A new neighborhood grocer: Henderson Fruit & Produce opens in Warrenton
Sep. 1—WARRENTON
Following a weeklong delay that caused some considerable losses, the Warren County Health Department gave Henderson Fruit & Produce the green light this past Thursday to open for business.
Located at 140 S. Main Street and open as of now, this new neighborhood grocery store owned by Chris Fisher of Henderson has been in the works for some time. Different and distinct from the operation he's run on Norlina Road since 2007 — after buying the business from the late Bill Fleming who ran it for 30 years — this will be a boon to Downtown Warrenton, another feather in Fisher's cap and a major contribution to small-town life in the Warren County seat.
"There hasn't been a grocery store in town for four years," Fisher said over a pint of pineapple cider at the nearby Bragging Rooster. "The county and the city have been trying to bring something here and asked me if I'd be interested."
The building, owned by Al Fleming, required extensive renovations to create what Fisher had in mind — an upscale grocery store, deli and butcher shop, selling Boar's Head products, Wagyu beef, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables and much more.
Fisher — who owns a number of rental properties and ran several business before, invested in Warrenton Town Village plaza and recently earned his real estate license to boot — said Warrenton Town Administrator Robert Davie had been after him to do open a shop like this in town for years.
"Warren County has been good for business and I wanted to something to help," Fisher said. "Since Covid, people have been trying to get out of big cities, seeking more peace and quiet, and small towns everywhere have been rejuvenated. It's happening in Henderson, too, it's just taking more time."
To that end, Fisher partnered with Michael Roberson to buy and renovate the Pearson Building at 317 S. Garnett Street in order to create a brick oven pizzeria and brewery, along with three or four apartments. If all goes as planned, the new and much-needed business should be open by around this time next year.
"The city gets a bad rap, but we're going to change that," Fisher said. "I think it has some of the best people you'll meet. It's desperate for better times and we're looking to do our part. It once was a bustling, busy town, but we'll get it back to that."
In the meantime, Fisher will have his hands full, managing many tasks and keeping an eye on the future, with plans to potentially open additional grocers in Granville and Nash Counties.
