BELMONT — Diane Salvador Hutchinson’s cozy farmhouse is now The Farmhouse on 40, a home and gift shop.

The 1930s-era farmhouse has been in her family for more than 40 years, since her parents, Ronald and Georgia Salvador, purchased it.

“We couldn’t bear to sell it and we wanted to turn it into something more and something special, so we decided to make it a gift shop,” she said.

“My dad is a career Army officer and he had a 21-year career and when he retired he wanted to move back to the Ohio Valley. He was originally from Lansing, and his last assignment was at the Pentagon,” Hutchinson said. “When they came house hunting here, they found this old farmhouse. … He was so thrilled to own his own piece of land.”

She said they wanted to maintain the beautiful and comfortable decor and to offer a selection of items one might not see at a typical business.

“We have a feature in every room,” Hutchinson said. She pointed out the selection of children’s toys, books and baby gifts in the children’s room.

Hutchinson, a retired teacher and administrator at Jefferson County Christian School, places an emphasis on learning activities.

The ladies boutique area has jewelry and clothing, while the kitchen has nostalgic candy, Amish baked goods and vintage soda, as well as the General’s Hot Sauce and Firehouse Coffee, from a company owned by firefighters and veterans.

“We’re really big on supporting veteran-owned companies,” she said. “We’re trying to support veteran-owned, American-made and local.”

A veterans’ corner displays service memorabilia and a picture of Hutchinson’s son, Matthew Hutchinson, also in the service.

The stationary room includes a desk Hutchinson’s parents brought over from Germany. They are partnering with other local businesses such as Yorkville Bakery and East Wheeling Clay Works to sell their goods.

“We’re trying to support local companies,” Hutchinson said.

Other items include homemade soaps, antiques, used books, puzzles and records.

“You can find a bargain in here, or you can find a treasure,” Hutchinson said. “If you needed a gift, you can find it here.”

“The folks that come in are enjoying the experience of the house and how lovely that is, and they’re surprised to find the unique offerings, things you wouldn’t normally get at Wal-Mart or Amazon. That’s what we’re going for,” Hutchinson said.

Her daughter, Mallorie Monas, is also the buyer and has been hand-selecting items of interest.

“The house has always meant so much to us and it felt really special. We wanted to share that with the community. We wanted to welcome them into a space that felt homey and comfortable and that when you come in you may be a stranger, but you can leave as a friend,” Monas said. “We want to be family-oriented, and we’re not looking for just shoppers.”

Visitors are also welcome to enjoy outdoor lawn games.

“You can come in, get a free cup of coffee and sit on the sun porch as well,” Hutchinson said. “We think following the pandemic that people have had enough of just ordering online, and that they need a positive experience. This is experiential shopping. … You can see the thing you’re buying rather than just viewing it online, and we think everybody’s ready for that.”

“The vision we had in beginning The Farmhouse on 40 was to breathe new life into an old house,” Monas said. “It’s been exciting to watch it transform as we carefully updated it. It’s important to us to honor the love and care Ron and Georgia put into the house over 46 years. Most importantly, it is a business by family and for family. The house is a testament to the tight-knit family Ron and Georgia nurtured during their time as mom and dad to four children and grandma and grandpap to 12 grandchildren. We could not have begun this new adventure without the support of our family and their contributions. Everyone pitched in to bring this dream to life whether it was painting the exterior and interior, making repairs, website and social media design, creating special inventory, and offering advice and encouragement. Our guiding principle will always be to continue to foster the legacy of love left to us by Ron and Georgia.”

The business is located at 43497 National Road. It is also on Facebook and Instagram. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The phone number is 740-782-1167.