Seven years ago, Kia Kianersi walked into the Orlean Market & Pub in Marshall, Virginia, for a sandwich, and a few months later, found himself the owner. “It was such a homey place that I offered to help the owner, Ted Gillam, with digital marketing for free,” Kianersi said. After working with Gilliam for several months, Kianersi found out Gillam was closing the store. “My family purchased it in 2015 and gave me the chance to run it. I’ve been here every day since,” Kianersi said.

In the years since, Kianersi has put his own stamp on the business, but he did so slowly and with lots of customer input. “Previous to me, there had been five owners in one decade—every two years the ownership turned over and the new owner would change things up immediately,” he said. “I wanted to first observe and see what the community wanted, then make changes.”

Community Focus

Since the late 1800s, a market has been on the corner of routes 688 and 732 in Fauquier County, serving an ever-changing demographic. “We are now a community of fox hunters, bicyclists, motorcyclists, hikers, trail riders and neighbors,” Kianersi said.

The market combines a gas station, convenience store and restaurant on the property. When Kianersi took over, he installed functioning fuel pumps for gasoline and diesel. “With the nearest gas station eight to 10 miles away, we needed to offer fueling options for our customers,” he said.

The bottom line for Kianersi is to ensure Orlean Market & Pub stays the center of the community. “I’ve been very patient and let changes develop on their own,” he said. “There’s a level of responsibility when you run a store in a small community because many customers will see you as a community center and gathering place, as well as a shop to get snacks, food and gas.”

I wanted to first observe and see what the community wanted, then make changes.

With the pandemic restrictions still in force, nowadays, he communicates more with customers through the store’s active Facebook page and email list. “We email and post weekly information about store specials and what we’re doing,” he said. “For our email list, I think our open rate doubled or tripled as customers were eager to find out what we’re offering that week.”

Community Store

Orlean Market has the traditional assortment of snacks and drinks, plus ice cream and auto supplies. At the deli counter, customers can get fresh sliced meats and cheeses, as well as takeout foodservice. In the grocery section, customers can pick up essentials, including fresh fruit and vegetables, canned goods, pastas and sauces, sugar, butter, bacon, milk, syrups, pickled items and pet food. The store also stocks locally made foods, such as peanuts, roasted coffee, honey and chutney.

“We have a consistent menu on the Market side with one or two specials, alongside our house soups and sandwiches,” Kianersi said. “Everything’s made from scratch, and we incorporate local ingredients as much as we can, such as with our country ham biscuit with local ham and honey butter.”

That focus on local extends to the store’s wine selection, which boasts many varieties of Virginia wines grown and bottled nearby. “We’re smack in the middle of 20 vineyards,” he said. “Many of them provide us with free tasting coupons or samples for our customers, as well as allow us to carry their wines.”

On the pub side, the menu tends toward fancier fare, such as duck breast, meatloaf and shrimp and grits from Chef Nicholas Forlano. Pre-pandemic, the pub offered live music and other events. “One of my favorites is the last Friday of the month’s open mic night,” he said. “It’s a century-old tradition here, but we’ve had to put it on hiatus until things get back to normal.”

When the weather warms up, he will reopen the patio and 16 picnic tables on the three acres of land surrounding the market and set up the cornhole games. “It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the country view with some good food in a safe way,” he said.

Community Future

Kianersi is not letting the pandemic detour him from his original vision for the Orlean Market & Pub. “I wanted to create a destination spot, a hub where people come to rest during their trip to this area,” he said. To that end, he’s waiting on county approval to add six to eight rooms on the pub side for overnight accommodations.

“We’re in such a beautiful place right in the middle of trail tours and historical tours and winery tours that having a B&B would be good for our community and for us,” he said. “It would help generate more income for us and surrounding businesses, too.”

It’s that rich history of the area that Kianersi wants to convey through his store. “We’re really extending the experience for the customer,” he said. “We’re right off one of the best scenic routes in the area at an intersection of historical significance, so we hope that our customers can appreciate that as they stop with us.”