West Main Market - Luray, VA

123 W. Main Street, Luray, VA 22835

http://www.westmainmarket.com

Photo provided by Bill Isenberg.

Built in 1893, this address started life as the town post office.  It later became the town’s visitor center, then a doctor’s office, antique shop, and financial office before Bill Isenberg came in and created West Main Market in July 2008.

Isenberg worked in the food service industry in several different states for more than 30 years. When he moved to Luray, he worked as a chef and manager of restaurant for four years until, “I developed the confidence to branch out and open a business of my own.”

His concept began as a wine and cheese shop with specialty groceries and delicatessen with a creative carry out sandwich menu and house made salads and soups.  He only recently discontinued selling beer and wine and now focuses on a gourmet delicatessen eatery.

In this 800-square-foot space, he has found that “the demand for prepared food has been far greater then the grocery aspect.”  No longer just a take out place, he has added tables and chairs for eat-in dining. He has 20 seats inside and a 12-seat patio.

West Main Market is also well known for catering area business meetings, wedding parties, supper clubs and fundraisers. Isenberg provides full service dinners, with offerings in everything from country fried chicken to beef tenderloin and Jamaican jerk pork to Mediterranean roast chicken, for 10 to 150 guests.

Business is good. Isenberg has a staff of six, but still puts in more than 50 hours a week himself over a course of seven days.

In this small town located just five miles from Shenandoah National Park and most famous for Luray Caverns, brisk tourism adds to the population of 5,000 residents. West Main Market provides a great stock up stop for people picnicking in the park or on the river.

Luray’s downtown and Main Street have had evolution typical of historic small towns.  “Revitalization efforts are ongoing and we are again seeing some significant investment projects under way,” Isenberg notes. He says the east end of Main Street is more developed then the west, but he adds, “my decision to locate on the west end was to offer separation and I have become some what of an anchor.”

In fact, when Isenberg was looking for a space for his business, he says, “My Main Street location became available while I was waiting for another location property to be developed.  I decided not to wait.  The street address had no input on my decision, but does provide a nice novelty.”