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Meet the Staff Christian, Chelsea and Sienna are amongst the friendly faces on staff at Spoke & Art Provisions.
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Owner Steve Rose opened Spoke & Art to provide a fun escape for cyclists, joggers and others who enjoy the outdoors.
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Profile shot of the grounds at Spoke & Art Provisions.
Whether you are dropping in for a cup of coffee, stopping by on a break from your bike ride on the Virginia Capital Trail or hanging out on the deck with a bottle of beer or wine listening to live music, you will find a home away from home at the new Spoke & Art Provisions Co. at the corner of John Tyler Highway and Greensprings Road.
Spoke & Art is a combination café and corner convenience store. Proprietor Steve Rose’s hope is for his latest venture to become a community gathering spot for nearby neighborhoods and for those who frequent the Capital Trail. At Spoke & Art, patrons can pop in for coffee, drinks, sweets, snacks and sandwiches to enjoy inside, on the deck, or on-the-go, or they can stock up on cycling supplies including pumps, locks, lights and helmets. The store carries a selection of local beer, wine and other products and gifts such as posters, stickers, cards, t-shirts, bags and mugs.
The idea for Spoke & Art, three years in the making, stemmed from Rose’s experience with Eco Discovery Park, an organization he previously founded to promote a love of nature and being outdoors.
“I really enjoyed the people I met at Eco Discovery Park, the people who loved being outside, biking and adventure,” Rose said. “Since the Capital Trail goes right through our property here, I wanted to create a place where those people could come hang out. I also wanted to create a community space where people who live nearby can walk to or bike to and also hang out.”
Spoke & Art offers two-hour bike rentals, including traditional bikes as well as recumbent bikes. There is a self-serve fix-it bike station outside the building and a bathroom for 24-hour use for those on the trail. Trail users and locals have embraced Spoke & Art since its opening in May 2020.
“It’s been fantastic,” Rose said. “People love the place. It’s especially been a lot of fun to see neighborhood kids come by on their bikes and pooling their money together to buy some candy or ice cream. It brings me back to my childhood.”
There is live music on Monday evenings on the deck. On Thursdays, Rose, who is from England, offers a traditional British afternoon tea with homemade scones with clotted cream and jam, macarons, cake and finger sandwiches. The afternoon tea has been a hit with mothers and daughters. Roughly 40 runners from a local running club meet at Spoke & Art on Thursday evenings, while local cycling clubs also gather throughout the week.
Eventually, Rose would like to expand his own menu and invite food trucks to set up in the parking lot to spice it up for his customers. Rose, who has operated Williamsburg Event Rentals for the past 25 years and co-founded culturefix, an organization that promotes art and music, envisions Spoke & Art as another asset to Williamsburg.
“I really want this to be a place where the community comes together,” he said.
Brandy and her family can routinely be found bike riding along the Virginia Capital Trail as well as along Jamestown Island.
