Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
A Blacksburg developer has announced plans for a unique venture near the downtown area.
John Boyer said this will be a three-in-one business model that combines three distinct and complimentary commercial entities under one roof.
“Draper Provisions will be a high-end gourmet food retailer and kitchen supply store with a specialty cheese/charcuterie counter, and The Library Cafe will be a rustic, European-influenced, casual neighborhood restaurant with outdoor patio area. They will be separated by what we are calling the Middle Market area designed for grab-and-go beverages, prepared lunch/dinner items, and other daily consumption goods,” he said.
All three are accessible to customers within the single building, giving it an open-market feel on the interior reminiscent of Italian markets that are prolific in bigger metropolitan areas. According to Boyer, it will be a first for Blacksburg.
The business will be located at 405 Draper Rd. in a location that has served as a laundry mat, restaurant and Rocket Music store. The site will include approximately 5,570 sq. ft. plus outdoor space for outdoor seating and parking.
The Draper Provisions component stays in theme with a more rustic and rural flavor, utilizing unique elements like vintage Virginia apple crates for display shelving and other antique furniture pieces as functional decor that is reminiscent of a ‘general store’ from a past era, but updated with the modern international gourmet delights alongside local artisanal products and produce.
According to Boyer, the shop will be a visually appealing and inviting space that engages all the senses, with displays that showcase the products in an attractive way. There will be a balance between unique and hard-to-find international items, such as artisanal cheeses, chocolates and exotic spices, and locally sourced products from nearby farms, producers and artisans, fostering a sense of community and supporting local businesses.
“Draper Provisions will also have a program of regular cheese tastings, wine tastings and new product tastings on a weekly basis,” said Boyer. “We want to introduce and educate our community about the products we carry and those that produce them, including locally sourced vendors.
“We envision having monthly special events such as bringing in local producers for meet-and-greets, conducting special cooking classes incorporating our products, and offering services like customized gift baskets and complimentary knife-sharpening,” he added.
Over in the café, the cuisine will focus on small plates with a few entrees complemented by an international wine selection as well as crafted cocktails. Soups, salads, and sandwiches are the core of the casual fare, but setting the bar slightly higher in terms of ingredients, creativity, and presentation. Desserts and full specialty coffee offerings (cappuccino, espresso, etc.) will also be available.
There will be a full-service, professional restaurant kitchen to serve the Library Café, which will have indoor and outdoor seating for 40-50 in each respective space. The area also envisions an open-pit BBQ event tailgate party during VT football season.
Boyer imagines a small sea of white umbrellas on a sunny summer day, covering clients dining and sipping Chardonnay, surrounded by greenery and planters, which also wrap around the Miller Street side of the building.
“A cosmopolitan scene straight out of Milan or Paris or Barcelona, but right here in Blacksburg,” he said.
John and Katie Pritchard, the developers of the new project, are the founders and owners of the Blacksburg Wine Lab, Inc.
The company has finalized the construction and improvement plans, secured the entitlements and now is initiating improvements to the building and surrounding property.
The key, according to Boyer, is finding additional investors so the project will include the purchase of the entire building and site.
“The value just keeps going up, no matter what is happening on the state, national or international arenas, and a business property that is on the fringe of the historic downtown area at that. We believe our Draper Road project may become a new epicenter of action for the town as well, so we are super excited to invite investors to become part of the process as partial landowners in our bustling business district. Investment details are available at https://www.draperprovisions.com/propco,” he said.
The new business’s target audience will be downtown business professionals, local government workers, university employees, as well as busy students that traverse the area on a regular basis.
“All of whom appreciate convenience and are willing to pay for a diverse selection of quality products to go,” Boyer said.
He hopes to have the business open by the third week in May, the week of graduation at Virginia Tech.
