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Town approves renovation of The Inn at Little Washington’s latest expansion

by | Jun 19, 2026

A rendering of what the building will look like after renovations. (Courtesy/Val Hawkins Architect)
A renovation of the former Wine Loves Chocolate building, now being leased by The Inn at Little Washington, was approved by the town’s Architectural Review Board Monday night. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)
Members of the public look at drawings and plans for the renovation of 353 Main Street, the former site of Wine Loves Chocolate, at Monday’s ARB meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve the permits needed for the renovation project. Members of the public look at drawings and plans for the renovation of 353 Main Street, the former site of Wine Loves Chocolate, at Monday’s ARB meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve the permits needed for the renovation project. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)

Inn leasing former Wine Loves Chocolate building, says use undetermined

The Town of Washington’s Architectural Review Board voted unanimously Monday to approve a renovation of 353 Main St., the former site of Wine Loves Chocolate that is now being leased by The Inn at Little Washington.

The inn has not yet determined the building’s future use, said the inn’s design and capital project manager Alicia Fatula, who submitted the application on the inn’s behalf. She told members of the public to “stay tuned” during Monday’s meeting.

A renovation of the former Wine Loves Chocolate building, now being leased by The Inn at Little Washington, was approved by the town’s Architectural Review Board Monday night. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)

Inn General Manager Michael Tompkins said Val Hawkins Architect, based in Georgetown, was hired to design the renovation of the building which is about 20 years old. The firm found the structure reminiscent of a historic Virginia cottage, Tompkins said.

Proposed changes to the building — owned by Jean Goodine, a member of the Town Council — include squaring off the front porch, adding stone planter boxes, upgrading handicapped access, replacing windows and doors and adding a stone fireplace and chimney. Tompkins said the footprint of the building will not change.

ARB member Dwight McNeill, himself an architect, called the project “cute as can be,” and said it would fit in with the rest of the town.

The board approved the application with three members present — Chair Wes Kerr, Drew Mitchell and McNeill — voting in favor. Ryan Crabbe and Fred Catlin were absent.

“I think it’s a pretty dramatic before and after,” Mitchell said. “Well done.”

Members of the public look at drawings and plans for the renovation of 353 Main Street, the former site of Wine Loves Chocolate, at Monday’s ARB meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve the permits needed for the renovation project.
Members of the public look at drawings and plans for the renovation of 353 Main Street, the former site of Wine Loves Chocolate, at Monday’s ARB meeting. The board voted unanimously to approve the permits needed for the renovation project. (Photo/Ireland Hayes)

Author

  • Ireland Hayes

    Ireland joined Foothills Forum as a full-time reporter in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in journalism and minor in music. As a student, she gained valuable experience in reporter and editor positions at The Red & Black, an award-winning student newspaper, and contributed to Grady Newsource and the Athens Banner-Herald. She spent three years as an editorial assistant at Georgia Magazine, UGA’s quarterly alumni publication, and interned with The Bitter Southerner.
    Growing up in a small town in Southeast Georgia, Ireland developed a deep appreciation for rural communities and the unique stories they have to tell. She completed undergraduate research on news deserts, ghost papers and the ways rural communities in Georgia are being forced to adapt to a lack of local news. This research further sparked her interest in a career contributing to the preservation of local and rural news.
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By Ireland Hayes

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Ireland joined Foothills Forum as a full-time reporter in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in journalism and minor in music. As a student, she gained valuable experience in reporter and editor positions at The Red & Black, an award-winning student newspaper, and contributed to Grady Newsource and the Athens Banner-Herald. She spent three years as an editorial assistant at Georgia Magazine, UGA’s quarterly alumni publication, and interned with The Bitter Southerner. Growing up in a small town in Southeast Georgia, Ireland developed a deep appreciation for rural communities and the unique stories they have to tell. She completed undergraduate research on news deserts, ghost papers and the ways rural communities in Georgia are being forced to adapt to a lack of local news. This research further sparked her interest in a career contributing to the preservation of local and rural news.