The Valley Collective is a boutique retail shop located in Putnam Village at 499 Putnam Village Drive in Hurricane, West Virginia, featuring gifts, home décor, apparel, and products from local makers. There are a number of vendors, including: KM Designs, Soblit Refinished LLC, Appalachian Kind, Mountain Sisters Creations, A Little Hint of Home LLC, Taes Hidden Treasures, David Hager Photography, Missy’s Makings, Em’s Creations, Chef’s Signature, Kaitlyn’s Handmade Haven, BamBillow Co., Hylen Homemade, Blissful Creations, Y’allternative Revival, Fuzzy & MommaBear, KG Keychains, K-Bell Kreations, We B Fryin Snacks, Penny Blue Co., Her Corner Studio, Wild Wick Candle Co., Mountain Mini Bows, Morg’s Jewelry, Element 304, Most of Every Mile, Mother Fudger, Cheryl Tolley, Golden Hoop by Chaos & Co., Shamrock Custom Laser Engraving, Highland Blu, The Willy Nilly Pilla Factory, DyeDuo WV, Death’s Head Leatherworks, Two Peas in a Tee, Burnin’ Bills Engraving, Sugar Hive Cookies, Olive Branch Mercantile, Made With TLC, Jeannie’s Wreaths, Jennifer Gallagher Art and Sharon’s Original Oil Paintings. In addition, many were also food producers. Eslick Acres - freeze-dried candies Pops by Rachel - cake pops Pursenelly Yours Gifts - hard candies Sugar Hive Cookies Handmade hy Courtney Ardoin - sugar cookie Momma Bear's - Cajun Seasoning Grandma Stacey's Kitchen - seasoned salts Have you been?

Hilltop Fresh Meat Market is a family-owned fresh meat market located at Hilltop Fresh Meat Market on South Church Street in Ripley.



The market is veteran-owned and features locally sourced products, including beef from Ranson Ranch in nearby Fairplain, along with fresh meats, produce, eggs, cheeses, and pantry staples.



Inside, the market combines a traditional butcher counter with refrigerated display cases, deli selections, and shelves stocked with locally made and Amish products.



The retail space includes fresh meat displays, deli counters, coolers for cheeses and specialty foods, and aisles filled with preserves, spices, baking ingredients, and seasonal produce.



The market offers hand-cut beef, pork, poultry, deli meats, cheeses, seafood, game meats, fresh eggs, locally sourced produce, baked goods, and packaged meat bundles for customers stocking their refrigerators or freezers.



Menu selections include ribeye, prime rib, filet mignon, New York strip, pork chops, bacon, chicken, bison, elk, lamb, deli salads, Amish cheeses, homemade spreads, pickled products, jams, jellies, maple syrup, and other regional grocery items.



One of the shop’s signature offerings is its hand-cut ribeye steak, which is cut to order with generous marbling that develops a rich crust when seared while remaining tender and juicy through the center.



In addition to individual cuts, Hilltop Fresh Meats offers freezer-ready meat packages, gift cards, discounts for veterans, first responders, and EMS personnel, and a selection of locally produced fruits, vegetables, herbs, rubs and preserves.



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Angie’s What’s Poppin’ Shoppe is a gourmet popcorn shop located at 500 South Church Street in Ripley offering a wide variety of sweet and savory popcorn flavors.



Inside, shelves are stocked with colorful bags of popcorn alongside displays of nostalgic candy, bottled sodas, and other specialty treats that give the shop the feel of a traditional candy store.



The shop features dozens of gourmet popcorn varieties ranging from classic buttery and cheesy recipes to dessert-inspired, spicy, and candy-coated flavors.



Menu selections include options such as dill pickle, garlic parmesan, cheddar, caramel, kettle corn and rotating seasonal flavors.



One of the standout flavors is Garlic Parmesan, which coats freshly popped popcorn with a savory blend of garlic seasoning and parmesan cheese that creates a crisp texture and a rich, cheesy finish.



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Tensuke Market is the largest Japanese grocery store in Ohio. "Growing up in a tiny village in Japan, Takashi Takenaka loved fishing in nearby streams, often immersed waist-deep. As he grew older, he dreamed of sharing his knowledge and love of seafood and Japanese cuisine," reads the website. "After leaving his homeland and settling in America, he established one of Central Ohio's first Japanese restaurants in 1987, now called Akai Hana. Shortly after that, he opened a Japanese seafood and grocery store - Tensuke Market." "Over 30 years, the company has grown to include the 6 shops of Japan Marketplace, each providing a unique piece of Japanese tradition and culture. Takashi notes that when we prepare Japanese food for our customers, they experience a sense of well-being – similar to what he felt while enjoying the delicious meals from his mother growing up." "Tensuke Market is committed to offering the finest of Japanese food, products and culture to nourish our great community of Columbus. We hope that you can enjoy a taste of Japan's beautiful cuisine and renowned traditions." I picked up a teriyaki chicken & mayo onigiri. The first task is figuring out how to open it. It is designed to keep the seaweed crispy. Pull the center tab down (1), pull the right corner out (2), and pull the left corner out (3). I also got some gummy grape candy for dessert. Both were tasty. What an awesome place with so many offerings. I'd love to go back when I have a cooler in tow. Grade: A

