The Faded Poppy, a husband-and-wife-operated wedding planning and flower service company celebrating 10 years, and The Mercantile, a unique small-batch gift shop, are now located in the former Rockfish Gap Outfitters building.
When the former owners put the building up for sale, Sara and Jason Kite were drawn to the location in part due to her roots growing up on East Main Street in a little house with a white picket fence. She said she felt a responsibility to buy the building, although it was bigger and pricier than what they were initially looking for.
Sara Kite told AFP she was prepared for some pushback from the community because the Outfitters had been in business for decades and had been a respite for hikers and cyclists in the region. Though the building had been for sale for years, she said, there was a misconception that they had pushed out the previous owners, and some people initially were angry, and worried that the hikers, in particular, were losing a gem they were accustomed to when stopping in Waynesboro.
“The hikers are welcome, but so now is everyone else in the community,” Sara Kite told AFP. “We are creating a space where everyone in Waynesboro is welcome to come in.”
Despite good intentions, the Kites shared disappointment on social media that some people had told them they weren’t welcome in the space, with some saying “this sucks.”
The post unexpectedly went viral, and the community showed up in the coming weeks armed with kindness and words of encouragement.
“We had people coming in and just talking to us,” she said. “They said, hey, don’t listen to people, we’re really glad you are here.”
Located at 1461 E. Main St. in Waynesboro, the building is one of the first to welcome visitors coming down the mountain from the Appalachian Trail and Blue Ridge Parkway.
The new location for the Kites, named Rosie in honor of Rosie the Riverter, has also presented some challenges with asbestos removal, ADA bathrooms for accessibility and water leaks.
Despite this, they have pushed forward with ideas for livening up the space for a new generation with a social space as the centerpiece of the plan.
The couple wanted to pay homage to the women – aunts, grandparents and moms – who raised them with the name The Matriarchists.
“We decided when we bought the building that it was going to be a legacy of our grandmothers, our mothers, so it’s really important for us that the building is done in a way that when we’re gone that it will continue on.
“We really just want to be something for the community, a place that people can have conversations with each other.”
“The mocktails are still finding their footing,” she said though some sober-curious people have popped in. She said that for people who are diabetic, pregnant, or just don’t want alcohol for any reason, the space offers an opportunity to congregate somewhere as an alternative to breweries and wineries.
“You don’t have to give us a reason why you want whatever beverage you’re drinking, we’re just happy that you’re drinking it,” she said.
The Matriarchists aims to be inclusive, she said, where everyone from hikers to a trans child feels welcome.
The Kites are long-time supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, and they often showcase same-sex couples on their social media and website for their wedding business. They also put up pride flags on the front porch of their business during Pride Month this summer.
She said that when a few people complained about the flags, she told them the flags aren’t there for them.
“Those are for people to understand that we are a welcoming place for everyone,” she said. “They are not for me. They’re not for my husband. They’re for the grandmother driving by with their grandchild that come in to shop and feel safe to do so without being judged.”
The Faded Poppy is an extension of Sara and Jason, she said.
“We could never ever sit quietly while people we care about are being hurt. We’re not those kind of people,” she told AFP.
“I would much rather be the first person that gets attacked about the pride flags than the person that I’m putting those pride flags out there for. If someone wants to yell at me about those flags, it’s one less yell that the person is getting, and I’ll take it. I’m an ally, that’s what I’m here for.”
There is a plan, if they can get the building’s zoning updated, to eventually add a beer, wine and gourmet food shop called Charley Parkers, named after their dogs.
“It’s meant to be for young professionals or professionals just getting off work who just want to grab a glass of wine before you go home. We’re currently working on a merging of the businesses in a way that doesn’t make anyone feel excluded. It should be fun.”
Over the next few years, she said they also plan to update the back side of the building to offer a beer garden, or a space they like to call a cheer garden, to be more kid-friendly with a mini trail to offer hikers and others a place to hang out and talk.
“We want to still pay homage to the hiking community that did support this location for so long,” she said. “We want to offer the hikers who come off the mountain a place to hang out, but also so the community can talk to them and can learn what it’s like on the AT and all those things.”
Sara said they subscribe to the idea of organic growth and will add to the space when the time feels right. In the meantime, she’s invited hikers, trail angels, former employees and the like, back to sit on the deck, talk to the community, chit chat with each other and share stories.
“We’re open for everyone: women, men, children and dogs. One of the first things we did was put chairs on the deck, because we do want people to sit down and talk to each other, just be nice to each other, so we hope that’s a legacy we leave behind. We want to be more than just a business.
“We want Rosie to be the matriarch that everyone kind of needs.”
Hours
- Mondays and Tuesday, pick up and delivery only
- Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, hours vary due to wedding schedule; check social media
The Faded Poppy: Wedding flowers and planning
The Mercantile: Flower arrangements and unique small-batch gifts
The Matriarchists: Alcohol-free sips and social space
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Crystal Graham
