THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996               TAG: 9605250246
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN   PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD                        LENGTH:   45 lines

ISLE OF WIGHT INTERSECTION IS BOOMING WITH BUSINESS

After years of being anchored by just a church and a couple of gas stations, one of Isle of Wight County's most heavily-traveled intersections is filling with small businesses.

Over the past year, three new businesses have opened at Benns Church, the crossroads just outside Smithfield where U.S. Highway 258 and state Route 10 intersect.

It's highly visible location here is what helped Doughnuts Etc. get off to such a good start, manager Beverly Wilson said.

The small restaurant, which opened three weeks ago at 14526 Benns Church Blvd., specializes in homemade doughnuts and breads made by owner and chef Andre Ashcraft. The menu also offers other homemade edible options: seafood, barbecue, ribs, cobblers, bread puddings and the like.

``We've had had a lot of local support since we opened . . . and we're selling a lot more other foods than we expected,'' Wilson said. ``We get a steady flow of traffic because we are right here on the main drag. This is a great location.''

By next week, Doughnuts Etc. will begin staying open 24 hours and within another two weeks, will be adding an outdoor dining area and a larger, more noticeable sign.

Next door, business is continuing to grow at W.W. Military Surplus and Red Dot Ventures of VA. The surplus store and customized gun shop opened in December 1995.

``Business is good,'' said Norman Fanney Jr., who owns the businesses with his father, Norman Fanney Sr.

The two stores sell guns, ammunition, targets and all sorts of military surplus clothing. The surplus clothing has proven popular among a variety of people: students, hunters and law enforcement officials.

More than 40 used cars and trucks are for sale at Carland, a small dealer that specializes in import sales, on the other side of the intersection.

Business has been good for the dealership since it opened last year at 19441 Brewers Neck Blvd., manager Vincente Rivera said.

``It's been busy,'' he said. ``I like Smithfield itself. Even though we're just on the other side of the James River, people here are more polite and relaxed.''

The Newport News-based dealership selected its Benns Church site because of the area's high traffic flow, he said. by CNB