The Shop on Main Street
Washington

Live your dream of living in a quaint country village when you purchase this charming 1930s commercial/residential building in the town of Little Washington, Virginia. Currently the R. H. Ballard Shop & Gallery, a delightful treasure of a shop, is located in this building. Many consider this the best retail location in Rappahannock County. It is one block from the renowned Inn at Little Washington, one of the best inns and restaurants in the United States. The Inn routinely receives the highest accolades and has maintained their three Michelin stars. The shop is also adjacent to the popular White Moose Inn and just down the street from The Parsonage, an 1850s grand Victorian that houses six of the Inn’s luxurious guest rooms.

The building is suitable for many commercial endeavors that cater to the steady flow of tourists generated by the Inn and the charming and historic ambiance of the Town. Washington is also the County Seat for Rappahannock County and home to all of the county government offices. Galleries, shops, restaurants, breweries, wineries and offices are among the many opportunities for the building that are limited only by your imagination. This is a turnkey property with a new roof, two new air conditioning units, freshly painted interior & exterior and a renovated apartment. Excellent high-speed Comcast internet is available.

There is a slate porch and pergola in front for welcoming your customers and plenty of room for outdoor displays or seating. Customers enter through the porch directly into the main level. The main retail space is a large open room with a triple French painted tray ceiling, two show windows facing the street, original warm wood floors, great lighting and lots of wall space for display. A half bath and storage space are also located on this level.

The lower level is a handsome open room with built-in storage, slate tile floors and good lighting. It is ideal for displaying paintings, prints, photographs and sculpture. There is also a large storage room with useful shelving.

The upper level is a comfortable and convenient one-bedroom apartment that has a designer’s flair and was fully renovated in 2019. It has a full kitchen with all new electric appliances and freshly painted cabinets. The living room, dining room and bedroom have brand new wall-to-wall carpeting. The kitchen and bathroom have faux marble flooring. The apartment has its own access via a dedicated interior stairway on the side of the building. The apartment has beautiful mountain views to the west and overlooks the courthouse square and town buildings to the east. The apartment affords a new owner the opportunity of living and working in the Town or it can be leased for rental income. It would be a perfect spot for a short-term vacation rental.
The property includes four off-street parking spaces and there is ample street parking.

The three-level building is a part of the town’s history. It was home to the Blue Ridge Guide, a precursor to the Rappahannock News, as well as a law office and a doctor’s office. In the 1980s it became a retail shop and the attractive tray ceiling was installed. The current owners have operated the popular R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery for the past 22 years.

Washington is a quintessential small mountain village with period homes, interesting shops and art galleries. In addition to the renowned Inn at Little Washington, there are a number of excellent dining destinations in the area. Further afield in Rappahannock County there is an array of wineries, interesting farms, art galleries, breweries, two distilleries and an entrance to the Shenandoah National Park. On the way to the Shenandoah National Park entrance is the village of Sperryville with its shops and restaurants, along with several SNP trail heads, just a short drive from the Shop on Main Street.