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Photo by Kimberly A. King Photography.
Warsaw mural welcomes visitors to Main Street.
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Photo by Corey Miller.
Angie Sanders, owner of Angie’s Strength + Style Boutique.
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Photo by Corey Miller.
The Warsaw Town Park includes a gazebo, public restrooms, playground area and dog park. Many events are hosted in the park throughout the year. A Fourth Friday Concert series kicked off May 28th and continues through the summer, 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
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Photo by Kimberly A. King Photography.
Warsaw’s Main Street after years of revitalization efforts implemented by the town of Warsaw, Northern Neck Planning District Commission, Warsaw Richmond Co. Main Street Program and business owners.
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Photo by Corey Miller.
Terri Crowder, owner of Northern Neck Popcorn Bag, with son and Chief Financial Officer Robert Brauning. They sell over 50 varieties of popcorn which may be purchased at one of their brick and mortar stores or online.
When future generations look back, perhaps the greatest measure of success for Warsaw will be that the town saw the opening of multiple businesses during the pandemic, while all around, other localities saw businesses closing in record numbers.
It wasn’t that long ago that Warsaw was a sleepy town. Decaying buildings and barely a handful of active businesses offered no incentive to stop for the 20,000 cars that drive through Warsaw daily. Far too many county residents spent their money elsewhere when they needed to shop or wanted to eat out.
By 2016, the need for improvement became so overwhelming that a group of residents and local organizations asked Town Council to proceed with plans to revitalize downtown Warsaw. Richmond County’s planning and zoning administrator, Joseph Quesenberry, was hired as town manager in November 2016 and got the ball rolling. “When they hired me, the council said they wanted me to help them make the town better,” he says.
“Better” would be putting it mildly, as evidenced by the recognition the town has received for its efforts, winning both the 2019 Virginia Municipal League (VML) Innovation Award for Economic Development and the 2021 Best Downtown Revitalization award. “We’re building a tourist destination, a really great place where people want to live, work and play,” says Quesenberry, noting that the town has added 200 jobs over two years with new businesses.
The revitalization process began with community input from both residents and business owners about what they’d like to have in a reimagined Warsaw. More things to do, more businesses and better walkability topped the list. Once the town leaders and the county were on board, it was time to apply for a $35,000 state planning grant to lay out their vision for a 21st-century Warsaw.
“Then we went up for a bigger grant to implement all of our ideas,” says Hillary Pugh Kent, the vice chair of the Board of Directors for the Warsaw Richmond County Main Street Program. “We needed funds to cover hanging flower baskets to incentive money to attract new businesses and everything in between.” Jerry Davis, executive director of the Northern Neck Planning District Commission, warned that they were up against some very stiff competition for the grant that year and advised them to wait until the next year to apply. “That call seemed devastating after all the years and work we’d put into our vision,” Kent admits.
But the one-year delay paid off and in 2017, Warsaw not only got the grant funding, but was awarded the largest amount in the state, one million dollars.
Next came grant funds from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for sidewalk improvements, while a combination of Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and National Fish and Wildlife grants allowed the town to address its stormwater and downtown flooding issues.
“My thing is that perception is reality,” Quesenberry says of a long-abandoned eyesore of a shopping center along Route 360 that was acquired through eminent domain. The grants allowed piping to be installed to use the runoff from Main Street, which flooded frequently, and divert it to a two-acre pond that cleans the water, treats it and returns it to the Rappahannock River. Far from merely functional, the scenic pond is surrounded by walking trails. And although the site had become known as “The Bottom” over recent years, in fact, as far back as the 1800s, it was called “The Bounds,” so the new recreational area has been rechristened with its original name.
With funding in place from additional grants and its own coffers, the town spent the next two years making the ideas from the planning grant reality, improving business facades, laying new sidewalks, adding pedestrian walkways, planting trees, posting signage, extending parking and attracting new business. “The town invested money to bring in new businesses by offering local financial incentives,” Quesenberry says. “We went door to door, literally cold-calling to attract businesses like Angie’s, Chesapeake Doughnut Co., Northern Neck Popcorn and Burkes.”
Terri Crowder, owner of Northern Neck Popcorn Bag, admits that she wouldn’t have opened her third location in Warsaw if not for the revitalization efforts. “It made a lot of sense, it was a cute space and the sidewalks are beautiful,” she says. “People in Warsaw were starving for new amenities and now they can shop, experience and eat close to home. It’s exciting to come in when all this is happening.”
Michelle’s Sweet Treats specializes in baked goods and breads, custom cakes and dog treats, but has also recently begun offering chicken and sausage biscuits. In business for five years, owner Michelle Snapp chose Warsaw because it was affordable and up and coming. “One thing I’ve learned is that the town has really helped local businesses succeed,” she says.
Old Rapp Taphouse—soon to be Old Rappahannock Brewing Company—opened in July 2020 after owner Andy Beale heard about a plan to transform the business district into a lively entertainment district. He acquired a property right in the middle of the revitalization area and began working to restore five storefronts to their potential. The last storefront will be filled by Old Rappahannock Brewing Company in early 2022. Ask about his business experience in Warsaw and Beale says that what comes to mind is the classic movie line, “ ‘If you build it, they will come.’ I’m no Ray Kinsella, but I knew in my bones that Warsaw was ready for a rebirth. The state recognized that the plan was well thought out and the time was right to bring Warsaw back to life.”
