We’ve heard of combination stores like Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts or Taco Bell/Pizza Hut. But there’s another new interesting combination that has just started its journey. Behold The Happy Goat, a deli/hiking gear store. Recently launched at Tazewell in Virginia, the combo store covers all your needs for your hiking trips, as well as those pre-hike, mid-hike, and post-hike cravings.
What it Offers
The Happy Goat offers quality hiking accessories like backpacks, stoves, boots, Komperdell trekking poles, Camelbak hydration bottles and packs, ENO hammocks, Farm to Feet socks, and many more. Alongside the gear, there’s a range of deli items including salads, sandwiches, soups, grab-and-go snacks, traditional deli sides, and drink options. According to business owner duo Vince and Lucie D’Amato, the store is also a great spot to meet friends, catch a football game, or use your computer for working or just chilling.
The Motto
According to the official website of The Happy Goat, the deli/hiking gear store focuses on community connection, celebrating hiking, Tazewell, and Appalachian communities. The state of Virginia is rich in hiking trails, suitable for all levels. Several trailheads of top Appalachian trails are also located at just an hour or two drive distance from Tazewell. As for the unusual name, it was an easy decision for the D’Amatos. Goats eat a lot and hike a lot. And as Tazewell is a lively livestock community, no other name would go better with their business concept.
Funding
The D’Amatos purchased the brick-and-mortar for their combo deli/gear store in January 2021, at Main Street in Tazewell. They started renovating the building by replacing the roof, installing new floors, upgrading the plumbing and electrical systems, and adding new exterior windows. Then, fortunately, they got a great $10,000 grant from VCEDA or the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Seed Capital Matching Grant. The Happy Goat was one of the 13 selected business endeavors in the state to earn this amount of economic boost from VCEDA.
3 Ways to Make Your Pet Feel at Ease Rather Than Anxious While Traveling for the Holidays
The holidays are here. This means people travel to meet their family and friends. In all this hustle and bustle, your pet may feel a little or even a lot stressed out. Pets always take a while to adjust to unfamiliar situations. In fact, there were ways you can tell that your beloved pet is experiencing anxiety. This includes pacing, panting, increased barking and stress yawning. So, whether you are taking leaving them with someone, taking them with you, or even traveling with a huge family, here is how you can make the entire process less stressful for them.
Create a Travel Schedule for Your Pet
Begin small. Take them on shorter journeys before you plan on taking them for longer ones. This will help them get familiarized with the motion of the plane or the car. So, next time you decide to take them on a trip, they might not feel as anxious. It may take a while for them to get to the level of no anxiousness while traveling. The key is to be patient with them.
Avoid Heavy Meals
This is true both for you and your pet. Haven’t you ever felt uncomfortable eating too much while on a trip? So, it is best to avoid eating anything heavy just one hour before you set out on your trip. The reason for this is nausea. Eating too much before traveling could make them nauseated and that is definitely not a pleasant feeling. And as your dog will have no way of telling you how they are feeling, they will just get uncomfortable and anxious.
Ensure They Travel Comfortably
Just like human beings, pets also deserve to travel in comfort. So, if you have put them in a pet carrier, make sure that it has enough room and they do not feel cramped in there. They should be able to sit down, stand, lay down and even move around a little bit.