Wytheville seeing reinvigoration

By Zach Cooley

Since the formation of Downtown Wytheville, Incorporated a decade ago, the town has become a hub of local activity. More out-of-towners are choosing Wytheville as a social and entertainment destination with the refurbishment of venues like the Millwald Theater and The Bolling Wilson Hotel.

“I think we’re seeing more people moving to Wytheville who would have never considered it,” says Charlie Jones of the Downtown Wytheville organization. “We are also seeing more people return here after college and that’s because of the career opportunities and revitalization of the community we’ve seen in the last 10 years.”

Jones, 22, is a prime example of this himself.

The George Wythe High School graduate has either volunteered or worked as an employee of Downtown Wytheville, Incorporated since practically its inception. He served as Youth Board Member in high school and since November 2022, has worked as the Administrative and Event Coordinator. He received the job after graduating from James Madison University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Administration.

Although he didn’t necessarily set his sites on returning home for his career, he always loved growing up in Wytheville and was proud to say he hailed from there.

“My family has lived here for generations,” he remarked. “My heritage is definitely

here.”

Jones also grew weary of hearing town residents complain about the lack of social activity within his hometown. These were the same citizens who never expressed interest in changing the atmosphere of their hometown livelihood.

“If you want to experience change within your community,” he offered. “You have to be

willing to bring about some of that change yourself by at least sharing ideas or making them known to people who are willing to help find solutions toward bringing these positive changes to life.”

That is something to which Jones has devoted his entire young life.

“It is important to be in a community where things are happening in which people want to participate,” Jones noted. “We can offer that now with the many businesses we have created and the events that occur because of those businesses.”

Seven Sisters Brewery, 7 Dogs Brewpub, Moon Dog Brick Oven Pizza, Petals Wine Bar

and Wytheville Farmers Market are just a few of the businesses that sprang up and are thriving because of Wytheville’s downtown resurgence.

“There are more things happening in Wytheville on any given night than a single person

can take in,” Jones offered. “These are really interesting, diverse events that we would have never envisioned occurring in Wytheville even five years ago.”

Unprecedented live music events are occurring with the reopening of the Millwald. Such upgrades are appearing in local real estate listings, which now tout “within walking distance to downtown entertainment” as opposed to “spacious back yard” or “new plumbing.”

“I think that is a huge selling point for people moving here for the first time or are returning here,” Jones noted. “You would have never seen that 10 years ago.”

He also added that the idea of young people wanting to leave Wytheville for career

opportunities and community vitality is somewhat of a misconception. He says that, while young people don’t necessarily want to leave their hometown, they felt it was necessary to achieve such goals. Now, thanks to the hard work of people in Wytheville and Wythe County, there are now more career and social opportunities at home than ever before.

“You can’t invest in your community if you aren’t willing to devote your efforts into the

heart of the community,” Jones said rhetorically. “If you want these things in your community,

you have to give of yourself to bring them here. Everyone has to become part of the community to develop a sense of pride in it and feel connected to it.”

Jones was very aware of the positive changes happening in his hometown. He talked to

many people on the streets of Wytheville who spoke at length about how they wanted the future of their town to look. Now, he has an opportunity to come into work every morning, striving to solve problems to help transform those dreams into a reality.

“I chose my major because I wanted to help people within the public sphere,” Jones

stated. “I couldn’t get much closer to that than by doing what I do now.”