Hungry Horns is a meal-prep service based in Teays Valley that is "determined to make eating healthy enjoyable." They post a menu on Facebook each week that has breakfast, entree and side options. You can message them your order, pay in advance and pick up on your designated day. They also have grab & go options during those designated times if you didn't order in advance. Breakfast Bowl - eggs, hashbrowns, sriracha mayo, bacon, cheese and green onions. Gluten-free. CALORIES: 339 calories, 30 protein, 21 carbs, 15 fat Low Carb Garlic Butter Steak & Cheesy Broccoli - Tender garlic butter topped steak paired with roasted broccoli, smothered in melted cheese—this one’s rich, savory, and totally satisfying. It’s high in protein, low in carbs, and big on flavor. A comfort meal made clean, without the carb crash. CALORIES: 425 calories, 28 protein, 2 carbs, 32 fat Hand-Breaded Breakfast Nuggets - These massive and high protein nuggets are perfect for on the go breakfast! They are made with a light breading, eggs, cheese and stuffed with light sausage. They come with a side of sugar free syrup for dipping! CALORIES: 270 calories, 11 grams of protein, 15 carbs, 18 fat Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta - This fan-favorite dish features protein-packed pasta tossed with tender garlic shrimp, melty cheese, and our lightened up take on classic Alfredo sauce. It’s rich, satisfying, and made to fuel your week without the guilt! CALORIES: 516 calories, 49 protein, 40 carbs, 20 fat Sweet & Sour Meatballs - Juicy meatballs tossed in our signature sweet and sour sauce with caramelized pineapple, onions, and peppers, served over fluffy white rice and topped with sesame seeds. It’s the perfect balance of tangy, savory, and just a hint of sweetness. High in protein, low in calories, and full of feel-good flavor! CALORIES: 455 calories, 24 protein, 52 carbs, 16 fat

Which ones should I try next?

Vicky's in Milton is a long-running party supply and candy-making shop that’s become a local staple. Known for its wide selection of baking ingredients, candy molds, balloons, banners, and event décor, it has become a go-to spot for everything from birthday parties to weddings. Have you been?

I have visited Sugar Shenanigans in a few different capacities: their original location, an expanded location, and now their newest move. This candy shop is the closest thing that the Kanawha Valley has to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. Some of my favorite purchases include those peelable gummy candies. There are so many different types of fruit here: mango, pineapple, peach, grape, orange, lemon, etc. I also love the international candy bars, specifically Cadbury from the UK:

Cadbury Twirl – Two chocolate fingers made of delicate, flaky milk chocolate

Cadbury Wispa – Aerated chocolate with a bubbly texture inside a smooth chocolate shell

Cadbury Flake – Extremely crumbly folded chocolate layers (famously used in ice cream cones)

Cadbury Crunchie – A honeycomb toffee center coated in milk chocolate

Cadbury Double Decker – Layers of chewy nougat and crispy cereal covered in chocolate

Cadbury Curly Wurly – Thin lattice of caramel coated in chocolate, known for its long twisted shape

Cadbury Picnic – A chunky mix of peanuts, caramel, nougat, biscuit, and puffed rice in chocolate I picked up a variety of sweets to take home with me:

Haribo Maoam - A chewy fruit candy stick that’s very soft and taffy-like. It’s intensely sweet with bold artificial fruit flavor and the texture of a stretchy Starburst.

Mackintosh’s Creamy Toffee - A classic British chewy toffee. It’s buttery, rich, and dense with a slow melt that sticks pleasantly to your teeth. Joyva Joys (Chocolate Covered Jelly) - A chocolate-coated fruit jelly bar similar to a chocolate-covered gummy. The center is bright, sweet jelly with a thin milk-chocolate shell.

Nestlé Mirage - A Canadian chocolate bar made from aerated milk chocolate. It’s light and bubbly inside, giving it a delicate, melt-fast texture similar to a Wispa or Aero.

Annabelle Candy Company Rocky Road - A thick bar packed with marshmallow and roasted cashews, all held together with chocolate. It’s chewy, crunchy, and very sweet.

Chase Candy Company Cherry Mash - A Midwestern classic with a soft cherry fondant center surrounded by chopped peanuts and chocolate. It tastes like cherry cordial mixed with a peanut cluster. I also picked up a Universal Yums box for Sweden. I used to have a subscription for these but canceled it after I felt like the value wasn't there. But after trying all these Swedish goodies, I fell back in love and restarted my subscription. Have you seen those viral fruit pastries all over the internet? Also known as "tromp l'oeil" (French for 'deceive the eye'), the desserts are fruit-shaped mousse cakes with a hard, crunchy white chocolate shell, fruit filling and a cake base. Sugar Shenanigans had those, too! I tried raspberry, mango, lemon & Ferrero Rocher. What's your favorite purchase from here?