Farmville (Hampton, Danville, Leesburg: sales, hotel, buy)

[Sunset_Va]

Spent a short while in Farmville Sunday, a pleasant surprise . From what little I saw, a nice downtown , and very clean.

Rode up Rt. 15 almost to Sprouses Corner, the scenery is very pretty, and wish I could have stayed longer visiting. Turned around and went back to Farmville, to head home.

I just hope the accelerated growth in Farmville is being watched and checked by the powers to be, and even though progress is good for most people, its not always good for everyone.

Just remembering Farmville from the 70's when I was a more frequent visitor.

[WillV]

Yes, Farmville has changed quite a bit since the 70s. Longwood (like all major state universities) is expanding, maybe too rapidly. But fundementally, the Town appears to be adjusting well, and some of the recent project (as you can see) have improved the Town's look and feel, for the better.

[Sunset_Va]

I walked around downtown (main drag) and just noticed not many empty stores there, like in downtown Danville, or Chatham, and most of all it was clean, at least what I saw. Even coming in from Rt. 460, the area was really attractive.

Farmville must be the "hub" of the area, there are lots of smaller towns in the 25 mile radius, all of them have their own personality. I used to not care for that area , but now, I think its really nice, you just have to do some exploring and see a little more than just places through the windshield.

Wonder if there is a need for a good bicycle/cycling shop there??

[Waterboy526]

My wife grew up in Farmville and her parents still live there (I'm from NoVA) and I can tell you from the first time I was there in 1999 to present day it's changed quite a bit. I always still thought it was a rural town, coming from NoVA...but it really does have a lot going for it for being a small town. I would say that compared to other small towns in Southside VA that it does quite well. Most of that has to do with the University and It's growing. I think it's went from about 3k students in 1999 to closer to 4500k now. Most Colleges/Universities in VA and lots of places for that matter are growing very fast to keep up with the explosion of new students.

[Sunset_Va]

Most Colleges/Universities in VA and lots of places for that matter are growing very fast to keep up with the explosion of new students.

And thank you for posting, when I read your statement , I mentally wondered, with tution sky high these days, how can kids even go to colleges anymore? But I am sure Longwoods tution rates are lower per se.

Since the high school diploma has been supplanted by a B.A. or B.S. degree from a college, instead of making college more affordable to graduates, its gotten much more expensive. From what I hear, anyone finishing college now, has debts galore , just from obtaining that knowledge and training.

But getting back to Farmville and area, I am going to return soon, to spend some more time there and go further north on Rt. 15.

Only dark spot on my visit , and guess I am to blame, is having coffee and a dessert at a restaurant in Farmville that cost me $9 ....I should have asked the price, but didnt figure big city prices had set in there..lol

[Waterboy526]

Originally Posted by Sunset_Va

And thank you for posting, when I read your statement , I mentally wondered, with tution sky high these days, how can kids even go to colleges anymore? But I am sure Longwoods tution rates are lower per se.

Since the high school diploma has been supplanted by a B.A. or B.S. degree from a college, instead of making college more affordable to graduates, its gotten much more expensive. From what I hear, anyone finishing college now, has debts galore , just from obtaining that knowledge and training.

But getting back to Farmville and area, I am going to return soon, to spend some more time there and go further north on Rt. 15.

Only dark spot on my visit , and guess I am to blame, is having coffee and a dessert at a restaurant in Farmville that cost me $9 ....I should have asked the price, but didnt figure big city prices had set in there..lol

My wife and I lived in Leesburg (before we moved to NC) and we used to make the 3 hour drive south on rt. 15 the whole way. It was a pretty drive, but can get old after a while...lol Now we have a roughly 2 hour drive north on rt. 50/15 to get to Farmville and it's a pleasent drive.

[FarmVegan]

Farmville is a quiet place, though growing. Longwood University has about 6,000 students and is one of the main employers, along with Centra Southside Hospital. It's in the middle of rural Virginia, so if you like to hunt, fish (both are great - several quality lakes nearby for bass & crappie fishing), horseback ride, etc., you'll enjoy Farmville life. There's also a new golf resort called The Manor Resort.

It's true that there are a lot of empty stores on Main Street downtown, but that's because there's not enough easy parking right there. Stores that have moved from downtown Main Street to other shopping areas with more parking (like Schewel's furniture and Carrington's Music) have gotten a lot more business.

In terms of shopping, Green Front Furniture is a real "mecca" for people wanting quality furniture and imported rugs at low prices. There are also some good antique stores. Farmville is the area shopping hub, so it has the local Wal-Mart and Lowe's, plus the only Starbucks for miles around.

The Hampton Inn, which opened 3 years ago and is located in the Sunchase development on E. Third St., is almost completely booked 100% of the time, and last year got the Hampton award for the chain's best Virginia hotel! So, people appreciate quality and good service. According to the paper, two other motel chains are going to build in Farmville soon.

Check out The Farmville Directory (Farmville, VA Directory*| Shopping & Business in Farmville, Virginia), a locally run site that keeps up with new shops and businesses, to get a better idea of what's in town.

[FarmVegan]

Sunset_VA said: "Wonder if there is a need for a good bicycle/cycling shop there?"

I talked last year with a guy who once owned a bicycle shop in Farmville, and he said the town just wasn't big enough to support a full-time business offering both sales and service. He said the repair work was good, but not enough to support the whole shop, and he couldn't sell enough bikes consistently to make enough money.

I hope that with the opening of the High Bridge Trail in the next year or so, there will be a lot more bike-riding interest. The problem now is that the country roads are so narrow - with no shoulders! - that bikers really risk their lives on some stretches.

[carterharuka]

i mean when i went there back in feb i was just shocked at what happened to farmville, i mean it's changed for the better that is finally a good bookstore & some great sit down resturaunts, hell in some ways it's better then that hellhole richmond, i mean richmond is one big pile of do not want, what i really mean is i just don't like going there.

[Sunset_Va]

Farm Vegan mentioned that trail....that is new to me, I must check it out, and possibly ride it in the future.

I remembered once upon a time a bike shop was there.

What you discussed with that person rings true in any small town/area, the average person is just going to go to a chain store and buy a non nondescript bike for less than $100, and never ever do anything to it...heaven forbid opening a high end bike shop that also carries biking clothes!


And yes, those country roads are murder if you like to bike in the country like I do.....and most of the drivers do not help matters..its like get out the way you slow poke bicyclists!

My opinion of Farmville has not changed, I still think its one of the better smaller communities ....if your preferences go to smaller places.

I just found this...about High Bridge Trail ....

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/recreati....shtml#newsltr


Link to origin and progress of this trail. It looks like something good for the area ,especially Farmville...Perhaps it would resurrect the biking climate?