Travel Beautiful Appalachia, Inc. (TBAI)
Opens Restored Ashland Company Store

              “In its heyday the company store was the center of community activity, explained             Sharon Walden, Executive Director of Travel Beautiful Appalachia, Inc. (TBAI).  “We are             glad to have a role in bringing this community center back to life and preserving part of our             heritage.”  Walden was speaking to supporters and community members gathered to             celebrate the recent Grand Opening of the Ashland Company Store in Ashland, West             Virginia.
               Approximately 150 civic leaders, supporters and community leaders gathered on a cold             spring morning to celebrate the renovation and reopening of the 7500 square foot building             which now houses a retail space providing market access to 56 craft and food producing             businesses; the Coal Camp Café and a commercial kitchen as well as meeting space, offices             and a computer lab.
               The Ashland Store restoration is the product of a partnership between TBAI and Ashland             Restoration, LLC, a for-profit company committed to economic development of the area.              The partnership was created in 2001 after the first devastating flood.  During the years of             development the work on the Ashland Company Store included obtaining a designation             on the Historical Register and total renovation of the store under the guidance of historical             architect, David Kemnetzer.
               The Ashland Company Store is located at the newest trail head of the extensive Hatfield             McCoy trail system; 55 miles of trails used by hikers, bikers, ATV enthusiasts and motorcyclists             to explore West Virginia’s forests.  Just down the road from the Ashland store and café is a             new KOA campground.  These coordinated developments are attracting more tourists to             this southeastern corner of the state.  Folks come not just for the recreation but also to             learn more about the state’s rich history.  The Ashland Company Store has collections of             memorabilia from the area’s coal heritage and documentation of the area when coal was             king. TBAI is also collecting oral histories from community residents capturing the stories of             the area over the past decades.
               Participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony included Paul Gonzalas, representative for             Congressman Nick Joe Rahall; Richard Peltz, Appalachian Regional Commission Alternate             Federal Co-Chair; Betty Ireland, Secretary of State; Bobby Lewis, WV Development Office             Community Development Director; Ken Bazzle from Atlanta, Georgia; Peter Minter from the             Charleston HUD Office.  Each speaker praised the hard work that lead to the restoration of             the Ashland Company Store which will once again be a focal point in the community for social             and economic development.
               Ken Bazzle, developer and owner of the Ashland Company Store, received recognition for             his vision and support for economic development in McDowell County.  Mr. Bazzle followed             with the presentation of a painting of the former Ashland Tipple to TBAI Executive Director             Sharon Walden.  This painting will have a prominent place inside the Ashland Company             Store.
               Plaques were presented to individuals and funders that had provided support to the             creation of the Ashland Company Store project by TBAI Board of Directors Chairman Mike             Mitchem.  Jay Chatman, TBAI Center Director, and Debbie Bailey, TBAI Business             Development Coordinator, presented Sharon Walden the first afghan produced featuring             the Ashland area.  This afghan was created by Marsha Best of Windmill Gap. After the             ceremony concluded the attendees enjoyed a luncheon in the upstairs meeting room of             the Ashland Company Store and toured the various areas of the building including the             retailspace to shop for West Virginia products.

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