A New Cowboy in Town
The following was published in The Floyd Press on January 3, 2008.
You know the saying ‘everything under the sun?’ Now you can get Mexican food there. A new restaurant called El Charro recently opened in the lower level of the Winter Sun building on Locust Street in downtown Floyd.
El Charro means “the cowboy” in Spanish, said Malena, wife of one of the new restaurant owners. She pointed out a large sombrero on the terra cotta wall to my husband and me while describing the traditional dress of a Mexican cowboy. Her father was a cattle raising cowboy, she told us as she wrote down our lunch order.
The restaurant is a family business, owned and operated by two brothers, a cousin, and their families. The extended family lives in Galax and has one other restaurant in Radford, Malena explained. 
“You’re all going to love Floyd and want to move here,” I joked to her. She motioned to her daughter who was cleaning off a nearby table and explained that her daughter wouldn’t want to change schools or move away from her friends.
From our comfortable booth by a big picture window, my husband and I watched Christmas shoppers stroll up and down the tiled hallway just outside the restaurant. The hallway and restaurant décor continues the South American theme that began with the first shop in the building, the one that bears its name – Winter Sun – an outlet featuring clothing hand painted in Ecuador. 
I don’t remember what my husband ordered because I was happy with my own meal – grilled chicken fajitas, sautéed onions and peppers, guacamole, salsa, and beans – and so I was not tempted by his. It was a few days before Christmas and the atmosphere was festive. A family of about fifteen was celebrating together at a group of tables that had been put together to make one long one. Many of them had arrived carrying stacks of wrapped gifts, which they deposited in a pile nearby.
El Charro is the newest establishment in the building that once housed a textile factory before it was purchased and renovated by Winter Sun clothing store owner, Anga Miller. Other shops in the recently remodeled downstairs include The Craft Cottage, which sells homemade candles and soaps; Art Under the Sun, a Floyd Artist Association’s working gallery; Studio One, which offers art instruction to students of all ages; Wildfire Pottery; and the Anderson Gallery and Press. 
Upstairs is home to Café Del Sol; Winter Sun clothing store; and Winter Sun Hall, where performance art, dances, and concerts take place.
“This is about as close as Floyd gets to a Mall,” I said to my husband, impressed that everything in the building was so inviting, conveniently located, and locally owned. Looking out the restaurant window and waving to a friend, I added, “And the food here gets my four stars.”
December 30th, 2007 11:16 pm
Your post makes me want to visit Floyd. I like your hat. 🙂
December 30th, 2007 11:43 pm
Sounds quite yummy…! And looks yummy too! (lol) As you describe these new places, I wonder if you feel that Floyd is changing somewhat—expanding more than you might have expected, or, does it all feel ‘just right’? I must say, as you describe it all….It solunds right!
Why did I think Cafe Del Sol was on the street level? Hmmmm! Well, I guess I put it there in my mind’s eye…..(Don’t you love that expression? lol)
December 31st, 2007 12:15 am
Naomi: Cafe Del Sol is at street level. I said it was “upstairs.”
I think the idea is that Floyd was going to change anyways, as other areas around here have and as more transplants move here to retire and etc. So people got together and took the initiative to make conscious changes that would reflect what the county has to offer by way of culture, music, and art. Better to draw tourists off the Blue Ridge Parkway than to have empty buildings that are vulnerable to be developed by outsiders. Although, there are likely some who are not happy with the changes coming on so fast. And many of us here still live in the more rural parts of the county.
Tomorrow I’ll look for a photo of the one time textile factory building, so you can see what it looks like from the outside. Too sleepy now.
December 31st, 2007 8:08 am
o k hat lady looks delicious. I can’t eat it but will add spices to my tomatoes juiced today !!many blessings this new year !!!
December 31st, 2007 12:57 pm
Colleen,
Congrats on the grandbaby! And the good food. I wish you Happy trails and Merry Charos!
December 31st, 2007 1:54 pm
Charos! Is she still around? Between her and the ABBA video you have posted, I see that you’re having some 80’s fun, Alex.
December 31st, 2007 2:36 pm
Hey, I listened to you read on the radio last night (Sunday) (I know this is completely unrelated to this post, but Mexican food and Iraq and Bush must have *something* in common). I thought you did a very nice job and I was really impressed with the way you read the poem aloud.
December 31st, 2007 2:46 pm
Ha! I hadn’t even “got that” but you’re right. I was thinking today’s post was something completely different but now I see the connection.
Although you can tell I was on a phone, I thought the poem came across well. It still gets to me. And I still really mean it, so I think that comes across.
It can be listened to from the Monitor’s site http://themonitor.wordpress.com/ now by clicking on “December 30th” show on the left sidebar. The poem comes into the show after about 20 minutes and the bar can be moved, but I liked the whole hour and a half show. I felt very encouraged that people are doing this work of speaking truth to power so dedicatedly.
Thanks for listening!
December 31st, 2007 5:03 pm
Well it is always nice to spicen things up! It looks very nice. I love the one down here. Fajitas is the way to go…pretty healthy and tasty!
You look great in your pretty hat!
I hope you and Joe have a very Happy New Year, wishing you a fabulous 2008 and a naughty fun ending to 2007!
December 31st, 2007 6:23 pm
Have to say I would be happy with your “Floyd town mall” – that’s close enough for me too. Small locally run shops – that’s like heaven isn’t it???
December 31st, 2007 8:14 pm
I like your hat! We went to our favorite Mexican place this week. I always buy chimichangas with refried beans and queso! YUM!
Happy New Year, Colleen!
December 31st, 2007 8:48 pm
Every time I read about Floyd I want to visit! Congrats on being a grandmother-to-be. Happy New Year!
December 31st, 2007 10:01 pm
You remind me of Ben Franklin in your hat. Smile.
January 1st, 2008 8:27 am
Happy New Year, Colleen and thanks for telling the world about our new “mall”. We’ll even have a park opening next door in the Spring!!