This is Part 2 of the Ronceverte Renaissance Series – a series highlighting the revival of business
and events in downtown Ronceverte as the town works together to restore their beloved community to a
thriving hub for business, entertainment, and delicious food and drink.

This month’s featured business is Primitive Goods, a general store that offers its customers a wide
selection of vintage, unique, and locally produced items. I recently had the opportunity to ask one of the
owners about Primitive Goods, and about their thoughts on the things that make this unique store such a
vital asset to the Greenbrier Valley.

Could you please tell us about Primitive Goods WV, and what you do?
Sure! We specialize in a mix of organic, non-GMO, and local products. We do this through a combination
of small businesses, local artists and farmers, and wholesale companies. We also offer the very same
products that we use in our home.

What about Edgar Avenue attracted you to open Primitive Goods WV at that location?
Definitely the people. Everyone makes you feel like family here. It doesn’t matter if you are dressed up in your best Sunday outfit or wearing your farm clothes, everyone treats you the same.

What does Primitive Goods WV offer in terms of merchandise, service, etc.?
We offer local honeys, teas, dry goods, maple syrup, etc. We also have locally crafted goats milk scrubs, lotions, and soaps. Wooden spoons, locally crafted baskets and cutting boards. Cutting board oils and waxes, vintage bowls, garden flags, kitchen towels. The list is pretty long.

What other local businesses do you partner with and carry in your store?
We work with about forty local families, so I will name a few. We partner with Mountain Table Coffee in
Renick for our locally roasted coffees and we serve complimentary samples of their coffee daily. Julian
Arbaugh from Arbaugh Farms provides our grits, cornmeal, and other locally milled products. Kelli from
A Taste of Eggcellence Catering Company from Sweet Springs provides our Salt Rising bread and
delicious pepperoni rolls along with various other amazing baked goods. Tommye Rafes from TL Soaps
provides our hand soaps, laundry detergent, lavender, shampoo bars, lip balms and much more. Natasha
and PaPa Stan from JarHead Farm keep us well stocked with locally grown and produced jams, jellies,
fruit syrups, and fruit products. Kim Baker does all of our embroidery work. She provides our potholders,
rope bowls, kitchen towels, and hot pads. Her work is so much fun and her prices are great. We also just welcomed Patricia from Crust and Crumb Breads. She makes the most delicious hummingbird bread, bagels and Southwest bread bombs just to name a few.

What’s your favorite things about Primitive Goods WV?
Definitely the people and the community support and the FOOD! We have to watch ourselves or we will
gain 100 pounds.

What’s one main thing you’d like readers to know about Primitive Goods WV?
I think that would have to be two things. First is that we are here to help the Downtown Community
grow. We want to help make Ronceverte a destination where everyone feels welcome and we want to see
all of the businesses succeed.

Second, is that we just secured a new larger location this week. The store will move to 132 Frankford Rd
in Ronceverte (the four-way stop sign at the corner of Route 219 and Frankford Rd) on Saturday, March 2nd. This new location will allow us to expand our selection and bring more artisans to the store. It will also allow us to have a seating area and complimentary Wi-Fi, so that our customers can relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and a local baked good.

Okay, maybe three things!! We work really hard to keep our prices low. Times are tight and many of our customers live on a fixed income, so we want the store to be affordable for everyone. We want people to be able to come into our store and spend $20 and feel good about their purchases. Everyone deserves that feeling.

You can find Primitive Goods WV under the same name on Facebook, or visit the website:
primitivegoodswv.com. You can reach them by phone: (681) 318-1000, or email:
primitivegoodswv@gmail.com.