Update August 5, 2023: Brenda and Dan Haggett have now retired and removed all items from their stores. They closed both businesses on Friday July 28, 2023. From their Facebook page we read “ Well we have officially retired! Finished moving all items out today. We want to thank everyone who patronized our businesses over these past 13 years. We opened the flower shop in 2010 and Boxcar Deli in 2016. It has been a pleasure serving all of you and we will miss everyone!”
Their buildings have been sold. No information if anyone will be reopening the restaurant.
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Boxcar Deli & Subs and Four Season’s Gifts are owned by Brenda & Dan Haggett. They have decided to retire and have put their building and lots at 502 First street on the market. They now have a good offer for purchase and expected to close end of July.
The new property owner (after the end of July) is willing to discuss now for possible lease of the existing Boxcar Deli & Subs Restaurant.
Investors and Entrepreneurs:
Please feel free to share the information below for a business being for LEASE in our Town:
The buildings and vacant lots have a good offer for purchase that is expected to close end of July.
The new property owner (after the end of July) is willing to discuss now for possible lease of the existing Boxcar Deli & Subs with serious inquires to his email.
The current business owners are willing to do some training if needed/desired on the current business operations prior to their retirement. Should the sale fall through for any reason, the current building/business owners are also willing to discuss a lease for the deli business in the future.
Either way Boxcar Deli and Subs is for LEASE as a turnkey business!
It is currently very successful as is and provides so much room for expansion! Below are some ideas for even more potential success:
Build the Social Media Presence and excitement about upcoming changes; add an Instagram connected with Facebook. Consider a Twitter too. I know SBDC can help teach these skills if you cannot do this on own.
Corner building – turn it into a Tap Room by Noon into evenings (maybe call it the Sidecar) selling local brews (there are many in Page and Rockingham County or nearby) and serve bar food from Deli. Serve coffee/Danishes in the morning for locals like beginning at 9:30 a.m./10 a.m. till Noon.
Deli Building, which currently offers connection to other building - Expand deli seating and put in a corner small stage area for regular entertainment such as local musicians; karaoke; and hold game night like Trivia, etc. Keep same food as it is awesome!
Existing Patio - Add patio twinkle lights; resurface the old foundation to make it into a smooth stage as it already sits higher than the patio floor; paint some outdoor murals staying with train or local theme (free except supplies by the very talented local high school or JMU art students?); put in some cornhole boards and have the musical entertainment outdoors in good weather. As it gets chilly consider outdoor heaters or gas fire pits too. Current parking is utilized on street, but you could also add parking off the alley in the back too if owner allows.
Other ideas are similar for the above, but concentrate more on family only atmosphere completely with no alcohol, so maybe some special coffees (made in Stanley or Elkton or Luray) and more local teas and products added to your non-alcoholic brew room.
- Small Business Development Center offers free help for your business ideas, assistance with marketing ideas, training, etc. from conception to completion! Page County Economic Development has a great team to assist you and the Town of Shenandoah also helps where we can too.
- This is a sweet deal for any new owners as the existing owners are willing to stay on as your employee temporarily for a while (if desired) to assist with the transition.
Please note the existing owners are NOT closing Boxcar Deli & Subs as of right now, but if no one can be found to lease the boxcar deli, it is likely to close at the end of July, so come grab a sandwich while you can and see the potential yourself.
Business Video: (shows current setup-change however you need with owner’s permission) https://link.edgepilot.com/s/7c8cb0b1/VD48qrlppk_4vrf5Wdpvpw?u=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX2n9sKGxCc
The future building/lot owners look forward to hearing from serious inquiries soon! If you or someone you know has serious interest in owning a successful business in our area, please contact them direct today by emailing him
More about the Town:
The Town of Shenandoah (in Page County, VA) is a very busy little hub of activity being so close to Massanutten Four Seasons Resort; Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park; Cities of Harrisonburg, Richmond, Northern Virginia and DC. We have a large Enterprise Zone and also are a HUB Zone too.
We are a very popular destination for tourists and Airbnb Rentals (18 beautiful rentals in Town right now with more planned in the future) and hundreds of cabin rentals nearby in Page County - Cabin Capitol of Virginia.
With our gorgeous Shenandoah River and River Park and mountain trails in Big Gem Park too, Shenandoah is busier than most people think on any given day! We even partner with JMU Crew Club and JMU Recreation Department for events at the river. Shenandoah River Adventures is here to rent out tubes, canoes, kayaks, and the offer drop off/pick up service too. We have tourist traffic all year in Town now with our nearby attractions, local events, local businesses, and the 4 season river use, along with the very busy river season rentals during the spring, summer, fall.
Duck Pin Bowling is very popular and they hold National Tournaments right here.
Shenandoah Speedway is another source of local entertainment with regular season racing and then the rentals by the very popular drifting clubs, which bring in tourists from all states.
Those are just some of the things to do locally and coupled with nearby national parks (Blue Ridge Parkway entrance too!), Shenandoah is the Southern gateway to all that Page County offers as well, like the world-famous Luray Caverns.
Our wide variety of locally owned delicious restaurants are very successful selling to visitors and locals. They also cater events and cater for large nearby businesses like Merck and Molson (Miller) Coors Brewing and Massanutten too.
The Town recently opened a beautiful visitor welcome center and museum to provide information for tourists and locals too, just across the street from this business.
If the new owners’ full plans come to fruition on First Street vacant lots, things are really about to get even more exciting for downtown Shenandoah! If you or someone you know has serious interest in leasing a successful business in our area, please contact them direct today by emailing
