Have you herd what’s coming?

Located in downtown Nellysford, Virginia, Belties will offer a truly unique breakfast, brunch, and lunch experience to local residents and visitors.

Belties will combine authentic country charm, savory breakfast drinks and food, and a welcoming atmosphere that will encourage people to stay a while and return frequently.  Creating a satisfying and memorable experience for our customers is at the heart of our mission.

The Founders

The Belties project was founded by John Washburn and Scott DeFusco.  Many may know John from his role as the founder of the Bold Rock Cider Company, which originated in Nellysford, VA, and has grown into a very popular and successful national brand.  After the sale of Bold Rock to ABV in 2019, John and Scott started working on the Belties concept.  John, a lifelong resident of Nelson County, is passionate about creating unique experiences that bring people together.

Scott DeFusco and his family have owned homes on Wintergreen mountain for over 20 years.  Much of that time has been spent enjoying all the wonderful activities and businesses that Nelson County has to offer.  Scott recently sold the business he founded, Capturelife, and the family moved to Stoney Creek in Nelson County.  Scott is excited to work with his good friend John on making Belties a place where other families can create great memories.

Meet two of our lovable miniature Belties -
Buckle and Biscuit

Origin of the Belties Brand

The idea for the Belties brand came from John Washburn.  In addition to being a very successful entrepreneur, John and his wife Robin have an affinity for farm life and share a love of animals.  They recently became enamored with miniature Belties, a traditional Scottish breed of cattle, and decided to raise their own here in Nellysford, VA.

Given the rural nature of the business we are creating, combining Belties with the project was a natural fit.  They are unique, beautiful, and endearing animals that will add an authentic and magnetic dimension to the customer experience.  The Belties will be on site for customers to view and interact with.  Not only will they draw people to the business, but they will also create an infectious vibe that will keep people coming back.  For these reasons, the Belties will be incorporated into all facets of the brand and customer experience.

The Belties Menu

Belties will be open daily from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  As discussed earlier, the “experience” will be the primary product we offer to customers.  Supporting the experience will be superior breakfast drinks and food that will be made fresh daily.  The core of the Belties menu will include:

  • Hand crafted, specialty coffees

  • Southern style breakfast biscuits

  • Various waffle dishes

  • Healthy breakfast options


Belties Coffee

Belties will offer high quality coffee drinks that will be roasted on site and brewed on demand, thus delivering on our commitment to offering delicious, fresh coffee drinks.  Complementing more standard coffee options will be specialty drinks, including lattes, espressos, and cold brews. 

We also plan to mix things up a bit by offering a unique product, coffee flights.  These flights will include a tasty sampling of the more popular drinks topped with flavored accents.   

Belties Biscuits

The cornerstone of the Belties breakfast fare will be savory southern-style biscuits.  Made fresh daily, Belties biscuits will combine southern tradition with unique ingredients to create truly delectable and memorable breakfast sandwiches.  They will be simple, authentic, and ingredient-driven.  Portions will be generous.

We imagine some core biscuits that will be served year-round with some specialty or seasonal options being introduced from time to time.  We also plan on naming the different biscuits after our adorable Belties.

The Belties Experience

Belties will be located on a 3-acre parcel (2884 Rockfish Valley Hwy) in downtown Nellysford, VA.  The Belties campus comprises:

  • Main farmhouse building with indoor and outdoor dining (including expansive sun room) as well as a drive through window for convenience.

  • Drive through barn that will also serve as a shelter for the Beltie cows.

  • Belties park, which includes the Belties fenced in pasture and a stone walled picnic area.

  • Parking

The Farmhouse

The main building will be a classic-style farmhouse that pays homage to the one that previously adorned the property. We reclaimed several items from the old house, including doors, wood, stair posts, and more, that will be used in the new farmhouse. We also reclaimed some of the dead trees on the property, which will be used for the coffee bar and other accents.

The farmhouse cafe will offer a generous amount of indoor seating in the main room and adjoining large sunroom, both of which will share a double-sided fireplace. Outdoor seating will be available on the large covered wraparound front porch and the picnic area at Belties Park.

Belties Park

Belties Park will include a fenced-in pasture where the Belties will live and graze. This entire area will be accessible to guests who want to see and interact with the Belties. Next to the pasture will be a stone-walled picnic area for guests to enjoy.

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As we work towards building and opening Belties, subscribe here and we will keep you updated on all the exciting progress. Thanks for your interest in Belties!