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Ace-Solenberger’s Home and Hardware was recognized by the Winchester, Virginia, community in a unique way.
Rich Weller, marketing manager at Solenberger’s, was honored to serve as Miss West Virginia’s escort at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, a local festival in Winchester.
Weller has been involved with the festival for many years and has built strong connections with the local Winchester community. The festival team looks for trusted and polished individuals in the community to escort parade celebrities and participants, such as state queens.
“I was honored to be asked,” Weller says. “It’s always a privilege to play a small part in such a big tradition.”
In preparation for the event, Weller had the chosen car for the parade professionally detailed to ensure it was parade-ready and arrived early on the day of the event for the exciting procession.
“Although the parade started at 1:30 p.m., I arrived around 10:30 a.m. to coordinate with the festival staff and help get everything in place downtown,” Weller says. “It was a full, energetic morning. I’m a people person, and I love soaking up every minute, even though I’ll admit, the energy expended is both exhausting and deeply fulfilling.”
Weller says a favorite part of the experience was seeing familiar faces as he drove the parade path.
“Seeing kids waving and longtime patrons smiling along the parade route was incredibly heartwarming,” Weller says.
He also praised Miss West Virginia for her poise and kindness.
“Miss West Virginia was simply amazing,” Weller says. “She later sent me a message saying, ‘I am so thankful our paths crossed! I truly had one of the best days of my reign all because of you, so thank you!’ That meant a lot to me. The parade truly feels like a homecoming and a celebration of our community.”
The Solenberger Hardware legacy runs strong in Winchester. Since 1888, the store has been a cornerstone in the Winchester community, offering specialized products and helpful service to customers. Solenberger’s loyal supporters loved seeing their beloved store represented in this way.
“We shared photos on our social media channels, and people loved seeing a legacy business and a familiar face participating in such a joyful event,” Weller says. “Customers came into the store saying, ‘We saw Rich in the parade!’ It makes us proud because Solenberger’s isn’t just about selling products, we’re part of the fabric of this community.”
