GRUNDY, VA – SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 – Ride the trails. Shop the Post. Store with ease. It’s a simple concept, according to Clint and Sharon Lester as they develop Southern Gap Enterprise, LLC’s Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware and Storage on Rt. 744 in Buchanan County. The new business, soon to be under construction, is located across from Chipping Sparrow Road and the Breaks Park’s Southern Gap Outdoor location.
Southern Gap Enterprise, 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.
“Southern Gap Enterprise, LLC combines retail sales, tourism-related gifts, hardware, light manufacturing and storage all in a single location,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects six full-time employees within five years.”
“We developed the concept for Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware & Storage after recognizing significant service gaps in the Southern Gap area, particularly hardware and retail access, motorsports supplies and storage and customized merchandise services,” said Clint Lester.
The new business being built by the Lesters is being developed on land donated for the project by the IDA. CSN Construction, from Abingdon, is the general contractor. The new store is expected to open in 2027.
“The strategic location of our new business across from the Southern Gap Visitor Center and the Spearhead Trails System positions us to serve both residents and growing numbers of visitors drawn to the region for outdoor recreation and wildlife tourism,” Lester said.
He noted that plans call for the construction of a 50-foot by 125-foot retail and light manufacturing building. The retail facility, when constructed, will feature three primary departments – a souvenir and gift shop highlighting Appalachian and tourism-related products; a hardware section offering essential home and repair supplies; and a motorsports department supporting ATV and outdoor recreation users.
“From tourist gifts to parts on site needed to repair ATVs with breakdowns, to ATV accessories, the trading post will have a variety of options,” said Sharon Lester. “We’ll also customize our own t-shirts, hats and hoodies and offer those for sale, along with providing customization options for advance orders from the community or area schools.”
“The VCEDA grant will help us with shelving, permits, advertising, operating expenses and inventory,” Clint Lester said.
“The grant meant a lot to us,” Sharon Lester added. “It means a lot and helps us with start-up.”
The Lesters worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) in developing their application to VCEDA. They received a letter of support from the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
“We are always excited to support entrepreneurs who invest in Southwest Virginia by creating innovative businesses that meet the needs of both our residents and visitors while contributing to the growth of our local economy,” said SWCC SBDC Executive Director Denise Harmon. “It has been a pleasure working with Clint and Sharon Lester, as they developed their vision for this unique business. Southern Gap Enterprise will offer a combination of services designed to serve the community, outdoor enthusiasts and travelers visiting Buchanan County. This innovative concept has the potential to become a valuable asset to the Southern Gap area while supporting tourism and local economic development.
“The SBDC is proud to have assisted with this entrepreneurial journey and congratulates the owners on receiving this well-deserved award,” Harmon added. “We look forward to watching Southern Gap Enterprise grow, create new opportunities and become an important part of Buchanan County’s business community. We wish them continued success as they bring this exciting new venture to Southwest Virginia.”
“The Buchanan County IDA is pleased to support the Lesters and their application for seed capital grant funding for their new venture, Southern Gap Enterprise, LLC,” said Buchanan County IDA Executive Director Craig Horn. “The Lesters have been a part of the business community in the Town of Grundy and Buchanan County for many years and we look forward to seeing them develop their new business at Southern Gap which will provide both goods and services for local residents and visitors alike.”
For more information about Southern Gap Enterprise, LLC, interested persons may call 276-312-0784; or visit their Facebook page at Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware & Storage.
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.
(PHOTO CAPTION: Clint and Sharon Lester stand on the land where their new business, Southern Gap Trading Post-Hardware & Storage will be developed. Their company, Southern Gap Enterprise, LLC is a recent recipient of a $10,000 VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant.)