In honor of National Women’s History Month (March), we want to recognize the many woman-owned small businesses, retailers, and restaurant owners in Mathews County. For a rural community, Mathews has an incredible amount of woman-owned businesses covering a diverse range of services.
Linda’s Diner 
Richardson’s Cafe
Women really play a huge part in our local ecosystem and small town community through many different guises: volunteers, non-profit boards, committee members, board leaders, and entrepreneurs. So many wonderful women in our community provide their own local flavor, unique character, and diverse perspective to this world, and we truly believe its part of what makes Mathews unique.
Women are so entrenched in these realms, in fact, that we, unfortunately, had to limit our list to mostly bricks-and-mortar operations. If we expanded this list to home-based businesses, female co-owned companies, 501(c)(3), and major department heads, and even trickled in to Board of Supervisors, County admin, school departments, we’d be working on this list for eternity. Well, Mathews is small but the list of county registered businesses is literally thousands long. Maybe the list will even grow further, if more and more women entrepreneurs can come to start a new business. Hopefully, usda small business loans and other money-lending schemes can assist such new women who are willing to join bricks-and-mortar operations and more.
And maybe we should one day, just to show how lucky our community is to have so many female leaders influencing our Mathews way of life. They’re planning festivals, music events, farmers markets, church gatherings, and fundraisers. I mean we’re everywhere! (Spoiler alert – this is written by a proud young woman who is particularly excited to be a part of such a culture.)
Remember this list really is just a small part of the big picture – we want to value those co-owned, home-based, franchise-owned businesses, and all of the females working front-line and behind the scenes keeping things going. All of you are truly so valuable to Mathews, and let’s celebrate every March to recognize each other’s hard work. Heck, where would this town be without us?!
Thank you Janice Jones and Lynda Smith Greve for helping put this together!
Cheers to all of our lady leaders
SHOPS
Back in Time – Penny Pastiva
Cattail’s – Lynn Kucker
Classic Reflections – Elizabeth Friend
Doodlebug’s Consignment – Valerie Lewis
Lily Valentine Antiques & Upscale Clutter – Becky Beckstoffer
Mermaid’s Crossing – Mother & Daughter, Barbara Bass
& Cindy Roman
Roane’s Antiques at the Cottage – Janice Jones
FLORIST / PLANTS
Unique Design Florist – Debbie Smith
M&M Garden Center – Kathryn Tatterson
Flowers from the Heart – Jo Schramm
SEAFOOD
Oystermama’s Bay-Bies – Judy Ambrose
RESTAURANTS
Beach Bum BBQ & Richardson’s Cafe – Lynn Davenport
Linda’s Diner – Heather Wooten
Salty Dog Pizzeria – Jessie Messinger
Daily Grind Coffee Shop – Vonda Lennon
ARCHITECT
Hudgins Design Architects – Frances Hudgins
ACCOUNTING
Bronwyn, Hughes CPA
Melanie Miles, CPA
BEAUTY SHOPS
Country Cuts – Robin Dehoux
Hair Creations – Valerie Ripley Bass
Shear Perfection – Teresa White
Trend Masters – Barbara Rios
PRINTING
Gazette Journal – Elsa Verbyla
SERVICES
Trudy’s Portable Toilets – Trudy Flippin
Joyce’s Pack & Ship/Dry Cleaning – Joyce Crawford
5 Star Oriental Medicine – Audrey Stewart
Suzi’s Stitches – Suzi Maloney
Sewing 4 U – Helen Pope
Genealogy – Lori Jackson Black
Fitness For Women – Debbie Rollins
HEALTH
Mathews Massage Studio – Kat Sharpe
Mathews Pharmacy – Lynette Glockner RPh
Fitness For Women – Debbie Rollins
PET CARE
All Creatures Great & Small – Lynn Hall
Barks N Bubbles – Blair Edwards
Island Dog Grooming – Jackie Simione
REAL ESTATE
Morgan & Edwards – Morgan Edwards & Renee Edwards
Burton’s Waterfront – Berni LaCasse
ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT
Mobjack Kayaking – Dianne Campbell
Mathews Dance Studio – Rachel Morris
Donk’s Theater – Lynda Greve Smith
CA&J Farms – Jean Howard
Are we missing someone? Send us an email and we will add them to the list! [email protected]
