Meet 14 New Staunton Businesses

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With the holidays approaching, it’s time to introduce some new Staunton businesses to the local community. Whether you’re looking for a new place to shop, toast, dine, or create, there are several exciting options that have recently opened their doors. Take a walk downtown to enjoy the holiday cheer and celebrate Staunton’s newest small businesses.

Restaurants

KIM / 1116 W Beverley Street Suite A

KIM brings an exciting and rare combination of Thai, Singaporean, and Korean dishes to Staunton’s West End. Look for chicken sa-tay, crab rangoon, khao man gai that can be prepared in either Thai or Singaporean style, Thai style poke, Panang or Massaman curries , and specialty dishes like khao kha moo. Save room for mango sticky rice for dessert.

Los Primos / 901 Greenville Avenue

Los Primos Mexican Grill is a family-owned and operated Mexican restaurant serving authentic Mexican fare made with traditional family recipes and fresh ingredients. The big menu includes classics like burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas. There’s also a full salsa bar if you want to test your tolerance for fire! Don’t worry: you can cool your gums with one of their signature margaritas!

Elli Bubble Sweet Tea / 24 E. Beverley Street

Looking for an energy boost and a welcoming spot to hang with your crew? Waleska Ramirez opened Elli Bubble Sweet Tea in September, and customers have been flocking ever since for refreshing bubble teas, warm drinks, pastries, and community. Order something from the menu or start with a base of black, green, or fruit tea, milk, and then add your favorite flavorings and toppings, like fruit jellies, lavender, taro, chocolate, tapioca pearls, and popping boba. Make sure to pass on positive vibes with a message in the Mailbox of Love corner.  

The Frenchman / 36 Middlebrook Avenue in the train station

The Frenchman serves New Orleans-inspired French-Cajun cuisine and brings new life to Staunton’s historic train station. Industry veteran husband and wife team Liz and Kevin aim “to share the beauty, flavor, and artistry of this historical space with great fare and heartfelt hospitality.” The breakfast, lunch, and “happy hour” menu includes mushroom and leek quiche, strawberry and nutella crepes, red beans and rice, and chicken and sausage jambalaya. Down the road, The Frenchman will add cooking classes and a supper club with guest chefs. 

Sama Sama / 101 West Beverley

Sama Sama serves “elevated international street food” made with local ingredients whenever possible. You will find dishes ranging from crawfish au gratin, Mexican marinated steak torta, and purple sweet potato turnovers for dessert. The menu changes to reflect what’s seasonal, and has included special dishes like coq a vin potpie made with Virginia wine for Virginia Wine Month, and tasting menus like the 5-course Oktoberfest German meal with beer pairings. Sama Sama serves cocktails, wine, and craft beer.

Cat Nap Coffee / 834 Spring Hill Road

Ryan Brosmer’s small-batch specialty coffee roaster, Cat Nap Coffee, has expanded into a full cafe that shares the Queen City Brewing space. The new cafe offers coffee, tea, and other beverages like chocolate milk and “steamed milk and flavor.” You can also order small bites and pastries. The space has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and it’s located close to the Art Hive and Gypsy Hill Park. Cat Nap roasted beans and merchandise are also available online.

Hobbies

Queen City Music Studios / 16 West Beverley Street

Molly Murphy’s Queen City Music Studios provides a “one-stop shop” for musicians of all ages and skill levels, including Musikgarten for the youngest learners. Private lessons, group classes, and workshops in voice and a range of instruments emphasize learning music by ear. The music studio also sells new and used instruments, equipment, and accessories. Queen City Music Studios is a community hub, offers opportunities for musicians to connect with jams, rehearsal spaces for bands, and house concerts. Check out Irish Sessions at Marino’s Lunch every 1st and 3rd Thursday for an Irish Jam!

Loose Thread Studio / 2207 North Augusta Street

Husband-and-wife team Lynn and Chris Lindsay opened Loose Thread Studio to give sewists, crafters, and fabric artists a chance to shop in person for high-quality fabrics and notions for quilting, garment sewing, and crafts. They emphasize the importance of tactile experience in selecting fabrics. Get in touch to schedule a customizable lesson to learn skills or get help with a project. Down the road, the couple plans to offer sew-in events and community sewing classes.

Self-Care

La Sunflower /123 S Augusta Street

Janelle and Jeff Greenmun’s La Sunflower provides organic body care and wellness solutions using non-toxic and consciously crafted ingredients in its small-batch products. They sell aromatherapy candles, holistic salves, elixirs, skin products like moisturizers, cleansers, soaps, creams, make-up, and a variety of full-spectrum CBD products.

Legacy of The Rose /14 Byers Street, Suite 1

Ashley Devi’s Legacy of The Rose is a center for healing and enlightenment offering various holistic and spiritual workshops, classes, and sessions that blend Eastern and Western practices. Visitors can attend guided meditation and Reiki sharing sessions, sound baths, workshops on overcoming grief, recovery circles, moon ceremonies, and more. The center aims to be an inclusive and supportive community for people on personal spiritual or healing journeys. “Healing is sacred. Community is medicine.”

Shopping

Atlas and Ember / 9 Middlebrook Avenue

Breanna Decker-Grant, owner of Juniper Lane vintage clothing boutique and certified wedding planner, has opened Atlas and Ember, a vintage bridal shop dedicated to connecting modern brides with unique and beautiful gowns from past eras. The service is personal, elevated, and by appointment only. The curated selection of gowns ranges from the 1950s to the 1990s and includes a small selection of more recent pieces that are exceptional in quality and craftmanship. Atlas and Ember also offers accessories and a small collection of size-inclusive gowns. 

Geek Boutique / 17 West Beverley Street

Geek Boutique sells your favorite “geek culture” items, including art, books, toys, fidgets, page holders, comics, trading cards, t-shirts, and collectibles. Pop culture enthusiasts can find unique and hard-to-find items like handmade apparel and accessories. Sick of scouring the internet for your next obsession and hoping you’re going to actually get the item you ordered? Geek Boutique offers the chance to shop local and scope out your purchases before you buy them!

The Queen Bee / 101 North Augusta Street

Looking for a beautiful advent calendar? The Queen Bee is a Southern Christian boutique that stocks them as well as art by local artists, books, jewelry, home and garden decor, and devotional materials. Owners Scarlett and Ryan Danraj focus on stocking faith-based items, but shoppers can also find consignment clothing, and a line of ballet gifts to support their neighbor, The Staunton Academy of Ballet. 

Sleepy Outlaw / 32 South New Street

Sleepy Outlaw is a hat and mattress store. Yes, you heard that right! They promise to “top off your style and upgrade your sleep game.” They stock fedoras, cowboy hats, and a selection of mattresses, including split tops. The store provides expert mattress matching and the hat of your dreams.

Looking for a new place to dine, shop for holiday gifts, start a new hobby, or just get a better night’s sleep? Check out these new Staunton businesses today!