By Jaymie Mordue
An idea emporium, tap house and a hearse laden with desserts were among the potential new ventures detailed Friday at the Star Theatre in Stuart.
Each venture “is as inspiring and intriguing as the minds that created them, ” said Debbie Foley, program facilitator of the Air Evolve event that was sponsored by Virginia Tech, the Reynolds Homestead and Clark Gas & Oil.
Participants started the program in June, and worked to develop and fine tune their mission and vision statements, Foley said. Participants also learned about design thinking, considering the benefits, liabilities and values of their projects or products, she added.
The event culminated Friday with participants providing detailed descriptions of their individual projects.
Laura Clark, who was among the participants, said she has “a passion to create a space where our community can finally have a place to grab a good beer together. My goal is to create The Stuart Tap House … the place to be” for grabbing a beer, listening to live music, relaxing, connecting and being yourself.
She said that she travels to other towns miles away to experience a similar atmosphere.
“Stuart is in the midst of a really fun grassroots movement to bring music, and now beer to the forefront of the community,” she said.
Clark said that now is the time for Stuart to have its own space, and she envisions the space to include small food plates, outdoor space, craft beer, music, games, movies, and live music.
Because Stuart is a traditional and small community, she said she will rely on people from outside Stuart to bring her business, as well as partnerships with other local businesses.
Chris Lester and Stephen Jackson said they hope to create and open a comprehensive fitness center to improve the mental and physical health and wellness of the community.
The center would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, include monthly membership packages and offer optional child care to parents while they exercise.
Sybill Slate, graphic designer, created The Collaboration Network to provide not only a virtual collaboration but also a physical presence in the county at an affordable rate. Slate said that she wants to be available to everyone, and is passionate about helping nonprofit organizations.
Desserts to Die For was presented by Anna Lester, who combined her love of “all things creepy” and dark with her fondness for desserts to create Desserts To Die For, a concoction of sweet treats served from a hearse.
Lester said that she does not cook or bake herself, so she decided that instead of hiring a baker, she would highlight the talent of regional bakers and offer their goodies for sale during music, art and cultural events/festivals.
Each year, Lester said she plans to donate a percentage of her profits to a specific cause or a nonprofit.
Laura Mahaffey wants to create a space called The Idea Emporium, to encourage everyone, including those who are not artists, to participate in art through classes, watching live performances, or visiting the gallery.
Chelsea Raby presented Pride in Providence, which would include a farm, kitchen, bakery, mercantile, brewery and gathering space that features all things homegrown and handmade.
Julie Walters Steele said she would like to create Rock Spring Distillers to celebrate the history of mountain stills by sharing spirits and stories, with the goal of becoming “one of the most unique destination distilleries” in the Appalachian Region.
The presentations were part of the Air programs, which were created by Beth Flowersof the Air Institute of BEREA college in Kentucky. The programs focus on bringing together different people to come up with solutions or an assigned idea while learning to capitalize on each other’s strengths, Foley said.
Air Evolve is the next step with a more comprehensive plan, bringing together a small group of creative entrepreneurs to plan, prototype and ultimately implement their plan or project, Foley said, noting the 2019 Air Shift workshop will be held on April 8 through April 10.
