I was in VA this past Tues and Wednesday and called by Old Habit and yet the store was closed on both days despite turning up during their advertised opening hours, both on their website and on their door. No one answered the phone when we called and there was nothing on the door to say if they were away for a couple of days for some reason?
So is this place still open, or was I just seriously unlucky somehow?
They were open a week or so ago because I ordered something from them over the phone and it arrived on time. Super nice folks to work with and I hope your experience is just a freak thing.
Well… we did have a lot of snow this week already - including Tuesday afternoon/evening into Wednesday. Schools were closed on Wednesday. Virginians are a bunch of whimps in snow compared to those of you in Ohio. In summary, I think you were just unlucky due to the weather conditions. I at the Old Habit last month and I get their e-mails… no indication they were going out of business.
Snow is not that uncommon an occurence in the DC/VA area or so I thought though? I’m surprised that everything would shut down the way it did (besides everywhere else - equestrian and non equestrian seemed to be open over both days that I was in the area).
The snow didn’t come down until closer to 6pm this past Tuesday and we did call earlier in the day with no response. Then we turned up at noon on Wednesday well after the overnight ‘dusting’ (called again at that time) and everything was still closed and the telephone went to the verizon answering service.
If they were going to close for the snow I thought they’d have a message on the door stating that at the very least.
I don’t know, like I said earlier - the whole thing was just very strange.
Well… they usually only have 1-2 people working there at a time (unless it’s a big sale). It’s not a very big store. Perhaps someone got sick or had a personal emergency. I can’t explain Tuesday, but it doesn’t surprise me about Wednesday considering all the schools were shut down. The person that was scheduled to work might never have gotten down there to put up a sign. Who knows???
I’ve been living in NoVA since 1994 - coming from NY. This winter has been particularly brutal. We maybe get 1 or 2 snowfalls per year - several years we’ve had no snow or barely a dusting. We had two snow storms already this week and are expecting a whopper today into tomorrow. Virginians don’t handle snow well at all.
I wouldn’t even bother calling the Old Habit today. I can almost guarantee you they’ll be closed today, tomorrow and likely Monday. Schools are closed and the snow hasn’t even started. The Feds (who I work for) are closing 4 hours early. Perhaps give them a call the middle of next week to ask them what happened last Tuesday/Wednesday.
You got that right. :lol:
Also, the trouble around here (in the Old Habit area) is that local employees often live out on farms in the boondocks. There is no road to their farm - only a dirt or gravel path. Pretty rutted this time of year. So the towns might look ok, but the back and local roads might be pretty dangerous.
Did you make it to Tri-County Feeds just down the road from the Old Habit? I believe that they carry hunt apparel and tack too. It’s a much larger store - very nice inside too.
For what it is worth…and not to the OP’s question. Just wanted to add that I have shopped the Old Habit online many times and they have always been wonderful to work with…
Well, that “dusting” from Tues night laid down 7" on our farm. And I had to drive home Tues night, on a paved road, and barely made it, and still got stuck at the bottom of our driveway (gravel) and had to have my husband help push my car. So it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were closed on Wednesday.
Many stores in Marshall and Middleburg will not be open for regular scheduled hours if there is a lot of snow, simply because, as others said, the employees/owner may live on a back road, which can be very treacherous and certainly not quickly cleared.
I, too, am a happy long distance Old Habit customer.
As for VA and snow…indeed, I recall one day when schools were closed (we lived in Oakton) because a snowflake or two were spied in western Fairfax county. Only rained at our house but…school cancelled. You can imagine my sons’ chagrin when we moved to Utah and they don’t even HAVE snow days built in the calendar. Couple of feet? Not usually a problem. There was one closure because of a blizzard- couldn’t get the school buses out of the lot- and my poor darlings had to make that one up on a Saturday!
People thought I was such a good egg when I’d pull their spun off cars out on Vale Road in Oakton…I was just gettin’ 'em out of the way so I could get home!
This was in an email this afternoon from the Old Habit, not to mention they have stuff on sale:
Store Hours
IN THE CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER OUR SHOP MAY BE CLOSED,
BUT OUR WEBSITE IS ALWAYS OPEN FOR 24/7 SHOPPING!
PLEASE E-MAIL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
Mon-Sat 10-5
Sun 12-4
800-813-0515
540-364-2396
I got an email this evening that they were having a “Snow” sale. Don’t know, though, if this is just internet or applies to the store also.
The Old Habit is selling snow?
No thanks, I have quite enough already. :lol:
I, also, own a business in Marshall down the street from the Old Habit and I have closed down and sent folks home early this past week…it’s been ridiculous for those of us who live off the beaten path, so I suspect Gillian simply could not get anyone there!!! Let us get all plowed out and it will be business as usual !!
I’m going to Va next week to visit my husb who is deployed up there. We had planned a trip to Warrenton, Middleburg, various tack shops etc and to have lunch with Belplosh but I dont think it will happen now. Oh well.
Yaeger - You have to go to Horse Country even if you have to break in! JK That’s where I buy everything. I had a shopping trip of a lifetime there - I was totally outfitted - new formals and tweeds, vest, shirt, multiple stocks, custom formal boots, custom brown field boots. Their store is AMAZING! I wanted everything in there. I’ve gotten all my appointments there and my bridle there. There tack is top of the line. I really hope they’re open for you!!!
I’ve been there before, and went last time I was up there in July. We had planned a trip on Thursday to Warrenton to MTE and Horse Country, but I think there is another storm coming up that day. Really wanted to go and see if I can get a hunt bridle for my backup mare. Might have to go the next time I get up there.
We are thinking about maybe going skiing instead one day while I’m there but I don’t know yet.
It was sleeting and we had lots of snow.
I second Horse Country I have to limit myself to go there only twice a year It’s so expensive!
Jaeger, I hunt my horse in Horse Country’s First Flight Hunt Bridle. If you don’t get to see it in person, check it out in the catalog or online. I highly recommend it.
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