BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A porch rising on the old Martin County Courthouse Annex is a step toward turning the historic space into a general store where local farmers, food producers and artisans can sell their goods, officials say.
Martin County Deputy Judge/Executive Carolea Mills noted that the county is paying to heat and cool the space that once served as the Martin County Clerk’s Office deed room, and recently put a new roof on it.
“We’re trying to turn the old clerk’s office into a general store,” Mills said. “One of the things that we thought would be great would be to have a place where people could sell their local produce – honey, jellies, jams, krauts and other products – and where quilters could display and sell their quilts. Then we also have the apple orchard [AppleAtcha in Debord]. I hope that soon it could have apple cider.”
Mills mentioned U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
“They want to get everyone away from preservatives,” she said. “They want people to eat healthier; everything should be natural. So I think there will be more grants for that.”
To keep operating costs low, Mills is looking for partners and has scheduled meetings with several candidates.
“You could sell trail permits, Martin County T-shirts, but the primary focus would be to help people sell local produce,” Mills explained. “I thought we would just plant the seed, but everybody I’ve talked to is super excited about it.”
Local producers would need to obtain appropriate permits.
“You have to get everybody certified,” said Mills. “If you’re selling jellies and jams, you have to get a permit. So we’re hoping to figure out a way where we can do grants for those people who want to start a business.”
Mills is eyeing a 2026 opening.
“It will add a lot to our downtown, especially our little courthouse square, to have something in that building and turn it into something meaningful,” she said.
Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty shares her enthusiasm.
“It’s going to be truly special to see our local farmers and artisans have a dedicated place to share their talents and sell their goods,” Lafferty said. “Breathing new life into one of our vacant buildings while supporting the hardworking people of Martin County is more than just economic development. It’s a celebration of our heritage and our future.”
The plan builds on a separate but related effort by the Martin County Tourism Commission to install a commercial kitchen in the old clerk’s office. Once completed, the kitchen would be available to local producers to can or package their produce. It would serve as a certified labeling and processing space, helping producers to market, sell and ship.
According to the Tourism Commission, C & T Design of Louisville completed the kitchen layout in 2021.