The Town Duck Lands in Middleburg

Written by Dulcy B. Hooper | Photos by Gracie Savage

For more than four decades, the Town Duck has been a well-known and beloved fixture in Warrenton’s Old Town, a shop known for its thoughtful and eclectic mix of gifts, gourmet foods, and approachable wines, as well as for the welcoming atmosphere that permeates the shop.

Now, that same spirit has found a second home in Middleburg. The Town Duck officially opened its doors earlier this spring, bringing with it the charm, familiarity, and carefully curated offerings that generations of customers have come to appreciate and count on in Warrenton.

Just over six years ago, literally days before COVID entered the picture, Jeanne-Marie Tufts purchased the Town Duck in Warrenton. “The timing, of course, was uncertain,” she says, “and that’s putting it mildly. But the shop’s focus on food and wine allowed us to remain open as an essential business.” Tufts adds that she was fortunate to have the guidance of Annette Johnson, the shop’s previous owner, as well as her mother, Anne Schalestock, who has been a familiar face at the Town Duck in Warrenton for more than 20 years.

“Preserving that personal consistency has been a priority since I took ownership.” –Tufts

The idea of expanding the Town Duck to another location had intrigued Tufts for some time. But it wasn’t until the space on West Marshall Street became available late last year that the possibility began to feel real. “With all this history behind it — and four owners who each helped shape its character — the shop’s evolution into Middleburg felt less like a departure and more like a natural next chapter,” Tufts shares. “I like to think it was meant to be.”

Ultimately, the decision came down to timing. “A friend once shared advice that has stayed with me,” Tufts says. “There is rarely a perfect moment to take on something new or difficult, so why not now? Looking back, many of the most meaningful moments in my life arrived when I wasn’t fully prepared or actively seeking them. Opening in Middleburg felt very much like one of those moments.”

Tufts grew up in Fauquier County and, because of that, she has always felt like this area was home. In addition, Middleburg had long been part of her story. “My husband and I both attended school here. In fact, Max and I first met as fourth-graders.” Many years later, the couple was reintroduced while in college.

“With all this history behind it… the shop’s evolution into Middleburg felt less like a departure and more like a natural next chapter.” –Tufts

“Life has taken me far from here — graduate school in New York City, followed by moves across the country during my husband’s service as a Marine Corps pilot, my studying, and then practicing physical therapy and teaching yoga,” Tufts recounts. “I was so pleased when we returned to Warrenton 10 years ago.” The Tufts have four children, and both sets of grandparents live close by. “It felt both grounding and right to be back here,” Tufts says. “Today we’re watching our children grow up in the same community, walking the same streets, forming friendships, and building memories of their own. That sense of continuity — across generations, places, and experiences — has made returning in this way especially meaningful.” The couple’s three daughters, 16-year-old triplets, are students at Foxcroft School, and their 10-year-old son is a student at The Hill School.  

Between living in Warrenton and having children going to school in Middleburg, Tufts says their lives naturally bridge the two towns. “We’ve spent countless days driving back and forth,” she adds, “supporting our children’s education, running the shop, visiting grandparents, and heading out to the horse farm where our daughters ride. Warrenton has been the hub for work and family roots; Middleburg, the center of our daily life, friendships, and community.”

“There is rarely a perfect moment to take on something new or difficult, so why not now?”
–Tufts

That sense of continuity carries forward in the Town Duck. “Preserving that personal consistency has been a priority since I took ownership,” Tufts says.

For now, the Town Duck in Middleburg is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. “I imagine this will stick for a bit,” Tufts says, “until I get a feel for what the Middleburg community wants and needs.” ML

Town Duck
4 W. Marshall Street
Middleburg, VA 20117
(540) 883-2110
townduck.com

Published in the May 2026 issue of Middleburg Life.