The Free Lance Star
King George tack shop has new home

August 3, 2008 12:16 am
BY REBECCA J. BARNABI

A new hitching post is in town. Actually, the same hitching post, but in a new location.

The Hitching Post, a horse tack shop in King George County, has relocated and celebrated its reopening a week ago.

"I've owned horses since I was 7 years old and it's always been a goal of mine to open a tack shop," said Angela Mersiowsky, 43, owner and operator of The Hitching Post.

The shop opened in May 2006 in a space renovated after the apartments there had burned. Mersiowsky leased the space on U.S. 301 near the intersection with State Route 3.

At the new location, 5688 James Madison Parkway near Dahlgren, Mersiowsky owns the building.

She said she chose the name The Hitching Post from about eight ideas.

Mersiowsky grew up in King George. She, her husband, Richard, and their two children live there with two quarter horses on what she calls a "farmette."

Mersiowsky's 19-year-old daughter, Kerri, helps her in the store, especially while her mother works mornings at Naval Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren, as a scientist.

Mersiowsky's husband, who works for EG&G, a government contractor, helps out in the evenings. They also have a 21-year-old son, Russ, who works for EG&G at NSWC, Dahlgren.

She said a reason for her opening a shop in King George was that she knew she wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon. A shop would be a long-term investment. Then the renovated space on State Route 3 became available.

She also wanted to open a tack shop because there wasn't one in King George. According to Mersiowsky, the nearest tack shops are in Tappahannock, southern Maryland and Stafford County.

The Hitching Post's new location is about seven miles north on U.S. 301 on the southbound lane side near Dahlgren. It is the site of a previous tack shop called Briarwood Saddlery, which had been owned and operated by Stuart McElroy since 1963, Mersiowsky said.

McElroy built the building in 1952 and ran a hotel in the location for 10 years. The widening of U.S. 301 in 1962 cut the hotel in half to make way for the southbound lanes.

McElroy said he didn't know what to do with the building at that point, so he rented it out for a year, then opened a tack shop. His daughter owns horses.

Mersiowsky relocated her tack shop, which now has 100 square feet more space, despite the current economic downturn. She said that she saw sales down last year compared to 2006.

"I've been concerned for the past year," she said. But the new location is closer to customers in southern Maryland, and the move has not lost her any customers.

"As long as you're honest in your business and you try to do right by your customers, I think you can't do wrong," said Mersiowsky.

She has future plans for her shop.

"I'd like to realize my five-year business plan and have [the shop] be self-supporting in a few years." She said she wants to fulfill the needs of the horse community in the area.

The Hitching Post carries everything a horse owner needs, as well as a few extras. Saddles, bridles, Nutrena horse feed, and horse care items such as shampoo and medicinal sprays are available. There are cell phone covers, jewelry, boots, shirts and handbags. Feed for pigs, goats, chickens and rabbits is also available.

Hours of operation are typically Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m but vary. Call the shop at 540/644-0110 to verify hours.

Copyright 2009 The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company.