Comfort food in a former grocery store.

Welcome to Hayfields General Store in Little Washington—a market and casual counter service café named for the rolled hay bales and golden fields surrounding the town we call home. Nearby in the next county seventeen years ago, I created a nationally-acclaimed rural bakery that inspired the rebirth and food renaissance of a forsaken Main Street, and wrote both The Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook and the Red Truck Bakery Cookbook (Clarkson Potter/ Penguin Random House, 2022 and 2018). Now here’s my new passion coming to life in Washington, Virginia: comfort food and local products in an old grocery store, set in a beloved village nestled against the Blue Ridge mountains and eight miles from Shenandoah National Park. 

At Hayfields, you’ll discover a thoughtfully-curated market stocked with farm-fresh locally-grown fruits and vegetables, breads, locally-raised meats, and condiments galore, including unique regional and national honeys, jam, syrups, olive oils, crackers, chips, salsas and more. Shelves are filled a variety of locally-roasted Hayfields coffees and other blends from Floyd, Virginia, with last-minute dinner and entertaining items including pastas, sauces, cheeses, our own line of nuts and granola, and the fridges and freezers feature local ice cream, cheeses, pates, salamis, sausages, our daily quiche, and our own pot pies and entrees—frozen and ready to bake at home.

Our casual counter-service café starts with excellent coffee, breakfast sandwiches and biscuits, and a daily selection of our own pastries. At lunch and throughout the day we'll have a tasty array of sandwiches, soups, salads, and our own cookies, brownies, pies and cakes, with local ice cream in the freezer. Best of all: we’ll offer online ordering for pickup orders. Residents and friends are happy that we’ll have a full bar and neighborhood joint, The Last Straw, and a large outdoor patio.

We’ll be open daily—morning, noon and night—and once a month we’ll have our Sunday Family Suppers: communal tables groaning with large platters and bowls of seasonal cooking served family-style to you and your neighbors. On nights that the Little Washington Theater next door is bustling with events, we’ll have a special menu to get you in and out before the show starts (and our bar will be open afterwards). Also on the docket: monthly movie nights at our place with a menu themed to the film. Lots ahead for all of us—we’re excited to see you soon. —Brian Noyes, proprietor and town resident

Follow our progress on Instagram @hayfieldslittlewashington

For your trek to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Old Rag, Mary’s Rock, Shenandoah National Park trails, and canoeing on the Shenandoah River, stock up on our granola, energy bars, water in reusable non-plastic containers, snacks, trail mix, peanuts, brownies, and cookies. Grab some sandwiches and chips for a picnic. Use our Wi-Fi to plan your journey. 

Our visitors’ guide features local shops and galleries, B&Bs, wineries, area hiking trails, river info, recreational activities and farm tours. Don’t miss our travel guides, hats, t-shirts, hoodies, knapsacks, candles and supplies at our market and online. 

Thanks to Lancaster Mennonite School for this Shenandoah NP photo.