Business

    A love of local history led Karla Powell to open American Vintage, a new antique shop, in Bedford. The new shop, located on East Main Street in the space formerly occupied by the Bedford Barbershop, first opened its doors in December.

    “We specialize in advertising signs,” she said.
    The store is filled with advertising signs, some nearly 100 years old. It also contains a wide variety of other promotional material, including working outdoor thermometers.

    Sue Montgomery, Bedford Main Street’s director, is hoping to get business sponsors for the program. She unveiled a new sponsorship program at a lunch with Bedford business owners recently.
    According to Montgomery, Bedford is one of 25 Main Street communities in Virginia. Bedford has held this designation since 1985. Lynchburg is the largest of the 25.
    “We, of course, are one of the smaller communities,” Montgomery said.

By Ralph Berrier
Landmark News Service
news@bedfordbulletin.com

    The Peaks of Otter Lodge and Restaurant should have a new management team in place in time to re-open this spring, the retiring superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway said.

    People in the Bedford area got a new opportunity to get their kicks with martial arts when Sidney Burns opened Super Kicks Karate in Bedford’s Centertown last fall.

    The karate school opened its doors on Sept. 1 in a historic building at the corner of South Bridge Street and Main Street. The interior of the 19th century building’s ground floor has been renovated. One interior wall has been stripped down so the original brickwork, which has been sealed, is visible.