by Danielle Verderame
On Main Street in Downtown Buchanan, The Witt Stop will make you pump your brakes. The classic blue and red sign in retro fonts links the past to present. Although the store is relatively new (since the Fall of ‘18), the business feels like a longstanding piece of the town.
As a General Store, The Witt Stop offers produce, beer, wine, livestock feed, and dry goods. Also, they run a kitchen where you can grab a bite. At the shiny, industrial-style counter, you’ll find fresh muffins, cheesecake, croissants, and fruit alongside menus listing hot lunches like chili dogs or BBQ sandwiches.
The space looks both youthful and inviting with black walls, wooden tables, old-fashioned produce bins, and galvanized steel counter stools. Bright red tulips add a pop of color while farmhouse-style decor echoes the local charm.
With its fresh and simple interior, a variety of visitors feel comfortable. Daytime customers range from antique-shopping tourists to local construction workers on break. In the evenings, they host events such as wine tastings and fundraisers for local groups.
“It’s a lot of different things under one roof,” explains Spring Witt, co-owner with her husband Chris. She laughs, “That was kind of the point.”
When you ask the Witts how the idea for The Witt Stop started, they trace the story back to Chris’s retirement from the Marines. After serving for a decade, they decided to settle in Chris’s hometown of Buchanan. After attending a few town hall meetings, Chris and Spring started compiling a list of all the functions the townspeople wanted.
Harry Gleason, Revitalization and Events Coordinator for Buchanan, recalls, “Chris and Spring have learned first-hand what customers from D&J Produce liked. They retained those products and services, introduced a fresh new look and added new products and services.”
Many people thought a place for fresh produce would be nice, because the nearest grocery store is outside of the town. Some mentioned a spot for a quick breakfast or lunch. Others talked about quick access to convenience items like coffee, tobacco products, and soft drinks. Spring remembers, “It felt like we could create a place that served a lot of those needs.”
While they originally considered other locations, they jumped at the opportunity to purchase the former building of D&J Produce.
Since opening at 19386 Main Street, the response has been unexpectedly warm. Once word got out that they were serving Ima Jean Crawford’s famous chili, they sold about 2000 hotdogs within the first few weeks. It’s just one of the many ways that The Witt Stop is honoring the town’s sense of community.
“When Ima Jean offered to teach me her recipe, I was so excited,” Spring recalls.
When asked about this unique practice, Gleason explained, “Buchanan is fortunate in that when some of our business owners have retired, as a goodwill gesture to the new owners and their loyal customers, they pass on their trademark secrets and recipes. As a result of this practice, everyone is a winner.”
Passing down the recipe was more than just a business opportunity. Keeping the recipe active meant keeping a part of the town’s past in the present.
Another link between the past and present is Chris’ high school wrestling connection. He was drawn back to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the James River High School wrestling team. The Witts talk about the students like they are family. In particular, Caleb Shipwash, known for his recent regional championship win, has become a significant part of their lives.
He works at their store, which along with wrestling, has given him a skill set and identity that forces people to look beyond his autism diagnosis. In an interview with WSLS 10, Caleb’s father, James Eubank, explained that Caleb struggled with being bullied and finding his place in the world. However, to hear Spring Witt talk about Caleb, you know he has become a treasured part of their lives, of The Witt Stop’s culture, and of the local community.
Whether on an individual level or a community scale, the Witts see their business as a way to give back. It is not just a place go to work. Just going to work doesn’t get Chris and Spring up at 4:00 a.m. to make fresh muffins. Spring smiles, saying, “Our hearts are in this place.”
Editor’s note: to learn more about another business that the Witts are opening (historic Anchorage, just across the street), see page 18.
