Early history
The building housing Bonnie Blue Southern Market & Bakery, commonly known as Bonnie Blue, is located at 334 West Boscawen Street in Winchester, Virginia.[1] It was built in 1920 in the American Craftsman style.[2] It previously operated as an Esso gas station.[3] Adjoining industrial commercial buildings, 330-332 West Boscawen Street, were added in 1945. An expansion to the Esso building was added in 1957.[4] At some point the property also served as a car dealership.[1] In May 2006, Ross's Carpet & Floors opened in the space, but later moved to a new location on West Hart Street.[5][6]
Two businessmen, Brian Pellatt and Christian Schweiger, organized as Bonnie Blue Partners. The owners wanted to welcome locals and visitors into Winchester at the triangular intersection of Amherst Street (U.S. Route 50) and West Boscawen Street, putting an emphasis on offering food and other items from nearby suppliers when available.[1] After purchasing the property, which was dilapidated, the two spent over four months renovating the building, keeping some of the architectural details. Bonnie Blue opened on September 23, 2012.[1]
According to Schweiger, the restaurant's décor and name were inspired by the Bonnie Blue flag used by the short-lived Republic of West Florida (RWF). There is a single white star on the blue flag. The restaurant itself is painted the same color blue as the one used by the RWF.[1] Both owners incorporated a mixture of their respective home state's culinary traditions. Pellat brought his knowledge of North Carolina cuisine, including barbecue, and Schweiger, being from Texas, spent time learning barbecue techniques there.[1] In addition to barbecue, a variety of other meats, vegetables, cheeses, apple butter, and other food items, are sold. Prepared baked goods include biscuits, cakes, cookies, muffins, and croissants.[1]
2010s
During Bonnie Blue's first few years of operations, there was only seating for 20 people inside in addition to picnic tables outside. The total size of the restaurant, including kitchen and office space, was around 5000 ft2.[7] The smoker runs for around 20 hours each day, but it occasionally runs 24 hours.[7][8] The restaurant's walls are decorated "with randomized paraphernalia, including political campaign signs, a quote from Willie Nelson painted near the ceiling, and a small wooden horse that one of the restaurant's owners stole from a beer festival in his youth."[7] According to Schweiger, the restaurant's style is "casual Southern food and come as you are."[7]
In 2013, Winchester's first Old Town Restaurant Week took place, with Bonnie Blue taking part.[9]
2020s
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, like most restaurants, Bonnie Blue was ordered to shut down indoor and outdoor seating.[19] Food ordered to-go was still available, and in April, state officials begin allowing alcoholic drinks to also be ordered to-go.[20] By June of that year, diners were able to eat on the patio with certain restrictions.[19] In 2021, Bonnie Blue began utilizing community-supported agriculture (referred to as the CSA model), which allows consumers to purchase from a specific producer's harvest. The restaurant began purchasing its vegetables from a local farmer.[21]
The following year, the regional chamber of commerce named Bonnie Blue as Small Business of the Year in the chamber's "Greater Good Awards".[22] Bonnie Blue has often assisted many organizations and events by providing free food and labor.
