Did you know? Virginia is home to 880,366 small businesses. We want to celebrate all the businesses that make NOVA so special.

In honor of our many movers and shakers, we’re asking readers to nominate the small businesses they love so we can share them with our entire audience.

We’ll be here to share a new batch of small businesses every month, so bookmark this page to come back for more, especially if you’ve enjoyed pieces like our guide to shopping Small Business Saturday.

Editor Ava's pick

Ballstonian | Coffee shop
"It’s a neighborhood place, and that’s by design." — Owner Isa Seyran

This local coffee cart sits on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington's Ballston neighborhood, serving coffee, tea, and select pastries to hundreds of regulars and community members. He's even described the spot as a local "watering hole."

Food + beverage

A pink stand with a "Crumb to Mama" sign, stocked with baked treats. — Keep an eye out for this pink stand with baked treats in NOVA. | Photo by NOVAtoday

Crumb to Mama | Microbakery

“It really brings the community together,” Owner Isabella Fortunato said. For her, that community spirit is reflected in every item she bakes. “It’s literally made with love.”

Operating from Fortunato’s home in Arlington, this bakery accepts online orders that are made available for pickup from a stand outside on Saturday mornings at the scheduled pickup time. Fortunato launched her business last year and works alongside media manager Dana Barry. Since then, folks have been lining up to get their hands on the bread loaves, muffins, bagels, cookies, and tarts, all made with her starter, Cruella dough Vil.

Krissee D'Aguiar spreads chocolate out on a surface to prep for creation of the chocolate bars. — Meet the masterminds behind River Sea Chocolates. | Photo via River Sea Chocolates

River-Sea Chocolates | Chocolate factory

“I was doing it; I was just like, 'this is what I want to do with my life,'” Owner Krissee D'Aguiar said. “I love working with chocolate. It just seemed to make so much sense when I was thinking about my history and my mom's story and how much I love chocolate. I still love chocolate. I eat chocolate every single day."

In 2017, Krissee and Mariano D'Aguiar began selling chocolate. The Chantilly location then opened in 2018, while the Reston location opened last year. Plus, they’ll soon be opening their first location in DC at Union Market, which is expected to open by the end of the summer.

Retail

The outside of the Wandering Shelf with owner Tessa Cannon. — You can't miss this colorful van around town. | Photo via The Wandering Shelf

The Wandering Shelf | Mobile bookstore

“I really wanted to dive deeper into the community in Arlington,” Owner Tessa Cannon said. “I personally wanted to have a positive impact, and I know that in my adult years, books really helped transform my perspective on a lot of different things, and I think made me the person I am today.”

When you visit The Wandering Shelf, you'll find a carefully curated selection of books, ranging from classics to the latest releases. All used books are just $7, and $1 from every purchase is donated to a different charity each month. The van also offers a selection of books for both adults and children, along with a comfortable couch where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the space.

Personal services

Je’Niece Scott, the owner of The Clear Lux Collective, sitting in front of boxes that she helped pack. — Need help getting organized? | Photo via The Clear Lux Collective

The Clear Lux Collective | Professional organizer

“This work is deeply personal to me: it's tied to building financial freedom for my family, balancing motherhood and marriage with this new chapter, and growing into the best version of myself along the way,” Owner Je’Niece Scott said.

Scott created this business to help organize spaces for folks throughout the DMV, offering decluttering, packing, and organizing services to bring a sense of calm to your space.