From February 27th through March 15th, we are surveying our community to find out what people think about our downtown – what they like, what they don’t, and what they would like to see more of. It takes only five minutes and gives you a chance to help shape the efforts of Main Street Preservation Trust and Gloucester Main Street Association for the next few years.

Civil rights leader Ben Jealous will be visiting Gloucester for a lecture and book signing at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5th, at the historic Gloucester Court House.

Main Street Preservation Trust is delighted to announce that its Facade & Interior Grant Program is back for its thirteenth year. Business and property owners who are planning repairs or enhancements of their exterior or interior spaces in 2023 are encouraged to apply.

Thank you to our Main Street businesses and especially to everyone in our community who made this year’s Downtown Dollars program a complete success! Nearly 30 businesses participated and more than 400 of you joined in the fun.

Thank you to our participating businesses and especially to all our community members who showed up for Gloucester’s historic Main Street!

Gloucester Main Street Association, along with Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office will once again host one of Gloucester Main Street’s beloved events, Trick or Treat Gloucester Main Street will be held on Monday, October 31st, 5:30p-7:45p. A road closure will be in effect from 5p-8p starting at the historic Court Circle to Edgehill Shopping Center.

Main Street Preservation Trust welcomes the arrival of experienced nonprofit executive Diana West as the new Executive Director. West first came to Gloucester in 1994, visiting Brent and Becky’s – planning what her family still calls “the daffodil wedding.”

As part of an exciting, updated lease agreement, the Gloucester County Main Library, located in Main Street Center, will be receiving from the Main Street Preservation Trust (MSPT) approximately $200,000 over the next two years for various improvements to be made within the facility.

The 2022 cycle for our Façade and Interior Grants has been exciting. The matching funds awarded this year will help fund improvements made to individual commercial properties that enhance our entire Main Street business district.

Gloucester Main Street Association will once again host the popular Daffodil Festival Beer Garden on Saturday, April 2nd from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Versability Resources, located at 6632 Main Street in downtown Gloucester Village.

Gloucester Main Street Receives Statewide Award for Business Support

Virginia Main Street awarded the 2021 Merit Award for Best Business Support Program to Gloucester Main Street Association and Main Street Preservation Trust for stimulating over $350,000 in expenditures downtown

Main Street Preservation Trust has opened applications for Gloucester Village business and building owners to apply for matching funds toward building enhancement projects.

Coffee’s free all day.

Breakfast at noon isn’t a problem.

Nearly all the food is made from scratch.

Those are some of the reasons why The Courthouse Restaurant, owned by Doug and Kim Hibbs, is an institution in Gloucester Village. As satisfying as the omelets are and as requested as Doug’s broccoli and cheddar soup is, it’s community that is served up best at the Main Street diner.

Homebuyers are generally excited about all that makes their new place special, whether it be the master bedroom with a view, a state-of-the-art kitchen or ample yard space. Before moving in, you have to close, a coordinated document-signing process full of details that The Closing Shop LLC, oversees with TLC.

Even history buffs might not know the name Hercules Mulligan. Learning about him is one reason to step into Patriots Grill, located on the right as you drive toward Gloucester Village from Route 17. A few others include . . .

The young Brian Kirschbaum wasn’t shy about doling out advice to his mother, co-owner of The Village Cleaners. One day, when asked to watch the counter for a while, he offered more opinions that prompted Brenda Kirschbaum to ask, “Since you think you can run the business better than me, why don’t you buy it?”

Not real estate. That was not the direction ReNaye Dame planned for her future.

Every trip to the grocery store took forever when she was a kid because her mother, Betty Dame, was a real estate agent who always found multiple folks to chat with in the aisles. When it was time for family vacation, ReNaye and her sisters waited with frustration alongside their suitcases by the car while Betty finished up all the last-minute details with her clients.

Customers walk into Southern States Gloucester with dead plants and baggies of bugs.

“Why is this plant dying?”

“What kind of bug is this?”

The questions haven’t stopped for 60 years.

“What’s wrong with my soil?”

“What can I do about squirrels in my attic?”

Middlesex County native Candace Lawson is chief problem-solver with the support of a knowledgeable staff of eight, many of whom know their customers on a first-name basis.

Keith Smith grew tired of being a number.

Nearly seven years ago, he left the corporate world to take over Gunn’s Body Shop when former owner Vickie Gunn retired. Gunn’s father, Marvin, started the business in 1959.