How To: Shopping Small In Blacksburg

Blacksburg, like many other college towns, prides itself on the numerous small businesses that cater to both the local and collegiate crowds in the area. Whether you’re there for school, living the life of a townie, or just visiting, there’s plenty of shops and restaurants around to enjoy. 

Bar Selections

For those who are looking for some evening fun, Blacksburg is home to some of the best bars in southern Virginia. If you enjoy fine Hispanic meals and flavorful margaritas, Centro Taco Bar and El Rodeo serve up some of the best food and drinks around. For a more traditional bar experience, Top of The Stairs (TOTS), PK’s Bar & Grill, Hokie House, and Sharkey’s are some of best to check out.

If you’re 21 or older and have a taste for fine dining and wine, perhaps the Blacksburg Wine Lab may suit your interests. Owned and operated by Virginia Tech instructors John Boyer and Katie Pritchard, the Blacksburg Wine Lab is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine paired with one of their many entrees and appetizers.

Food For Thought

Going downtown to grab a bite to eat? Many of the area’s great small business restaurants are ready to serve you. Benny Marzano’s, a small pizza chain founded by Virginia Tech alumni Chris Brown and Zach Toth, is serving up pizza by the slice daily. Gaucho’s Brazillian Grille, a Latin American food-oriented restaurant located near the University Mall as well as Green’s Grill & Sushi Bar, a downtown favorite for all things needing chopsticks, are popular spots to try solo or with friends.

Fresh Selections

The Blacksburg Farmers Market is a popular attraction to people of all ages in Blacksburg and beyond due to its unique offerings and lively atmosphere. Vendors carry a wide variety of homemade goods and locally sourced produce that even the pickiest of buyers can enjoy. Whether you’re looking to try kombucha for the first time, or you’re looking for the freshest finds to add to your favorite recipes, The Blacksburg Farmers Market is the place to be.

Small Shops To Explore

Aside from restaurants, there are many local boutique stores as well. T.R. Collection, a popular gift shop located in downtown Blacksburg, offers just about every kind of option imaginable if you’re looking to send that special someone a present for whatever occasion is in need of celebrating. If you’re into photography or simply just a vinyl fanatic, John’s Camera and Records shop is your go-to shop for all of your artsy needs.

For those seeking local entertainment, The Lyric Theatre is a great place to see new and classic movies across all genres. A historic site to be seen in Blacksburg, The Lyric has been around for nearly 100 years, and is a must-visit for anyone who wants to complete the Hokie Bucket List.

As VT students, we owe it to the area to support small businesses, as they’ve been serving the wants and needs of the Hokie Nation for years. Should we want to keep them around for many more years to come, we need to give them our business now in order to give them reason to stick around.