New Grocery in Bland, VA

[Lauriep]

Here is a message we received from Karen Zamareh, owner of the hiker-friendly business Exit 54 Exxon and Eats 'n Treats Restaurant in Groseclose, VA (near Atkins, where the A.T. passes under I-81 in southwest VVA). It's about a business she is opening in Bland:


"There are currently no groceries in Bland, the IGA having closed about three months ago. We are opening a second location, the new one will be "Bland Grocery". Address is 7904 S. Scenic Highway, Bland, VA 24315. I do not have a telephone # as of yet

Full line of groceries, hiker friendly and hiker specific food, very similar to what I carry here, in addition to the fresh fruit and produce of a neighborhood grocery. Hours are 6:00 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week."

Laurie Potteiger
ATC

[Jack Tarlin]

Too bad about the IGA but this is very good to know. Thanx Laurie!!

[RevLee]

Miss Karen at the Exxon restaurant is an excellent hostess and very hiker friendly. When we came through this year, we needed to wait about 3 hours for our ride. We had lunch and she let us wait the whole time with our packs in the booth, phones charging, and chatted with us between customers. She also increases the portions for hikers and serves some mean pies. They also made an effort to carry more hiker specific items in the convenience store.

[jlb2012]

agree - very hiker friendly and right on the trail

I often will stop by when driving I81 just because they treated me so well when I was hiking through that area

[Pony]

Will any of this be in 2011 guidebooks? Karen treated me great, but she said she was having some difficulty getting into the guidebooks.

[Rain Man]

Will any of this be in 2011 guidebooks? Karen treated me great, but she said she was having some difficulty getting into the guidebooks.

From all the positive things I've heard, and my own visit, I agree that she should be in the guidebooks (if she isn't).

Rain:sunMan

.

[Geo]

There is a Dollar General and It saved my life. Bland is a very hard hitch. I got a rides thanks to local hikers. Nice people though.