For Kelsey Settle, Green Roost has become more than a business. It has become a place that’s grown and changed right alongside her. What started as a gift shop became a place where she gets to combine many of the things she cares about: supporting brands that do good in the world, helping people find things that make them feel good, creating community, and making shopping feel more personal. And fifteen years later, Kelsey can attest that she genuinely loves walking through the Green Roost door.
Green Roost actually predates Kelsey. Her aunt Sharon, owner of a Culpeper Downtown business, Pepperberries, actually opened Green Roost in 2009. With years of experience working in retail, from sales to working with manufacturers, Kelsey knew she loved the industry. Thus, she took over Green Roost in 2011 and can attest that owning a shop is a completely different adventure.
When you walk through the burgundy door at Green Roost, Kelsey wants you to feel welcomed. You can come in exactly as you are, wander around, laugh together, ask for help, or take a break from your day. Kelsey has gone on record to say that the women of Green Roost want to be your hype girls, and she really means that. Whether you’re trying on a new outfit, finding the perfect gift you wouldn’t find anywhere else, or just popping in to say hi, Kelsey wants you to leave feeling happier and more seen than when you walked in. Green Roost is more than just a place to buy stuff. Kelsey and her team work hard to curate products that feel special, whether that’s a brand giving back to a meaningful cause, merchandise or goods made by a small business, the perfect gift you wouldn’t find anywhere else, or a piece of clothing that makes you feel really good in your own skin. That experience matters to the Green Roost team just as much as their products. They know their customers. They laugh and celebrate with them. Sometimes they know who you’re shopping for before you even finish telling them. That’s the magic of shopping small.
Owning a business isn’t always easy, but for Kelsey, she feels inspired being surrounded by other entrepreneurs who have poured so much of themselves into their restaurants, shops, and businesses. Culpeper Downtown has charm, history, and people who care deeply about keeping it vibrant. Kelsey is proud to be part of that. What she loves most is that Culpeper Downtown still feels like a real community after all of these years. Being able to walk a few blocks and run into business owners, customers, neighbors, friends, and probably someone who knows your entire family gives Kelsey the genuine sense that everyone here is rooting for each other. And although Culpeper Downtown is a close-knit community, there is something you might not know about her… She is a closeted Marvel nerd. Much more of a Marvel nerd than people might expect. A day well spent includes superheroes, an interconnected storyline, and approximately 50 movies that need to be watched in a very specific order.
When Kelsey is not at Green Roost, you can find her at her favorite restaurant, Zandra’s Taqueria. Kelsey is a self-proclaimed taco and margarita girl, and she’s loved Zandra’s since it opened. One of the hardest parts of being in a downtown community for Kelsey is watching another business go through something devastating. But one of the best parts is watching everyone rally around them. Kelsey is rooting for Zandra’s as they rebuild, and she can’t wait to be sitting back there with tacos and a margarita in front of her.
The spirit of community is the heart of Green Roost. After 15 years, Kelsey continues to create a space where customers can shop, laugh, and feel celebrated. You can visit Green Roost at 141 E. Davis Street and leave a little happier than when you arrived. Kelsey and the Green Roost team wouldn’t have it any other way.