Farmer launches Midlothian market

Mike Clark is bringing product from his 800-acre farm to Midlothian. Photos by Michael Thompson.

Mike Clark is bringing product from his 800-acre farm to Midlothian. Photos by Michael Thompson.

A Nottoway County farmer is bypassing the wholesale market and putting up store shelves of his own in Midlothian.

Mike Clark, a beef farmer and produce wholesaler, plans to open Greenway Beef and Produce at 14822 Hull Street Road in March. The 1,500-square-foot space is near the Woodlake Commons Shopping Center and was formerly home to a Subway, Clark said.

The storefront is an extension of the grass-fed beef operation Clark runs on an 800-acre farm in Nottoway County, where he keeps about 400 cattle.

He sells meat online, to Clay’s Garden Center in Blackstone and at Richmond-area farmers markets like the one in Lakeside.

“You can come in this store and you buy a steak or a burger, and you can buy it from the man who had it born and raised on his farm,” Clark said. “This is here to capture a little more of the retail value of the product.”

Clark, 54, said Greenway will sell beef from his farm, Shenandoah Valley-based Crabill’s pork and grain-fed beef, 20 flavors of Homestead Creamery ice cream, as well as produce, biscuit and pancake mix, jam, cheeses and snacks.

“This is another location of what I’m doing in Lakeside, but on steroids,” Clark said.

The Greenway store also plans to sell some cuts of meat that are harder to find at traditional grocery stores, including cow bones that are often used in soups and broths.

Clark said prices at his store will be about the same as the prices online. The website lists 1 pound of grass-fed ground beef at about $8, 1 pound of Crabill’s bacon at $7, and a 3-pound bag of cooking bones for $5.

Clark would not say how much will cost to open up a storefront of his own or how he is financing it.

Greenway won’t be without its share of competition. The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop recently opened at 12406 Southshore Pointe Drive, about a mile away from the Greenway location. There is also a Martin’s nearby.

Still, Clark said the Greenway brand is in high demand and that he has plenty of customers in nearby subdivisions like Magnolia Green.

“We have a huge customer base in this neighborhood,” he said. “A lot of people want to know something about where their food comes from. There is a huge movement in this country to know more about their food.”

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that the market is in Woodlake Commons Shopping Center. The storefront is near the shopping center.

Mike Clark is bringing product from his 800-acre farm to Midlothian. Photos by Michael Thompson.

Mike Clark is bringing product from his 800-acre farm to Midlothian. Photos by Michael Thompson.

A Nottoway County farmer is bypassing the wholesale market and putting up store shelves of his own in Midlothian.

Mike Clark, a beef farmer and produce wholesaler, plans to open Greenway Beef and Produce at 14822 Hull Street Road in March. The 1,500-square-foot space is near the Woodlake Commons Shopping Center and was formerly home to a Subway, Clark said.

The storefront is an extension of the grass-fed beef operation Clark runs on an 800-acre farm in Nottoway County, where he keeps about 400 cattle.

He sells meat online, to Clay’s Garden Center in Blackstone and at Richmond-area farmers markets like the one in Lakeside.

“You can come in this store and you buy a steak or a burger, and you can buy it from the man who had it born and raised on his farm,” Clark said. “This is here to capture a little more of the retail value of the product.”

Clark, 54, said Greenway will sell beef from his farm, Shenandoah Valley-based Crabill’s pork and grain-fed beef, 20 flavors of Homestead Creamery ice cream, as well as produce, biscuit and pancake mix, jam, cheeses and snacks.

“This is another location of what I’m doing in Lakeside, but on steroids,” Clark said.

The Greenway store also plans to sell some cuts of meat that are harder to find at traditional grocery stores, including cow bones that are often used in soups and broths.

Clark said prices at his store will be about the same as the prices online. The website lists 1 pound of grass-fed ground beef at about $8, 1 pound of Crabill’s bacon at $7, and a 3-pound bag of cooking bones for $5.

Clark would not say how much will cost to open up a storefront of his own or how he is financing it.

Greenway won’t be without its share of competition. The Boneyard Butcher & Seafood Shop recently opened at 12406 Southshore Pointe Drive, about a mile away from the Greenway location. There is also a Martin’s nearby.

Still, Clark said the Greenway brand is in high demand and that he has plenty of customers in nearby subdivisions like Magnolia Green.

“We have a huge customer base in this neighborhood,” he said. “A lot of people want to know something about where their food comes from. There is a huge movement in this country to know more about their food.”

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that the market is in Woodlake Commons Shopping Center. The storefront is near the shopping center.

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Mary Lee Schultz
Mary Lee Schultz
9 years ago

For years I have purchased Green Way products at different farmer’s markets in the area. Excited to see them open a storefront. Very good meat!

Jeff Thompson
Jeff Thompson
9 years ago

Very exciting to see more fresh produce from the country coming to Richmond!

Cindy McVey
Cindy McVey
9 years ago

I believe this article incorrectly says the store will be in Woodlake Commons. A store there would have an address on Woodlake Commons Loop, not Hull Street, and there has never been a Subway in Woodlake Commons Shopping Center. I believe the location you meant to cite was just west of Woodlake Commons on Hull Street, in the same shopping center as Goodwill and Honda House.

Shelly Seaman
Shelly Seaman
9 years ago

The Barnyard Butcher & Seafood Shop has not opened. We just went by and they are not even close to opening.

Travis Jordan
Travis Jordan
9 years ago

glad to see a local farmer is selling fresh meat and foods in my area. I am a big supporter of Farmers along with the company I work for. I will definitely be stopping by to get some fresh meat when it opens. I will also be sharing this story with my co workers. Good Story