Title is from a lyric to the song “I’m Yours” by musician and actor Jason Mraz, who was born in Mechanicsville.
As I take the exit off of I-295, I am surrounded by neighborhoods both new and old, and retail businesses that most travelers would be familiar with. But under the surface, I sense something more. While the area seems busy, there is a small-town feel about it that makes me feel comfortable and welcome. That there are some places that have been here for decades, and they’ve simply been waiting for me to stop-by and say hello. An area that many may drive through, but would likely miss the hidden gems that are in plain sight.
Mechanicsville is a community located 15 minutes north-east of Richmond, and they have an official LOVE sign located outside of Atlee Church. While I have been to Mechanicsville many times to visit friends or to watch my youngest play baseball, I’d never spent time exploring the area. So I was looking forward to experiencing places I’ve driven past countless times.
My first stop was to grab a quick breakfast and cup of coffee – Well, move over Starbucks, there’s a new cup in town. The Local Cup Coffee Company is a charming shop that promotes locally sourced coffee, food, and of course, love. It offers both a relaxing and upbeat environment with plenty of soft seating and motivational quotes that will inspire anyone that walks in the door. I devoured the sausage-egg biscuit (homemade) and cappuccino, and enjoyed talking with the staff about their other menu items. They also placed in the top three for Central VA in Virginia’s Living 2024 Best magazine – which once you go in, you won’t be surprised (I wasn’t and can’t wait to go back).
About 10 minutes away, you’ll find another Virginia Living 2024 Best recipient, Pole Green Produce, a family-owned store that sells “locally-grown produce, flowers, flags, jar-goods, and more”. When you enter the place, you’ll immediately smell the freshness of the fruits and vegetables and want to add them all to your basket. I purchased several bunches of beets, fresh sweet white corn, and of course some famous Hanover Tomatoes. Everyone working there seemed to be so happy, that I felt like a local myself enjoying the family feel of the place.
Not far is the Atlee Church, a beautiful brick structure where everyone is welcome and you should “come as you are” (no need to get fancy here). The official LOVE sign is located at the entrance of the parking lot where anyone can snap a quick picture. While I stopped by during the week (service time is 10:00 am ET on Sundays), it felt like a place where I would be comfortable going.
I was especially impressed when reading their about page which included, “If you’re not sure what you believe right now – no problem. If you feel you don’t know much about God or church stuff – don’t worry.” A welcoming call to anyone who may be looking for a place to gather and be spiritual.
Speaking of churches, while you’re in the area you must also visit the Historic Pole Green Church, a winsome open air church with a lot of rich history behind it. When reading the Highway Marker, you’ll learn about “Rev Samuel Davis, a great orator who inspired Patrick Henry, was Virginia’s first licensed non-Anglican minister”. He served as the church’s pastor and was also known for his progressive efforts in the education of black slaves.
While the church burned during the Civil War, not all was lost. Many in the community came together years later to create the Pole Green Foundation, and with the help of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, internationally known architect Carlton Abbott was brought in to design the current structure. It is a unique and charming place to experience and a wonderful place for pictures and weddings (my husband and I had our engagement pictures taken here by his older sister).
What is great about this area is that everything is about a 10-minute drive away, to include Governor’s Architectural Antiques, which offers old salvaged architecture materials that can be reused for other purposes. I was welcomed by the staff as soon as I entered, with an explanation and map of what to expect (there are acres to experience). While you could spend days exploring, the inventory is well-organized which makes it easy to browse and be inspired by what you could create. For anyone that loves old architecture and has a house project in mind, this is a definite stop to make.
By now I’ve developed a ferocious appetite, so I was lucky enough to meet my husband and youngest son at Marty’s Grill. Here you will find a nice selection of Americana items, some of which are affectionately named after the owners family, friends and staff. While they are known for their delicious burgers, I enjoyed their seasonal watermelon salad with shrimp and wine vinaigrette dressing (it was awesome). It is a place that “believes in casual family dining, but they’re serious about serving great food”, and will certainly be a place that I will visit again for a great meal.
Mechanicsville is a place to love…
Mechanicsville is a community that may seem like ‘big-town’ but offers its residents and visitors a small-town, community feeling. It’s an area that, if you look past the surface, can provide you a lot of local goodness to experience and enjoy. Where everyone seems happy to be there and also happy to see you come through. If you’re ever in the area, Mechanicsville is a place that is worth exploring – I’m so glad that I finally did.
| VA ♥️ Signs Now Visited | Official VA ♥️ Signs |
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Other points of interest in Mechanicsville:
- For Posh Sake (women’s clothing and gift store)
- Antique Village
- Red Rooster Country Store
- Williams Bakery
- Bell Cafe
- Mod Pizza (unofficial LOVE sign)
- Cold Harbor Battlefield
Is this your first Leah LOVES Virginia blog post read? Thank you for taking the time to visit. If you’re wondering how this adventure got started, check-out my first blog post and my about page. Want to stay connected? It’s super easy and you’ll only hear from me when a new blog gets posted. You can also follow along by friending me on my Leah LOVES Virginia Facebook page.
Important note: I always do my best to ensure anything I include in my blogs is factual and that I also give credit and use quotations when pulling information from sources. If you believe there is something included here that needs to be addressed, please email me directly as I want to be sure it is fixed. Thank you and happy LOVE sign hunting.
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