When I first decided to open HomeGrown Real Estate, one of the biggest decisions was choosing the right location. My heart kept pulling me back to New Market. It wasn’t just about opening an office… it was about coming home to a place that had shaped so much of who I am.
New Market has been part of my story for as long as I can remember. As a child, I spent summers here, making memories that still shape how I see the town today. It’s where I went to high school. It’s where I lived in my early adult years. And now, after moving back to the Shenandoah Valley four years ago, it’s still the place I feel most drawn to.
When you walk the streets of New Market today, you may notice there aren’t as many businesses as there once were. To an outsider, sometimes I think they see my faith in this town as a bit of a delusion… but for me, I truly see it as the greatest opportunity. When you know the history, feel the present, and sense the magic just brewing for its next chapter, it’s hard not to believe in what New Market can become. Opening my business here was both a leap of faith and a promise to myself that I’d invest in a place I truly love.
And what I’ve discovered since setting down roots is that New Market is filled with collaboration, support, and heart. From joining committees that plan events like the Independence Day celebration and Tis the Season, to connecting with other business owners who show up every day to keep the town thriving… I’ve been reminded again and again that there is something special here.
For me, New Market isn’t just a place on a map. It’s memories of working at the ice cream shop in the middle of town. It’s living above the old grocery store. It’s afternoons at the Christmas Gallery where my grandma worked part-time. It’s countless meals at Southern Kitchen and fall festivals that stretched all the way to the community center. It’s even mini golf followed by the world-famous apple fritters at Johnny Appleseed. And I’m so thankful to Southern Kitchen for taking on an apple fritter recipe so I can still have a little bit of that magic in town.
Those are the moments that shaped me, and they’re the reason I believe so deeply in the town’s future. Yes, New Market is in a transitional phase. But in that in-between, I see potential. I see dedicated business owners, supportive town leaders, and a community that still carries a little bit of magic.
My hope is to continue showing up, not only through HomeGrown Real Estate, but one day by bringing another business to New Market. Because when you’ve experienced the charm of a small town… the kind of place where collaboration thrives and memories linger… you can’t help but want to nurture it for the next generation.
New Market has given me so much, and I’m honored to be part of its story… both the nostalgia of the past and the hope for the future. And as I look ahead, I also see opportunity. There are wonderful commercial spaces available right here in town, and I would love to be part of helping others see the potential too. If you’ve ever dreamed of opening a business in New Market or have questions about what’s possible, I’d be happy to connect. Because every new idea and every open door is another step toward the vibrant future this town deserves.
-Ashley