Despite some stories on the street, the Fork Union Community Market is not closing, far from that. In fact, it is a thriving, busy store that caters not only to Fork Union residents, but according to co-owner Tom Phillips, residents are even driving across the James River from Buckingham County to buy from there.

Fork Union, the historic village that lies on the southern end of Fluvanna County is finding a strong niche in the marketplace, with its reputation of goods and services and great local restaurants. Long-time Fluvanna businessman Phillips says even with the misconception that Fork Union seems so far away from the rest of the more densely populated northern and western areas of the county, such as Lake Monticello, Troy and Zion Crossroads, it is a prime business location that is well within a short and easy drive from any place in the county. He added that the small town definitely has something to offer something unique to patrons from good food to the historic and famous Fork Union Drive-In. 

According to Phillips, the village is a strong member of the county business community. “Fork Union is a vital part of Fluvanna County,” he says. Key businesses, such as the grocery store that opened in November, serve a need to close-by Fork Union neighbors, and in turn attract customers from other localities, broadening the sales tax revenue beyond the Fluvanna residents who shop there.

Phillips is a genuine true advocate for Fork Union businesses and says that the unincorporated village is a prime location to hang a shingle, sell a product or offer a service. A new shopkeeper needs to be focused while at the same time provide something that is needed, an important strategy that can make or break a business.  For example, the recently opened grocery fulfilled an important need, focusing on selling quality groceries to Fork Union residents that would prefer to have a store close to home.

To this day, Phillips is still getting thanks from residents in Fork Union for opening the store. “It’s very rewarding when someone tells you that,” he says. Despite the recent loss of Home Source, the Fork Union Community Market, and other Fork Union businesses, are holding strong and flourishing.

Fork Union has many other positives going for it. First, the village has a long history with families that, in some cases, can trace their lineage back to the founding of the county. To the long-time residents that saw the old factories in Fork Union close down, which hurt the small town, residents can now smile as businesses come in to fill a needed market. Local residents are very willing to support the small-town businesses, seeing them as vital to making the village once again thrive.

Much of the retail space in Fork Union is affordable, ideal for a new business with a good idea, and is also on routes that are well-traveled by big rig truckers. Local businesses in return hire neighborhood people, which help support the local economy. Phillips says that the market hired back many of the employees that once worked at the previous grocer. Phillips praises these employees as a hard-working crew who strive to make this store a rousing success and it shows in good sales numbers.

Other local Fork Union business leaders agree that the grocery store was needed.  According to Dane Yonce, the owner of the Fork Union Pharmacy for more than two decades, it has increased traffic to the area and shows that the locality is growing and important to the county. He supports any business that saves customers “a 40-minute drive” and he was quick to state that Fork Union has many great and tasty varieties of restaurants. He stated that a pharmacy is not bulletproof against recession, but he has focused his business on providing quality pharmaceutical services and selling products and gifts that are even attracting Richmond residents to come out to Fork Union to buy from his store.

Aside from the market, another recent addition to the Fork Union community is Sal’s Italian Restaurant and Grill. Only in operation for more than three years, the Sicilian-born owner Salvatore Mini calls Fork Union “fantastic for us.” The restaurant’s authentic menu, made up of homemade dishes, is even making transplants from New Jersey and New York wax nostalgic, saying how it reminds them of their old neighborhood offerings. Sal’s also brings in business from all over the county and in response to this demand the family has expanded and opened a restaurant in Scottsville.

Fork Union, as with the rest of Fluvanna County, has seen hardship, but with hard work and determined focus, the businesses located there are seeking to make 2011 and beyond successful.