NICKELSVILLE – Thursday’s Scott County Tourism Appreciation Dinner recognized that part of the county’s development while unveiling a new partner in tourism.
The Heritage Table Restaurant and Bakery brought county officials, entrepreneurs and regional tourism officials to see how Scott County is providing destinations that can attract tourism, said county Tourism Director Brittany Robertson.
Heritage Table is the latest venture by the Heritage Fellowship Anabaptist community in Nickelsville, according to restaurant co-operator Jed McAlister.
“I had worked on construction projects in the area for about two years and just fell in love with the area after two or three trips here,” said McAlister, surrounded by the former laundromat/hair salon/community grocery store.
The Heritage Fellowship community handled almost every aspect of the year-long renovation: gutting the interior, building new walls and dividers, making the dining tables and display shelves, installing new kitchen equipment and milling a new sign for the restaurant.
“We just finished everything this afternoon,” said McAlister. “About the only things we didn’t make were the light fixtures and the chairs, but the ladies in our community reupholstered them to match the décor.”
“This is not just another restaurant,” said Nickelsville Mayor Danny Dixon. “It’s a unique kind of place. Heritage Fellowship has brought new life into our community, and it’s like what I remember growing up in Nickelsville.”
Working up to the restaurant’s planned Aug. 19 soft opening has been both a community and family affair, from the family recipes for Thursday’s fried chicken to the kitchen crew, servers, hosts and bakery.
“We love doing projects and growing a community,” said McAlister. “We have about 16 families and 120 people in our community now.”
“It’s not just a restaurant but a destination,” said Robertson. “I can see Heritage Table attracting people across the county and the region.”
Heritage Table will hold a soft opening Aug. 19, with hours Tuesday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Online:
Heritage Table — https://www.heritagetableva.com
Scott County Tourism — https://www.explorescottcountyva.org