Josh and Rachel Savey at their office in the Sperryville Schoolhouse. (Photo/Luke Christopher)

Historic landmark growing as business hub

Like many who have made Rappahannock County their home, Josh and Rachel Savey were drawn to the county’s rural charm and bucolic setting, first as weekenders and now as owners of the Sperryville Schoolhouse complex, a growing hub for local businesses.

Looking for weekend escapes from their busy Washington, D.C. lives, the couple — now in their mid-30s — began visiting the county around the time they married in 2018. Both were familiar with small-town life before launching their careers in the nation’s capital where they currently work — Rachel in public affairs and Josh as a tax attorney with a large firm.

“We both came from small communities — Josh from Reedsport along the Oregon coast and me from a 160-acre farm in north Florida,” Rachel said. “Rappahannock was a big draw for us. We were looking to reconnect with rural life and wanted something away from the bustle of the big city.”

Weekend stays at Hopkins Ordinary in Sperryville, where they got to know locals and soak up the rural vibe, led to a deeper connection to the county.

When the COVID-19 pandemic changed work and lifestyle routines, they shifted from occasional visitors to regular residents and in 2020 purchased a home in Woodville, where they spent most of their time. They have since purchased a home off F.T. Valley Road in Sperryville.

“It wasn’t the intention,” Rachel said. “We thought maybe we’d come one or two weekends a month. But we started meeting more people, getting involved, and realized how social the community really is.”

Josh and Rachel Savey walking from Sperryville Schoolhouse to Rising Water Brewery. (Photo/Luke Christopher)

Investing in the community

Their shift to Rappahannock soon led to broader community involvement, beginning with the purchase in 2022 of the former Happy Camper retail store at 15 Main St. in Sperryville.

“We liked it here so much we wanted to invest in the community and thought it would be a good opportunity to try to find an entrepreneur and keep the space as a business,” Josh said.

They rented the property for a couple of years to a florist. Now it is occupied by Truwell Integrative Medicine, staffed by Sheeba Asad, a nurse practitioner and naturopathic doctor. According to office manager Usman Qaiser, the family practice is busy with new patients.

“We’ve heard great things about Sheeba, and it’s gratifying we could play a role in supporting that kind of important medical service in Sperryville,” Josh said.

When the old Sperryville Schoolhouse complex came on the real estate market a couple of years later, it caught their eye.

“We weren’t actively looking,” Rachel said. “But the location was hard to beat and we wanted to invest in the community in a way that respected the building’s history.”

“We are not big pro-development,” Josh added, “but bringing some of these older buildings back to life is exciting for the community.”

Since their purchase in January 2024, the Saveys have made significant improvements to the structure. Heating and cooling systems have been updated, infrastructure repaired, interior spaces repainted and the parking lot repaved.

“All the tenants have been great because it has been a constant renovation project,” Josh said.

On the building’s first floor, the Happy Camper retail store, under new ownership, is expected to expand into an adjacent space in the coming months. RappCE, a lifelong learning and workforce training center, is downsizing from three rooms to one, opening new areas for small businesses or retail. The Black Twig restaurant, Flourish Roots Florals and The Schoolhouse Nine golf pro shop round out the tenant roster. Announcement of a new tenant in the former wine shop space is expected soon. Upstairs suites are for office rentals.

Rising Water Brewing, located in an adjacent building the Savey’s also own in the complex, is expected to open later this spring, while Gallery 3 art studio continues to occupy space on its lower level.

As they work to fill vacant spaces with businesses that could draw visitors and local entrepreneurs, their approach has been incremental and adaptive.

“I sometimes feel the plan is always changing, but the guiding goal is to give smaller businesses a chance to try new ideas,” Josh said. “Active storefronts benefit every tenant by bringing people through the building.”

In addition to their redevelopment work, Josh joined the board of the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Authority in August, where he has been involved in discussions surrounding a major rehabilitation project at the Sperryville treatment plant and rate changes tied to these ongoing infrastructure improvements. 

“One of the financial challenges before us will be to find ways to eventually pay off that loan and make any other needed improvements without adversely impacting ratepayers,” he said.

Building friendships

Although time is split between their busy careers and property management, the Saveys enjoy friendships and engage in community activities, including hosting events for SperryFest, Merry Sperry and the farmers’ market on the open grassy lot across from the schoolhouse.

For them, developing close friendships has come naturally. “If you just show up to places regularly enough, people recognize your face, and then it’s really easy to strike up a conversation,” Rachel said. “The county felt very welcoming from the start.”

“Building friendships came more easily than I thought,” Josh said. “It’s really not been difficult to meet people and make lasting connections.”

As the Saveys guide the 120-year-old schoolhouse into its next phase, they say their goal remains simple: Create spaces where local businesses can grow and neighbors can gather. Rachel believes the growing presence of young families and entrepreneurs signals an optimistic future for the village.

“I think there is an energy on this side of the county,” she said. “I think that is a very positive thing.”