In the 1930s, my grandfather, Emmett Wilbarger, built and ran a small Esso gas station just outside of Bridgewater, Virginia. He repaired cars in the back garage. My mom inherited the store in 1946, and both she and my father continued the tradition until 1975. They sold farm fresh eggs, crates of cheese, and locally made potato chips. Folks often came in just to talk, or to ask my dad if they could buy on credit. He would “jot ’em down.” Monday nights were reserved for the local bluegrass jam. The barber traveled to our store on Mondays and as a kid I sat upon the red leather, marble armed throne. He cut my hair his usual way, as if girls looked stylish with a “bowl cut,” crooked bangs, ears revealed.

With the advent of franchise driven stores, the independent gas station became a thing of the past. My dad could travel to town and buy gas for less than his wholesale cost.

I guess I must have subconsciously missed that old store. My kids were off to college or in high school, and I needed a new career. With that in mind, Good Natured came into being. Jim and I opened Good Natured in June of 2007. Our original intent was to become the neighborhood general store, specializing in eco-friendly products. In reality, today’s “eco-friendly” really looks a lot like the things that my family sold – local, simple and well made.

Over the past 15 1/2 years, food has always been the driving force here at Good Natured, from the groceries and produce we sell to the homemade soups, sandwiches, and desserts prepared in the cafe.

More On Our History:
In October of 2010 we “opened the door” to a new restaurant space. We added an additional 600 square feet of dining room to the rear of our brick-front store. It is handicap accessible and seats 45. That’s a lot of people to cook for. After all, I’m just a old mom who happens to run a cafe. However, the new room gave us an opportunity to hold larger music concerts, movies and community events.

As for the store, I have always put my heart into buying local and American made products. I see the direct results of “Made in China”, and the loss of so many jobs here at home. It’s not that I’m against globalization, but I am against paying someone $1 a day to make inexpensive, throwaway goods. Look through our web site and find the things you need and be happy with your purchase of a sustainable, well made product.

Our lives changed again in 2015 when my lifelong friend and partner Jimmy died from cancer. For 3 plus years my son Jacob and India Watson shepherded us through that change, I love them both for allowing me the space to heal. Now they have moved on to their own dreams.

And me, I hope to reinvent and adjust to my life here in Martinsburg, in ways that still bring “Good Food” to you. Come enjoy what we are today….