Graduate students and faculty from Virginia Tech’s Urban Affairs and Planning Program are documenting the history of longstanding, or “legacy”, businesses in Arlington County. Our study to date has focused on businesses established at least 25 years ago in two areas: the Lee Highway corridor and the Green Valley neighborhood.

The website for our pilot project includes an interactive map of 13 businesses and a collection of oral histories of business owners in both areas. These stories are also the basis for the “The Local Shop” radio series produced by VT graduate student Valeria Gelman, available from WERA 96.7. Finally, the oral histories will be permanently housed in Arlington’s Center for Local History.

We are continuing to broaden our collection of oral histories. If you would like to SHARE YOUR STORY of a longstanding business, please contact us. Interviews typically take about 45 minutes and can be conducted at a site of your choice, such as a library, community center or your local business.