Simply Divine

• Business: Simply Divine
• Owner: Herbert and Liz Britt
• Location: The Parker Drugs Building, 102 Main Street, Franklin
• Phone: 757.516.8557
• Website: www.simplydivineatparkers.com

The restaurant and catering company, Simply Divine, has been quite popular in the press lately. First, the business made news by expanding to a larger space, the historic Parker Drugs Building in Franklin. Then it caught the attention of The Virginian-Pilot when the restaurant expanded services in this new location. And now we’re featuring it in Hometown because owners Liz and Herbert Britt are also long-time Bronco members.

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L&L Country Meats

The following article originally appeared in the 2011 Winter-Early Spring issue of Hometown magazine.

• Business: L&L Country Meats
• Owners: Lorain Gardner and Lawrence Corbett
• Location: 5703 Holland Road, Suffolk
• Phone: 757.657.6360

The closing of the mill has obviously had a major impact on the families and the economy of our surrounding communities. But for Lorain Gardner, who worked at the mill for more than 22 years, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Years prior to the closure, Gardner had already been thinking about owning and operating a small country market, so when the announcement of the mill shutdown was made, Lorain and his first cousin, Lawrence Corbett (who also worked at the mill), pooled their severance money and opened their business’ doors—L&L Country Meats in Suffolk.

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