2021 SML Visitor Guide - 52

Shop Local
Every great getaway deserves a great shopping spree! Our diverse region
features hundreds of spots where you can support local merchants
eager to help you find the ideal gift or souvenir. And if you're looking to
unplug and unwind, a relaxing visit to an area spa may be the ideal way
to cap off your visit to Smith Mountain Lake.

J BOHN BISHOP

Westlake
Smith Mountain Lake
residents and visitors
have continued to
show small businesses
affected by the
pandemic some big
love.
The SML Regional
Chamber of Commerce
organized a 'Shop
Local' campaign to
help keep shops and
restaurants afloat,
while a grassroots
Facebook page entitled
'We Shop Local SML'
quickly garnered
more than 4,000
enthusiastic followers
to help spread the
word about available
goods and services in
the region.
" It has been so
inspiring to see
everyone come
together to support our
small business owners
with such passion
and devotion, " says
Chamber Executive
Director Christopher
Finley. " Ours is truly a
special community. "

Westlake is the hub of commercial development at Smith Mountain Lake, with
abundant home and garden retailers, gift shops, a furniture outlet, jeweler,
health and nutrition shop, a large grocery store, pharmacy, Virginia ABC store
and much more.

Bridgewater Plaza
For more than 30 years, Bridgewater Plaza has been a go-to shopping spot for
residents and visitors. Stroll along the lakeside decks to explore outlets for
clothing, accessories, watersports equipment and apparel, pottery, jewelry, toys
and a variety of SML souvenirs.

Eastlake
Downtown Moneta, a mixed residential/commercial development, anchors the
shopping experience on the Bedford County side of the lake with a variety of
retail shops and businesses. Other shopping centers at Eastlake offer a large
grocer, discount store, clothing boutique and a Virginia ABC Store.

Southlake
Shopping is somewhat limited on the more rural south side of SML, but you will
find several plant nurseries with quaint gift shops, a discount store and large
consignment outlet filled with furniture and home accessories.

Bedford
Explore the nearby town of Bedford for antiques, hand-made gifts, fresh-fromthe-farm products and much more. The historic downtown district is where
you'll find more than 30 shops for jewelry, art, food, books and furniture. A
farmers market is available on select days from May through October.

Rocky Mount
The county seat of Franklin County, Rocky Mount offers plenty of big-box
commercial stores. However, its downtown district is where you'll find more
charming offerings, including an arts center, consignment boutique, furniture
and accessories store, farmers market and eclectic shops filled with antiques
and collectibles.

Gretna and Chatham
These two delightful small towns southeast of Smith Mountain Lake are fun
destinations for shopping with a dash of history (both date back to the 1700s).
Located just 10 miles from each other in Pittsylvania County, Gretna and
Chatham have walkable historic downtowns with a variety of retail shops.

52 | VISITSMITHMOUNTAINLAKE.COM

http://www.VISITSMITHMOUNTAINLAKE.COM

2021 SML Visitor Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2021 SML Visitor Guide