As much as has already been accomplished, Warsaw has more to come. A community market is in the works next to Relish Restaurant & Wine Bar once USDA grant funding comes through. Besides the market area, it will feature a second story deck for quasi-rooftop dining over a dedicated parking area. Having an open-air building devoted to the now-weekly farmers’ market will allow it to be open Fridays and Saturdays rather than just one day a week. After the success of the 48 Midtown apartment units, which were occupied as soon as they were available, the town is working on adding a 100-home subdivision as further encouragement for people to come live, work and play in Warsaw.
Gabe del Rio opened his second Chesapeake Doughnut Co. after seeing what was happening with the downtown revitalization. “The town staff, along with Council, were all so welcoming,” he says. “The incentives and more, the concierge-like welcoming service they provide businesses with, are outstanding. We just couldn’t say no to such a charming downtown.” The savory breakfast and lunch menu lineup was developed for the Warsaw location, eventually becoming popular at the White Stone shop as well.
Owners Fred and Karen Burke of Burkes Fine Jewelers opened their second location, in Warsaw. Their main store is located in Kilmarnock. “It’s exciting to be a groundfloor business in the revitalized town of Warsaw,” says Karen Burke.
Colonial Collectibles, Ltd., is one of the town’s elders, having been in business for 30 years. Owner Julie Christopher grew up in Warsaw and wanted to stay local once she and her mother-in-law decided to open a home/gift shop in town. “The people here are very supportive of small businesses and that’s shown more than ever during the pandemic,” Christopher says. She’s grateful to the town for doing an outstanding job bringing in new businesses and updating the look of the town. “It’s a huge improvement and gives Warsaw a quaint, hometown feel.”
Another mainstay for the past eight years is Relish, a restaurant that used to be the block’s only inhabitant. “Now look at us,” owner Carol Mead Smith (and sister of KG Smith who owns The Daily in Warsaw) says of the bustling area. “I drove my 93-year-old grandmother—a Warsaw native—through here and she said it hasn’t looked this good since the war!”
In November 2009, Shelley Pierson started Willow Stitch, an embroidery and decorated apparel shop, in her house part-time, then moved to Tappahannock for three years. When Warsaw put out a Facebook post looking for new businesses, Pierson found the incentives too good to turn down. “There was still work to do on the building, but the positives outweighed the negative,” Pierson says. “We love our little spot in town.”
Offering women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, Angie’s Strength + Style Boutique began in the garage of Willow Stitch and moved across the road last November. Owner Angie Sanders has learned how valuable community support is to small businesses. “Our local customers are the best,” Sanders says. “Our town may be little, but our heart is big and I’m grateful to be a tiny part of Main Street.”
Walking or even driving through Warsaw today reveals a very different town than a few years ago. Colorful way-finding signage is scattered throughout the town, pointing visitors in the direction of everything from the brewery to the library to the Enchanted Forest walking trails. Appropriately enough, there’s even an indicator for Warsaw, Poland. Handsome larger signs announce Warsaw at the entry points to town, while the historic 1830s Saddlery building has been relocated to the town park.
Warsaw has partnered with the Menokin Foundation to offer Rappahannock Outdoor Adventures, a canoe and kayak rental enterprise, in the vein of a Parks and Recreation offering. A Fourth Friday Concert series began May 28th and continues through summer from 6:00 to 9:00 pm featuring bands of various genres—rock, bluegrass, ‘80s, ‘90s—every month.
“If you’re not identifying things that need to be accomplished next, you’re not making this a better community,” Quesenberry asserts. “We’re not going to let our energy die off. We came together and accomplished a goal of fundamentally changing the trajectory of a town with declining population and an atrophied commercial corridor. We created something everyone is now proud to be part of.”
Graylend Horn’s Ace Hardware store opened in February, the building creating a welcoming statement at the intersection of Route 360 and Main Street. Still to come is getting the 13’ x 22’ silo painted with “Ace, the helpful place,” and landscaping. “When all that’s done, it’s going to tie everything together in an old school kind of way.” Horn explains. “Then we’re going to add a digital sign to help market Main Street and local events.”
That the revitalization was a joint venture is a common theme. “So many people believed in this project and when it comes to the Northern Neck, we’re all stronger together,” Kent says. “Now with Warsaw providing the extra spoke in the wheel, we’re yet another economic driver.”
According to Davis, when a community brings in a lot of new activity, the quality of life improves and that attracts new people to the region. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. From the planning commission and the state’s perspective, Warsaw is exactly how everyone wants their revitalization project to come together,” he says, noting that the town invested a lot of local money into the effort. “It was a true partnership at all levels of government, and everybody worked together.”
Del Rio is more succinct in his message to the state and local government officials who facilitated the Warsaw revitalization. “Bravo, well done! You have set a shining example for other small towns to follow.”
Town of Warsaw: townofwarsaw.com
Warsaw Richmond County Main Street Program: wrcmsp.com
Northern Neck Popcorn Bag: northernneckpopcornbag.com
Michelle’s Sweet Treats: michellessweettreats.weebly.com
Old Rappahannock Taphouse & Brewing Company: oldrapp.com
Chesapeake Doughnut Co.: cdoughnut.com
Colonial Collectibles, Ltd.: shopcolonialcollectibles.com
Relish Restaurant & Wine Bar: relishnnk.com
The Daily: Find them on Facebook
Willow Stitch: willowstitch.com
Angie’s Strength + Style Boutique: angiesandersstrengthandstyle.com
Burkes Fine Jewelers: burkesjewelers.com
Horn’s Ace Hardware: hornsacehardware.com