Building Community and Creativity in Gretna

Based in Gretna, Virginia, Kate (Blair) Farmer wears many hats and usually starts her day before most people hit snooze. She is the owner and operator of three businesses: The Pod, a beloved restaurant and coffee shop on Main Street; Planned Purchasing, a commercial procurement firm; and Blair Homes, a design-build construction company specializing in historic properties. Today, Blair Homes focuses on short-term rental properties that Kate and her husband own and manage. Together, they also raise show livestock with their two children, blending entrepreneurship, creativity, and family life into one very full schedule.

Most mornings begin in the barn before sunrise, followed by school drop-offs and the organized chaos of family logistics. From there, Kate shifts gears into design decisions, procurement strategy, and business planning. Thanks to strong teams supporting daily operations, she is able to stay focused on creative direction, client relationships, and long-term vision while juggling the overlapping roles of business owner and parent. As she puts it, “No two days look the same.”

Her journey to entrepreneurship was anything but straightforward. She began college at a business school in Virginia before transferring to North Carolina State University to pursue a stronger focus on textiles and design. The entrepreneurial spark came early. She launched her first ventures as a child and ran a small accessories business during college. “Looking back, each pivot has shaped where I am today, and I’m grateful for every step along the way,” she reflects. After working in business administration and real estate, she founded Blair Homes in 2011, combining a family background in construction with a lifelong love of design and historic renovation.

In 2018, Kate took on a major project, purchasing a former car dealership on Main Street in Gretna and transforming it into a home for her growing businesses. A year later, she opened The Pod, stepping into the restaurant world for the first time. When the pandemic reshaped the retail landscape, she adapted once again, refocusing her work on design, procurement, and hospitality while continuing to build strong, trusted teams.

Her favorite moment each day is simple and familiar: walking into The Pod and enjoying a fresh cup of coffee in a space that reflects her vision and sense of community. The biggest challenge is managing expectations and timelines across multiple ventures while never compromising on quality or trust.

Kate credits Chatham Hall with broadening her perspective and encouraging her to imagine a bigger future. “Chatham Hall expanded my worldview beyond what I knew growing up in rural Virginia,” she shares. While academics were sometimes challenging, the school’s environment and historic campus helped shape her creative eye and confidence.

Her advice for current students is both practical and empowering. Creative careers are rooted in service. Resilience, openness to feedback, and thoughtful leadership matter just as much as talent. How you listen, adapt, and lead will ultimately define your success.