Middle Market, Provisions, Library Cafe
It is in that very spirit that we are undertaking our next project: Draper Provisions & The Library Cafe. This will be a 3-in-1 business model that combines 3 distinct and complimentary commercial entities under one roof. Draper Provisions will be a high-end gourmet food retailer and kitchen supply store with a specialty cheese/charcuterie counter; The Library Cafe will be a rustic, European-influenced, casual neighborhood restaurant with outdoor patio area; they will be separated by what we are calling the Middle Market area designed for grab-and-go beverages, prepared lunch/dinner items, and other daily consumption goods. All three are accessible to the clients within the single building, giving it an open-market feel on the interior reminiscent of Italian markets that are prolific in bigger metropolitan areas. It will be a first for Blacksburg.
A. Middle Market
The main front doors entrance will open to the Middle Market area, which is a "grab and go" market concept. This focuses on providing customers with pre-packaged, ready-to-eat food and an expanded beverage selection (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), allowing them to quickly purchase and consume items without a traditional dining experience…although our customers will be free to take grab-and-go items directly to tables for immediate consumption in the cafe area.
The core appeal of grab-and-go is its speed and ease, catering to busy individuals who need a quick meal or snack during the limited lunchtime hour, and will serve both downtown business/government workers and students. Offerings will range from simple snacks and beverages to more substantial meals, with options for healthy, fresh, or even indulgent dessert choices. Grab-and-go reduces wait times and streamlines the purchasing process, making it an attractive option for time-constrained customers. Market trends indicate that grab-and-go businesses are expected to continue, (even after the pandemic bump wherein they all but displaced traditional restaurant dining for a while,) as people seek convenient, quick, and safe food options that are both unique and of higher quality than fast food.
Target Audience: Downtown business professionals, local government workers, university employees, as well as busy students that traverse the area on a regular basis, all of whom appreciate convenience and are willing to pay for a diverse selection of quality products to go.
B. Provisions
Draper Provisions will be primarily focused as a gourmet food market, centered around offering a curated selection of high-quality, often artisanal or specialty, food items, aiming to cater to discerning palates and food enthusiasts with unique and delicious options. Major commodity categories we will feature include cheese, chocolate, tinned seafood, loose leaf tea, cured meats, artisanal breads, olive oils, vinegars, pickled products, as well as specialty salts, spices, and sauces. We will also be seasonally incorporating locally sourced fruits, nuts, vegetables, oysters, and garden plants with partners from across Virginia.
Thus, the shop will be a visually appealing and inviting space that engages all the senses, with displays that showcase the products in an attractive way. There will be a balance between 1)unique and hard-to-find international items, such as artisanal cheeses, chocolates, and exotic spices and 2) locally sourced products from nearby farms, producers, and artisans, fostering a sense of community and supporting local businesses.
In addition, the overall shopping experience is designed to be both enjoyable and informative, which we will achieve with expert staff and frequent tastings/events. We are already working on building a knowledgeable and friendly staff who can offer recommendations and answer any and all questions about every product in the store, much the same way our select staff at Blacksburg Wine Lab are fonts of information on the wine and beverages we carry there.
Draper Provisions will also have a program of regular cheese tastings, wine tastings, and new product tastings on a weekly basis. We want to introduce and educate our community about the products we carry and those that produce them, including locally sourced vendors. We envision having monthly special events such as: bringing in local producers for meet-and-greets, conducting special cooking classes incorporating our products, and offering services like customized gift baskets and complimentary knife-sharpening.
Target Audience: Food enthusiasts, that is, individuals who enjoy eating/cooking with high-quality ingredients and are passionate about food. Customers looking for unique and memorable gifts for special occasions, and those that enjoy participating in regular product tastings and community-building special events.
C. Library Cafe
A French/European cafe market concept, wherein 1)customers in a rush can quickly dine after grabbing something from the Middle Market area, AND/OR 2)customers can order an expanded selection of light fare prepared to order. European café culture is a social and cultural phenomenon where cafes are more than just places for coffee; they are meeting points, social hubs, and integral parts of daily life, serving as a place to relax, socialize, and catch up with friends or colleagues with a focus on a warm, inviting atmosphere and a menu featuring small plates, pastries, and beverages
The cuisine will focus on delicious small plates with a few delectable entrees complemented by an international wine selection as well as crafted cocktails as conversation fills the air. Soups, salads, and sandwiches are the core of the casual fare, but we will be setting the bar slightly higher in terms of ingredients, creativity, and presentation. A diversity of desserts and full specialty coffee offerings (cappuccino, espresso, etc.) complement any and every meal or meeting throughout the day. Here are some menus from similar businesses that inspire us:
We are also building out a full-service, professional restaurant kitchen to serve the Library Cafe. This is for two reasons: 1) this kitchen will also be producing everything that sells in the Middle Market area, and 2) we want to have maximum flexibility for food preparation in case we decide to expand to a breakfast/brunch option or possibly even pivot to offer a full dinner service as well. We are already planning to offer a monthly special event dinner with wine pairings, and if that proves to be popular, we will expand that program to include additional seatings and additional special events like celebrity chef dinners. We also have an exclusive parking lot for 25 vehicles which we envision will be periodically closed off to conduct special outdoor events like oyster roasts, an Oktoberfest beer garden celebration, or even an open-pit BBQ event tailgate party during VT football season.
Additional details: the interior of Library Cafe will seat 40-50 comfortably, and it should be noted that we will be creating an expanded outdoor patio area into the existing parking lot that will seat an additional 40-50 patrons during good weather. Imagine a small sea of white umbrellas on a sunny summer day, covering clients dining and sipping Chardonnay, surrounded by greenery and planters, which also wrap around the Miller Street side of the building. A cosmopolitan scene straight out of Milan or Paris or Barcelona….but right here in Blacksburg!
Inspired by French café culture, where people from all walks of life, whether they are artists and writers, or business people and politicians, can come and interact freely. Cafés are social hubs, places for discussion, thought, relaxation, and time with friends in a casual atmosphere that is comfortable and stress free. The interiors are clean-lined and delicate to speak to a contemporary patron with design language nodding to the classic French cafes of Europe. No matter the time of day, guests are invited to experience this refreshing neighborhood hotspot with a subtle yet sophisticated Euro flair. Here are just a few pictures that inspire us for the cafe interior look and feel:
Target Audience: Daily/weekly casual diners from the local neighborhood and beyond. Friends and families and professionals seeking sustenance in a sociable setting. We are anticipating the cafe becoming a walking destination hub for surrounding communities (including the 16 Blocks and the entire MidTown housing project) and all visitors to downtown Blacksburg. Likely will become a destination restaurant for special events like wine dinners, visiting chef dinners, and seasonal parking-lot takeover special events.