LEESBURG — A 125-year-old two-story home, located just outside downtown Leesburg at 1012 W. Main St., is experiencing four new leases on life.
Four businesses (and a nonprofit) celebrated their new collaborative, cooperative chapter during a multi-tiered ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration on Friday, Feb. 28.
McCracken’s Irish Pub and others fed visitors sandwiches and desserts as they browsed the bottom floor of the majestic old home, decorated with artists consigned by Gary Sligh.
Gary Sligh cuts the ribbon at the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Gary Lee Sligh Fabric Arts, Lah Tea Dah, Bases Loaded Consulting Group and VerdeVin Co. on Feb. 28, 2025, at 1012 W Main St. (Bases Loaded’s CEO also heads up a breast cancer survivors nonprofit called the Booby Trap.)
Gary Lee Sligh Fabric Arts, Lah Tea Dah, Bases Loaded Consulting Group and VerdeVin Co celebrated the grand opening, but VerdeVin won’t officially open for business until April.
In the back, an elegant little plant shop occupies a made-over carriage house that serves wine while you relax and browse beautiful flora. A block party is planned at the new VerdeVin, featuring local food vendors, this Mother’s Day.
With events planned by Lah Tea Dah, you can attend tea parties and club gatherings in the home’s elegant dining room illuminated by a grand chandelier, or browse woodwork, paintings, needlepoint and other fiber arts by local artisans.
Deb Jayne, owner of Bases Loaded Convention & Travel Services, will set up her office there and operate a nonprofit supporting women and breast cancer survivors called the Booby Trap.
VerdeVin handed out plants to vistors to the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Gary Lee Sligh Fabric Arts, Lah Tea Dah, Bases Loaded Consulting Group and VerdeVin Co. on Feb. 28, 2025.
“We provide care packages designed to ease discomfort and enhance recovery,” the nonprofit’s founder explained.
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Gary Sligh spearheaded the effort to occupy the 2,000-plus-square-foot home. He manages the property and lives upstairs.
Setting up in a big house with other artists has been a longtime dream for the textile artist, and he’s working on purchasing the historic home previously occupied by the Rich Hippie Boutique.
VerdeVin owner Carla Garcia serves champagne and cupcakes at the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Gary Lee Sligh Fabric Arts, Lah Tea Dah, Bases Loaded Consulting Group and VerdeVin Co. on Feb. 28, 2025.
“I’m doing a lot more classes here,” Sligh said. “The space in the front (dining room) is just such a great place for people to gather. … We have 30 local artists who sell different kinds of fiber, art and woodcraft.”
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Artists and businesses celebrate new digs in old Leesburg home
