Following her passion and creating one powerful community

Tucked away in the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, Virginia, has a way of surprising people. For entrepreneur Megan Burrows, Staunton became the perfect backdrop for her business, Burrow & Vine, and the launchpad for a thriving community of women in small business. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Megan about what brought her here, how her shop came to be, and why she agrees with us at MoxieTowns that small-town Main Streets are brimming with potential. Watch for more about this bustling valley town - and the women who are igniting something remarkable.

A Dream Takes Root

Burrow & Vine began as a seed of an idea—literally. Megan found herself drawn to the peacefulness of indoor plants and macramé projects in her sunroom during the isolating days of the pandemic. “It was my sanctuary,” she explained, recalling her cozy corner with music, greenery, and art supplies. It didn’t take long for her to realize that the joy she was feeling could be shared. “Everybody should get to feel this good,” she said. That spark grew into Burrow & Vine, an immersive retail shop where macramé, terrarium building, and hands-on creative classes blend with stylish home décor.

From the start, Megan wanted her space to be more than a transaction. Burrow & Vine invites you to wander through curated houseplants, craft your own piece at the “DIY bar,” or attend one of many upstairs workshops. She’s hosted everything from dried-floral arranging to silversmithing classes. “In a small town, people want experiences as much as they want things,” Megan says. “I wanted a space that celebrates both.” This is one of the delights of local owners, they can program their spaces to meet the desires of the community with flexibility and abandon.

Building Community (and a Second Story)

Finding the perfect spot for Burrow & Vine in Staunton was a stroke of small-town serendipity. Megan originally planned on opening in nearby Waynesboro—where she lives—but kept hitting roadblocks on real estate. Then a friend tipped her off that a prime location downtown might become available. Shortly after seeing it, she was signing a lease while in Atlanta shopping for products at a trade show. “It all happened so fast,” she laughs, “but it felt meant to be.”

Unlike many downtown storefronts, her location offered a second floor, perfect for special events. Today, that upstairs hosts yoga classes, bachelorette gatherings, and collaborative workshops with local makers. “There’s a real creativity to how you use your space in a historic building,” Megan points out. “That’s half the fun.”

Women at the Heart of Main Street

Beyond the day-to-day of running her store, Megan’s passion for small towns truly shines through her commitment to connecting and uplifting others—especially women entrepreneurs. She has joined forces with fellow local business owners on a women’s business collective, named The Valley Women’s Colab, an emerging group devoted to networking, mentorship, and resource-sharing. Megan sees these kinds of partnerships as vital in a smaller market. “This is how we get things done in Staunton,” she says. “We all thrive together, or none of us thrive at all.”

Her vision for the Valley Womens Colab includes practical workshops on everything from taxes to social media, plus the intangible support of knowing you’re not going it alone. “You don’t have to be isolated just because your business is in a small town,” she emphasizes. “We’re all searching for a place to find that spark, and for me, it’s right here on Main Street.” They kick off this years effort on March 7!

Funding the Dream—and Paying It Forward

While Megan runs Burrow & Vine, she also recently returned to a full-time position to keep her entrepreneurial plans moving forward. Far from seeing that as a setback, she views it as strategic: “I’m funding my dream,” she says. Having been a single mom and the primary breadwinner for years, she’s no stranger to juggling responsibilities. In fact, her next goal is to help other women navigate similar paths by sharing her hard-won insights on life, business, and motherhood.

Discover Staunton (and Stay Awhile)

If you find yourself near Staunton, pop into Burrow & Vine to browse thoughtfully curated home décor, build your own terrarium, or even learn a new skill in one of Megan’s workshops. You might just catch a yoga class upstairs or find a group of locals sipping wine and crafting. It’s a place that perfectly embodies the small-town spirit of collaboration and creativity.

Megan believes Staunton’s potential is still unfolding—especially in the hands of women determined to shape the future of Main Street. “We have so much room to grow,” she says. “In these small towns, you can make a bigger impact faster than you ever could in a big city.”

Ready to see more small-town stories like Megan’s? Stay tuned here on MoxieTowns as we spotlight more Mavens of Main Street—women whose vision, grit, and heart are transforming America’s small towns, one shopfront at a time.

Photos: @burrowandvine & www.valleywomensweekend.com 2024 gallery

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