Do you have the perfect grouch in your family or circle of friends? Nominations are now open for Main Street Buena Vista’s annual Three Old Grouches Contest – a playful tradition and fundraiser for the revitalization of historic downtown Buena Vista.
Each year, three “Official Grouches” are crowned and proudly serve for a full year. Their duties? Riding in parades, showing up at community events and championing downtown improvements – while keeping their best grouchy face on.
“This contest is about celebrating the good and the history of Buena Vista,” said Jen Carpenter, executive director of Main Street Buena Vista. “Our grouches are really champions for all the good happening downtown. This past year, Tillie Conner, Bob Gay, and Doug Hamilton were our official grouches. What that really means is that they have been outstanding local enthusiasts and all-around amazing citizens who have given so much to this community. We’re proud to call them friends and even prouder to carry on this fun tradition.”
This lighthearted contest grew out of one of Buena Vista’s most beloved bits of local lore. Back in the 1970s, John H. Dickinson Furniture and Appliances on Sycamore Avenue hung an advertisement poking fun at some friendly neighborhood squabbles that read, “Welcome to Buena Vista! 6946 Happy People & 4 Old Grouches.” The playful jab eventually evolved into “6004 Happy Citizens and Three Old Grouches,” becoming an iconic part of Buena Vista’s identity. Main Street Buena Vista launched the Three Old Grouches Contest as a fun interpretation and marketing effort to honor that legacy – turning a decades- old inside joke into a community fundraiser that celebrates both Buena Vista’s history and its lively, good-natured spirit.
Proceeds from nominations support placemaking projects – benches, planters, festival décor, clean-up days and service opportunities for local groups. This year, Main Street BV is also partnering with the Junior Woman’s Club to bring a Virginia Tourism LOVEworks sign downtown.
Anyone who would like to nominate a grouch can do so for a $5 fee and making the nomination at mainstreetbuenavista.org.
Main Street BV is also seeking volunteers and donation for the support of projects that keep downtown beautiful and welcoming. Everyone is asked to look for the grouches in parades and other events throughout the year and to cheer them on.
Every nomination and donation helps fuel Buena Vista’s downtown revitalization – proof that even grouches can do a little good, said Carpenter.
