Shop + Dine Out Is Ending: Sit Outside While You Can!

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By this time of year, you’ve likely gotten used to downtown Staunton closing to vehicular traffic and transforming into a pedestrian mall each weekend. What a way to experience the best of Staunton’s welcoming community, notable restaurants, and unique boutiques! However, winter is on the horizon. While that means the return of cozy drinks and warm sweaters, it also signals the end of Shop + Dine Out Downtown’s 2025 season. Before October passes, here’s how to make the most of the final weekends of dining outdoors, catching up with neighbors, browsing merchandise, listening to live music, and sitting outside.

Shop + Dine Out Retail Therapy

Downtown retailers are open during their regular hours, but some additionally offer an outdoor display of their products. 

• Clothing and accessories at Staunton’s boutiques appeals to a range of tastes and styles. Design At Nine, Latitudes, and CFO Trading Company carry contemporary fashion. Find sustainable vintage apparel at Juniper Lane Vintage and Heard the Store. Billy Opal carries a little of both.
• Staunton’s shops stock unique gifts, novelty items, greeting cards, souvenirs, and home décor. Look for great gifts at Queen Bee, Made; By the People, Heirloom Home, Little Shoppe of Crystals, Marion’s Candles Scents and Seasons, and Foxtails. Bonfire Begonia carries handmade gifts, and Burrow and Vine has plant-themed items for the home.

• Words Matter, The Book Dragon, and Staunton Books and Tea cater to bibliophiles. CoArt Gallery exhibits and sells the work of over 40 local artists.
• Hobbyists can find their passions at Frontline Model Kits & Hobbies, Heifetz International Music Institute, Staunton Olive Oil, or Beverley Cigar Store.

Shop + Dine Out Participating Restaurants 

Staunton has a wide variety of restaurants with spaces to sit outside. Enjoy them before the weather gets cold!

Light Bites

• Cranberry’s Grocery & Eatery sells fresh coffee, smoothies, and light breakfast and lunch options, and The By & By has coffee, pastries, and sandwiches to enjoy in their beer garden. The Pampered Palate has a yummy menu packed with sandwiches and quiche. Don’t miss the world’s best grilled cheese at Yelping Dog.
• Grab a coffee and some bread for later from Reunion Espresso & Bakery or stop at Crucible Coffee Roasters to enjoy your morning latte in a pretty spot overlooking the creek and Landes Park.

Don’t go hungry

• Along with a full menu of American comfort food, Byers Street Bistro, is mixing six seasonal cocktails for fall. And you shouldn’t let Octoberfest season pass without trying the Bratenburger smash burger at Remedy Burger. 
• Get fresh seafood and cocktails at BLU Point Seafood Co. BLU Point’s sister restaurant, Zynodoa, specializes in “inspired Southern cuisine” and focuses on local ingredients. Both restaurants have full bars.

• Baja Bean Co. specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine. Shenandoah Pizza & Taphouse creates specialty pies named for local landmarks and businesses. Both serve a wide selection of craft beers, wine, and cocktails.
• New to Beverley is Sama-Sama International Cuisine and Elli Bubble Sweet Tea.
• Save room for fresh gelato from The Split Banana or a topping-laden Belgian waffles from Sweet Addie’s.

Sips

• Weekly guided tastings at Accordia feature eight wines and a wealth of information about how the wines were made and how to appreciate their nuances when tasting. (Fridays, 5-8 pm)
• Ox-Eye Vineyards, The Green Room, and Yelping Dog Wine sell delicious wines. Yelping Dog holds Yelping hour on Fridays, 5-7 pm. The Depot Grille’s happy hour is from 4-7 pm.
• Ciders from Mars and Redbeard Brewing Company offer a range of carefully crafted flavors (and outside seating) for cider and beer lovers. Your fall wardrobe is waiting at this weekend’s Ciders from Mars Fall Frock Swap (October 12, noon – 1 pm).

• If you’re up late, you’ll appreciate Queen City Bistro’s Weekly Weekend Late Night (Fridays, 9 pm – 1 am). Look for speak-easy drink specials, hot sandwiches, snacks.

Before the season ends have you…

• Taken a walking tour? Staunton has quite a few, including Mortui durant A Dark History Walking Tour, Ghosts of Staunton Walking Tours, and Historic Staunton Foundation Walking Tours.
• Posed with a Staunton mural?

• Played a duet on the al fresco piano?

• Shared a smoke and solved the world’s problems?

• Created a masterpiece and discussed it with friends?

• Climbed up and over the recently reopened Sears Hill Bridge?

• Cried over Romeo and Juliet at the Blackfriars Playhouse? You should also get tickets for the Blackfriars Halloween performance of The Pirate Ballad of Bonny & Read. (October 31). This all-ages show features pirates, sea shanties, and lots of daring exploits.

• Bought ingredients for dinner at the Staunton Farmers’ Market? It’s open through Thanksgiving, so there’s still time!

• Watched an Arcadia Project performance? You can catch the final two: The Blue Ridge Irish Music Project (October 11, 5 pm) and the American Shakespeare Center’s Theatrical Blood Workshop (October 18, 3 pm)

• Met the Staunton Spiderman?

• Danced in the street with your neighbors? There’s still time to help Kick Off Staunton Pride (October 10, 7-10 pm) at the Staunton Augusta Art Center Galleries. Proceeds benefit the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center and the Staunton Augusta Art Center.

• Picked out your costume for Trick-or-Treat Downtown (October 25, 11 am – 6 pm)? Dress up and visit your favorite downtown shops for treats. 

Cooler weather means that you only have a few more weeks to enjoy this Staunton experience before downtown businesses head inside for the winter. What are you waiting for? Round up the friends and family for one last Shop + Dine Out session in Staunton.