GRUNDY, VA – AUGUST 4, 2025 – From hamburgers and Philly cheese steaks — to subs, loaded steak fries and a home-cooked meal special on Fridays, Just Breakin’ Bread, LLC at Southern Gap, is now providing businesses, residents and tourists alike menu items without the need to go off the mountain to get food.
Just Breakin’ Bread, LLC is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Seed capital grants are funded from regional funds received by VCEDA which are paid by the natural gas industry.
“Just Breakin’ Bread provides an option for the purchase of food at Southern Gap which will serve tourists taking advantage of recreation opportunities at the Gap as well as locals, who live and work there,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “Up until now, the option to purchase food on the mountain has been limited to times food trucks visit the area. Just Breakin Bread, with its semi-permanent food truck location in the Southern Gap Raceway area addresses that. The business projects two full-time and one part-time employee within five years.”
Just Breakin’ Bread, owned by Pat Skeens and her husband, Jerry, opened officially in May. Their son, Jonathan, is the general manager. The business is open daily, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“My son and I have both always liked to cook,” Pat Skeens said. “He’s had a lot of restaurant experience. We chose to locate here on the mountain (at Southern Gap), because there is nothing there that sells food. We have a lot of parking and already, VDOT workers, those who work on the mountain at the Virginia Employment Commission, Bizzack and AEP are some of our regulars, as well as the crew building the new high school and the animal shelter employees. We have also served side-by-side riders and other locals.”
Skeens noted the mission of Just Breakin’ Bread is to bring people together over “hearty, home-style meals – one satisfied customer at a time.
“Our mission is to nourish the community with quality food, warm hospitality and a sense of belonging,” she added.
Skeens noted the business plans to use the VCEDA seed capital funds to purchase a generator which will also allow the food truck to be mobile on the weekends to attend and offer food truck services at events in the region.
“The VCEDA grant provided some relief and some breathing room for us just starting out,” Skeens said. “We greatly appreciate VCEDA considering us. It’s been a great help. We also have plans to add a second truck in the future.”
The Skeens’ worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) in developing her application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority.
“The Southwest Virginia Community College Small Business Development Center is proud to have partnered with Just Breakin’ Bread,” said Denise Harmon, director of the SBDC at SWCC. “We’re proud to support Pat, Jerry and Jonathan in bringing fresh, homestyle meals to Southern Gap. Their commitment to quality and community is exactly what our region needs.”
“We’re pleased to see Just Breakin’ Bread up and running,” said Buchanan County IDA Director Matt Fields. “It was a pleasure to work with them and we wish them nothing but success.”
Just Breakin’ Bread may be reached by calling 276-312-5237.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses, within qualifying business categories, one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.