Photograph by Aimee Baldwin

NEW MARKET – While the economy has seemed to do nothing but go down in recent months, things are looking good in New Market. Just in the last six months, the southern Shenandoah County town has seen four new businesses and may have another moving in soon.

“I think people see a lot of good opportunities for business here,” said Town Manager Chris Boies. “With our proximity to Interstate 81, Route 11 and 211, it’s attractive to business owners.”

The first of many to open in New Market was a family-run restaurant, Sherrills Seafood, which opened in September 2009.  The Sherrill family owns a direct import seafood company that specializes in crab, crabmeat and shrimp.

The restaurant is located at 181 E. Lee Highway and offers dine-in and carryout. Among the menu, Sherrills offers crab cakes, shrimp, clams, tilapia and oysters.

According to owner Mike Sherrill, the family is originally from Montana, lived in Florida for many years, and has been in New Market for 13 years.

“People in the Valley really like seafood and business has been great,” Sherrill said. “It has really picked up since the snow has blown over.”

The business has done so well that at the first of April, Sherrills will be opening a second location in Woodstock next to Cook’s Exxon. 

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