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Mellie Strickler buys Woods Creek Grocery
Mellie Strickler (who no longer lives in the Rockbridge County area) purchased the Woods Creek Grocery property for $50,000. Debbie Merklinger, who later bought the property from Strickler, said that Strickler's business was shut down by the Health Department. -
Jeff and Debbie Merklinger buy Woods Creek property
The Merklingers bought the then-vacant Woods Creek Grocery building for $130,212. Jeff Merklinger had previous experience constructing houses and was able to remodel much of the old building. He removed the metal siding from the building, allowing the original wooden siding from the 1920s to be seen once more. -
Woods Creek Grocery and Cafe opens officially
The cafe opened for lunch on Monday through Saturday, and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. The Merklingers did not book any bands to play at the cafe during their first year in business, but they did build a bocce ball court and horseshoe pit for the public to use. -
Loud music at Halloween party upsets neighbors
Graham Spice's band, The Guy Smiley Blues Exchange, played at the cafe's Halloween party. Michael and Suanne Kopald, who live across the street, said the music was so loud tha they could barely hear their television even though all of the windows in the house were closed. Michael Kopald called Merklinger, but when the music did not stop he then called the police. -
Merklinger approached about selling the cafe
Real estate agent Melissa Holland approached Debbie Merklinger about selling the cafe on behalf of the Kopalds, who wished to remain anonymous buyers. Merklinger said she was interested and named a price of $165,000 for the cafe. -
Contract delivered to Merklingers
Holland delivered the contract for the sale to the Merklingers and told them that they had 24 hours to respond to the offer (either to sign the contract or make a counter-offer). The Merklingers agreed to the contract. -
Woods Creek Grocery and Cafe closes its doors
Just nine days after signing the sales contract, the Merklingers finished moving all of their belongings out of the former Woods Creek Grocery and Cafe building. The property now belongs to the Kopalds.
