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Horne’s Restaurant And Gift Shop (Port Royal, Virginia)

Horne’s Restaurant and Gift Shop
25532 A.P. Hill Boulevard
Port Royal, VA 22535

Telephone: (804) 742-5743
Email:  jan@hornes.com

Okay, I have to start this post with a confession:  I haven’t actually eaten at Horne’s Restaurant.  I am guilty of just driving by, stopping only for a moment across the street to take a photograph.  But my Cousin Wayne, who lives in Stafford, regularly drives 45 minutes (one way) to Horne’s for breakfast, and he has already chastised me for not stopping.  Next time I will, and I’ll update everyone.

However… I know I’m gonna like this place already.  It’s in Port Royal, Virginia (more on it’s lovelyhistoric district soon) – and located at the corner of Route 301 and Highway 17, just off the Rappahannock River.  So it sits along a gorgeous stretch of US 17 – but what hooked me was Horne’s description of their history on their website.   The chain of Horne’s Restaurants was negatively impacted by the construction of I-95, but I for one appreciate the uniqueness of Horne’s and other spots along Highway 17, and am glad they have managed to hang in there.  I’d much rather stop for lunch at a Horne’s than at an exit on I-95 for lunch anyday – and next time I will.  Plus, my Cousin Wayne highly recommends them, so what else do you need to know?

Here’s what Horne’s has to say about their history:

Are you a chain? Do you have a directory of locations? What ever happened to all those Horne’s? 

These are some of the questions folks ask us via email. Sooooo….. here’s our story, but we cannot be sure how much of it is fact or fiction.

Many years ago, (some of us can remember) the highways in the South were dotted with Stucky’s. Mr. Horne was a candy salesman who made his living selling to all of those stores. Then one day, Stucky’s decided to make their own candy, which in essence, gave Mr. Horne the boot. Well, what is a candy salesman to do? Mr. Horne opened up his own chain, fashioning it after Stucky’s, selling gifts, gasoline, good food and, of course, candy. The headquarters was in Florida, and soon stores opened up along major roads headed North. Horne’s and Stucky’s thrived side by side. 

With the construction of I-95 and similar highways, the former major North-South routes did not receive as much traffic and customers. Soon after, Horne’s as a chain ceased to exist. The good news is some Horne’s were still viable business locations, such as our home in Port Royal, VA, which remained open under independent ownership. There are a few up and down the east coast from Virginia to Florida. Yet, after years of independent owners, they have each undergone many changes, making each Horne’s a unique experience.

So that’s it; that’s our story and we’re sticking to it. Believe it if you like. There is one thing that we know is true. Horne’s in Port Royal, VA is unique and one of a kind! Come by for a visit!