Millennial Highlight: Matthew Huckfeldt

The following is part two in a series highlighting the young professionals that call Martinsville-Henry County home. In case you missed it, read about another millennial: Billy Russo.

Matthew Huckfeldt and his family moved to the Martinsville-Henry County (MHC) area in 1997. They relocated so that his father could work for one of the textile companies here; an area with deep roots in the heritage of American textiles and furniture.  

According to Huckfeldt, "Growing up here, I was frustrated by a lack of things to do and always intended to move away after graduating college. I associated Martinsville with words like boring, unemployment, stale, and outdated." After Huckfeldt graduated from James Madison University in 2012 he came back but he noted that it was a "different Martinsville”. He saw that the community had started to rebound. He pointed out that "people seemed to have gotten tired of saying “There's just nothing to do here”, and decided to MAKE things to do."

He said, "I had this realization while I was riding my bike through Uptown on a sunny day and actually started to look around at the number of busy stores I had never noticed, and the flyers for events that I had never heard about. It made me think, maybe Martinsville's size isn't as much of a drawback as I thought it was." He added, "MHC has had some hard times, but with a fairly small population, it's a much more manageable task to turn it around and make it into a great place to live."

As a student in high school, Huckfeldt had the perception that MHC was for older adults and more of a retirement community. He commented that "since moving back after college, I've seen younger generations step up and start making this into the place they want to live. That's the thing that made me stay, I saw the potential that Martinsville-Henry County has, and realized that since this area is rebuilding, it's a perfect time to make it whatever we want it to be."

With that drive and enthusiasm to further enhance his community, Huckfeldt got busy. He began his career in MHC as a part-time server at Mtn’ Jax Restaurant & Pub, where he often used his bicycle to deliver lunch orders to nearby businesses. He also worked part-time for the YMCA's Bike Barn, a non-profit program that loans bicycles and helmets to residents and visitors on the Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail. Outside of work, he spent time helping to construct a new mountain biking complex in the Horsepasture community called Mountain Laurel Trails. 

In 2015, as the popularity of cycling grew locally, Huckfeldt opened Chain of Fools Bicycle Repair on Fayette Street in Uptown Martinsville. Initially, the shop was in a walk-down basement location but as word spread of the new store for cyclists, Huckfeldt was able to expand into the retail space upstairs and use the basement as has repair space and warehouse. 

During this same time the city of Martinsville was undergoing a gradual transformation through a Community Block Development Grant. Nearby businesses on the street were enhanced with new awnings and fresh paint. Across from Chain of Fools a small pocket park was developed. On a building wall facing the park, artists Amanda Donnelly and Aleen Wilson painted a mural depicting outdoor recreational opportunities in MHC and the mural featured a prominent cyclist. This choice of mural themes was a coincidence but very timely for Huckfeldt. 

Within a year of being open, his shop was named the number one bicycle shop in Southwestern Virginia by the readers of Virginia Living Magazine. According to Huckfeldt “Being such a new business, it’s exciting to know that customers are aware of Chain of Fools and are pleased with service enough to vote for me.” He noted that customers have a choice in where to take their bikes for service in the region and that he finds it “flattering for out of town guests to drive 30 minutes to come see me when there are other options out there.” In May 2016 when the business was honored, he commented he hoped his enthusiasm for cycling was contagious.

It apparently was because, just months later, Mountain Laurel Trails was named the #1 Mountain Biking Complex in Virginia by a national website, SingleTracks.com. According to the trail manager, Bob Norris, Mountain Laurel Trails has been visited by guests from all over Virginia, North Carolina and even Florida. 

As the tourism economy in Martinsville-Henry County continues to grow, and enthusiasm for cycling builds, things are looking up for Huckfeldt. "There has been an emphasis on active lifestyles that I'd like to see continue, not just because it would help my bike shop, but because that's the place I want to live." Even though he owns and operates a business he is still involved in the community by volunteering occasionally at The Bike Barn, helping promote Mountain Laurel Trails and also serving as a member of the newly founded service organization "Millennials of MHC"

Downtime is important so when he is not on his bike, volunteering or helping customers at the shop, Huckfeldt enjoys listening to live music. With numerous music venues in the area like the Rives Theatre, Mtn’ Jax and Martinsville Uptown's TGIF concert series, there are plenty of opportunities for millennials to get out and unwind. Huckfeldt explained that that Mtn’ Jax, has music 2-3 nights a week, a good beer selection, and fun events like “Trivia Tuesday” which has been a pretty good draw for the millennial crowd.

His wish for the future of Martinsville-Henry County is for someone to open a brewery. He commented, "A pint of freshly brewed craft beer would be an awesome way to end a bike ride!"