Clint and Sharon Lester plan to give residents and visitors a place to buy hardware, pick up ATV supplies, shop for gifts and find storage near the Southern Gap trail system.
Their company, Southern Gap Enterprise LLC, has received a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant to help develop Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware & Storage on Route 744 in Buchanan County. Construction is expected to begin soon, with an opening planned for 2027.
The business will be across from Chipping Sparrow Road and the Breaks Interstate Park’s Southern Gap Outdoor location. The Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority donated the land for the project, and CSN Construction of Abingdon is the general contractor.
“We developed the concept for Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware & Storage after recognizing significant service gaps in the Southern Gap area, particularly hardware and retail access, motorsports supplies and storage and customized merchandise services,” Clint Lester said.
Plans call for a 50-by-125-foot building with a gift shop featuring Appalachian and tourism products, a hardware section and a motorsports department serving ATV riders and other outdoor recreation visitors. The Lesters also plan to make and sell customized shirts, hats and hoodies and take advance orders from schools and community members.
“From tourist gifts to parts on site needed to repair ATVs with breakdowns, to ATV accessories, the trading post will have a variety of options,” Sharon Lester said.
Clint Lester said the location near the Southern Gap Visitor Center and Spearhead Trails will allow the business to serve local residents as well as people visiting the area for outdoor recreation and wildlife tourism.
Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA’s executive director and general counsel, said the business projects six full-time jobs within five years.
The grant will help pay for shelving, permits, advertising, operating expenses and inventory, Clint Lester said.
“The grant meant a lot to us,” Sharon Lester said. “It means a lot and helps us with start-up.”
The Lesters worked with the Small Business Development Center at Southwest Virginia Community College on their grant application. The Buchanan County IDA provided a letter of support.
“It has been a pleasure working with Clint and Sharon Lester, as they developed their vision for this unique business,” said Denise Harmon, executive director of the college’s Small Business Development Center. She said its combination of services could benefit both the community and visitors to Buchanan County.
Buchanan County IDA Executive Director Craig Horn said the Lesters have been part of the local business community for many years.
“We look forward to seeing them develop their new business at Southern Gap which will provide both goods and services for local residents and visitors alike,” Horn said.
VCEDA’s seed capital program offers eligible new businesses dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to $10,000. The grants are funded through regional revenue paid by the natural gas industry.
For more information about the business, call 276-312-0784 or visit the Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware & Storage Facebook page.
