SHARING THE LOVE OF URBANNA AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY, VIRGINIA!
About Us
Urbanna, Virginia is a unique small town with population less than 500 located in Middlesex County, yet MILLIONS of people know and have visited “The Urb.” As part of Virginia's River Realm, Urbanna is surrounded by scenic waterways, creeks and the Rappahannock River, leading into the Chesapeake Bay bursting with maritime history. Home to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official oyster festival, Urbanna does not disappoint during the first full weekend each November for the festival or during the magic of ordinary Urbanna days. In fact, the Urbanna Oyster Festival was originally called “Urbanna Days” and has existed now for over sixty years. This festival of festivals is an Urb claim to fame and conversation starter no matter where you are in the world.
Lauren Wood, Founder of I Love Urb, is a hometown girl, growing up on quaint Howard Street a couple blocks behind Taber Park. Childhood in Urbanna is nothing short of whimsical; days full of adventure exploring, swimming, talking with and helping neighbors, playing with friends (just look for the house with the pile of bicycles outside!). When the streetlights come on, you had better be home lest your parents worry. A Mayberry of sorts and the Town of Urbanna’s charm holds true today with manicured yards, porch swings, and a quieter sort of lifestyle focused on a quality of life you cannot find just anywhere.
Lauren raised her twin sons, Cole and Tyler, in the same house she grew up in and the children have just as grand stories to tell of growing up on Howard Street in one of the greatest little towns in the country. A place where a sense of community still exists and the firefighters are still volunteers, while almost everyone it seems gives their time to charity and non-profit service in some form.
After more than 20 years in the community banking industry, Lauren decided it was time for life to take a new path. The COVID pandemic came with so many lessons and the world got really heavy. Too heavy. With her heart pulling to spend more time at home on Urbanna’s Virginia Street and lead a more meaningful life, a dream’s path came to light.
In the weeks leading to the Urbanna Oyster Festival 2019, Lauren’s son, Tyler, an avid collector of local antiques, discovered a metal button reading, “I Love Water View.” Water View is a very small community within Middlesex County and the button was quite a curious oddity. Who produced this? What was the occasion? Water View is known for a fantastic 4th of July parade and fireworks…perhaps it was created for Independence Day?
As the family pondered together, the suggestion was made to create a metal button for Urbanna; specifically that could be sold during the Urbanna Oyster Festival to celebrate this beloved town. Lauren’s vision abbreviated the phrase to “I Love Urb.” There simply was not enough time to produce such a souvenir before the 2019 festival, but Lauren’s great friends, Nikki and Tremayne Bass, owners of BNB AdWorx, were able to create a t-shirt quickly. Lauren PROUDLY wore the t-shirt to the 2019 festival to rave reviews- EVERYONE wanted one.
The birth of a business plan launched and with the support of family and friends and advice of many fellow Urb-lovers, Lauren determined there was space and demand for Urbanna souvenirs specifically sold by a local and sourcing locally as much as possible. I Love Urb is proudly brought to you by an Urbanna native to share the love of Urbanna with a fresh take on the special place we love.
A portion of proceeds benefit the Urbanna Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, as well as a special fund has been established to install a basketball court at Taber Park for area youth.
The I Love Urb promise is simple. The hometown girl will do her very best to build upon the jewels of Urbanna, Virginia and Middlesex County and share them with the world. Along the way, it is important to Lauren to give back to the community and source other likeminded local artisans and vendors. We are one and as the proverb clearly states, it takes a village.
Many thanks to Lauren’s family and friends, as well as strangers alike, for supporting this business and mission. Additionally, heartfelt recognition is due to the following local business partners:
- DW StudioZ, Ajani Ruffin
(804) 299-2146
- Graphic Design: Danielle Gish
- NeHiNome Creations, Kelsey Henderson-Briggs
(804) 363-6442
- Urbanna Trading Company,
Megan Brockman and Riki Brumley
(804) 286-9357
- Web Design: Autumn Ortman, Tyler Radabaugh, and Ashby Taylor
ONE LAST MENTION…If the word LOVE was not in your vocabulary, it is now as I Love Urb becomes a household name. What the world needs now?? You guessed it!
And if Lauren Wood has one impact for the rest of her life, let it be LOVE.