The Local Cafe and Grocer, also simply called “The Local,” officially opened its doors on Sunday, June 16 after months of construction and preparation.

Owner Clay Elkins says that so far, “Business has been very good, It’s been a consistent and steady flow over the past few days.”

Situated in Montwell Commons beside Hill and Holler, The Local is a centrally-located staple to Lewisburg residents. Main team members include Elkins chef Todd Wagner, and supervisor Jacob Maki.

The cafe portion is open five days a week and serves healthy and locally-sourced meals. They use only organic produce and all-natural deli meats and cheeses, and exclude all nitrates, growth hormones, and antibiotics.

The grocer side offers nearly everything under the sun, and is conveniently open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. With a variety of wines, honey, vinegar, salsa, jerky, coffee, ice cream, breads, fresh produce, meats, and more for shoppers to choose from.

“One of our goals was to make it easier for people to eat locally and healthily,” said Elkins. “I want to make it more readily available. If you increase the demand for products, the supply will increase.” He added, “Ultimately I want to work with farmers that have more product than they can sell at the farmer’s market.”

He says that the community has been full of positive feedback for the store, and that it’s a good opportunity for residents to support area producers. “We’ve gotten lots of comments that this is a good addition to town,” he said. “I love walking around and telling the stories of the people behind each product, and where everything is coming from. It’s all about the people, the artisans.”

Make sure to check their website at www.nhlocalgrocer.com, or follow them on Facebook at The Local WV for updates.