PUNGOTEAGUE, Va. — At the corner of Bobtown Road and Pungoteague Roads sits a non-descript building. Inside its walls, busy work is underway to bring the Village General Store back to life.
"My goal is to actually make it one of the best things that has ever happened in this community," said Barry Belle, the new owner of the store that closed three years ago.
Belle, a native of Pungoteague, purchased the store after it stood quietly undisturbed since 2021. He has a vision for its future, starting with what he calls a "soft opening."
"Monday we're starting and I'm choosing to call that a soft opening because we will be open every day next week, but I'm not calling that a grand opening because there's some other things that have to take place to make it grand," Belle explained.
Among those other things are plans for a carryout deli. This addition aims to make the store not just a place for the people of Pungoteague to get groceries and convenience items, but also a spot to grab a bite to eat.
For Belle, the store's reopening is a family affair. His son and cousin spent Friday afternoon helping stock shelves with a variety of items, from soup to nuts, preparing the store for its big return.
Store employee Phylliss Gibson highlighted the importance of the store to the community, noting the convenience it will bring to residents who otherwise have to drive 10 to 15 minutes for groceries.
"It's going to be awesome because the majority of people that live in this area can walk right out their door into the store. Fresh, clean store with good products and good customer service," Gibson said.
Belle's efforts to revive the Village General Store aim to restore a sense of community in Pungoteague, reflecting his deep roots and long-standing ties to the area. The store, now called the Home Town Market & Deli, is set to become a central hub for the town once more.
It will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.