The Shadow
Len Foutz, a former Virginia State Trooper assigned to Bath County who became an agent for the CIA, is no stranger to the world of business.
As the owner of Millboro Mercantile & Grocery: Purveyors Of Fine Foods, Hardware And Sporting Goods located at the junction of Va. Route 42 and Va. Route 39 in Bath County, Foutz will celebrate 20 years of ownership on Oct. 25.
He left the Virginia State Police to run for sheriff of Bath County in 1983 but lost his race to Jimmy Bryant.
Following his loss of the election, he went to work in an urban area of Virginia.
Foutz recalled, “I joined the CIA and worked for them for about a year and a half.”
Preferring rural living to urban living, Foutz returned to Bath County where he landed a job with BACOVA Guild.
He remembered, “I didn’t start out as plant manager, but I made it to plant manager.”
After 12 years of employment there, he bought Bluegrass Woods, a company in Bath County that fabricated decorative mailboxes and other items.
Bluegrass Woods purchased BACOVA Guild’s mailbox business that merged with Bluegrass Woods.
“I sold Bluegrass Woods, and that led to buying Millboro Mercantile,” Foutz noted.
Foutz employs eight, and he and his employees sell propane and MMG gasoline, a variety of groceries, soft drinks, beer, tobacco products, sporting goods, camping supplies and Hershey Ice Cream.
“I’ve got a great staff that does a good job of keeping our customers happy,” Foutz offered.
He added, “Tina Clark is my phenomenal store manager, and she is out of this world.”
Foutz and Trish, his wife, have a number of children between them and nine grandchildren.
As for the busiest season for his business, he observed, “The summer season is the busiest by far.”
He concluded, “Deer hunting season is busy but not like it used to be.”
From lawman, to plant manager, to businessman, Foutz, who stands over six feet tall, continues to build his legacy as an entrepreneur, one with a good sense of humor and a welcoming smile.
