
Shenandoah Valley Art Center
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center Winter Market showcases handmade artisan works like original paintings and drawings, jewelry, cards, pottery, wood, glass, and textile art, and more from local and regional artists. This year the annual opportunity for artists to sell their work will run from November 13 to January 8, 2021 at the Shenandoah Valley Art Center in Waynesboro.
Rockingham County and Harrisonburg:
Rockingham County’s Downtown Dayton and Downtown Elkton both have a lot to offer the shopper looking for locally owned businesses. Downtown Dayton is one of the country’s oldest main streets and sports lots of businesses like Hopeful Things, a beautiful shop where you can score kitchen decor, plants, and gifts and Nanny’s Nook, an old-fashioned shop selling Virginia and handmade goods.
Downtown Elkton is a small town on the edge of the Shenandoah River. It boasts businesses such as Elkton Brewing, where you can get delicious craft beer by the can or bottle, and Blue Elk Coffee Company, where you can buy not only locally roasted coffee, but also browse a variety of gifts and products available for purchase.
Every Soul Acres
Keezletown’s Every Soul Acres sells pick-your-own pumpkins and fresh sunflowers during the fall. They open again for Christmas tree season. Select and cut concolor fir, Canaan fir, Douglas fir, blue spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, and pre-cut Fraser firs. You can also round out your holiday decorations with wreaths and centerpieces made from several types of fresh greenery.
The Dayton Market
The Dayton Market is a collection of specialty shops selling items like crafts, collectibles, handmade food, and handcrafted gifts since 1987. Shops include Rusty Willow Decor, Tic Tac Toys, The Cheese Place, and Warfels Chocolates.
J&B Country Store
There’s a lot to take in at Broadway’s Ben Franklin J&B Country Store. You’ll find antiques, handcrafted items by local artists, home and holiday decor, party and school supplies, housewares, sewing supplies and much more. Hungry? Grab something delicious at The Country Cafe & Bakery. Check Facebook for specials. We guarantee your stomach will growl!
Elk Run Mining Company
If you like unique jewelry with a special connection to Virginia, Harrisonburg’s Elk Run Mining Company’s wares should be appealing. The jewelry sets locally sourced and brilliantly colored cabochons (polished gems that are not cut into facets) into sterling silver or 18K gold.
OASIS Fine Art & Craft
If you’re shopping for a special gift in the Harrisonburg area, visit OASIS Fine Art & Craft for local art. You’ll find a range of fine art and contemporary crafts including paintings, stained glass, pottery, fiber art, jewelry and more. This non-profit organization’s gallery is open for in-person visits, and if you’re there on a Saturday, you might catch an artist at work. OASIS also offers a curated selection of items to browse and purchase online.
Lineage
Another good place for handmade gifts is Lineage, which showcases simple, heirloom-quality waxed canvas and leather bags that have been created by hand in Harrisonburg. The bags are designed for everyday use and will develop a beautiful patina. The store also carries candles, clothing, and home goods.
Heritage Bakery & Café
If all the shopping in Harrisonburg has made you hungry, grab a bite at Heritage Bakery & Café located in the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center. The French-inspired bakery serves all-day breakfast, lunch, items for kids, and pastries like incredible-tasting apple tarts. You can special order cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and picnic tea parties baskets, which are packed with goodies and served on vintage tea sets.
