At Large

These days, though, the 44-year-old Wilson is the man to see in Lynchburg for another reason. For the last seven years he’s been buying and renovating a large chunk of the historic 900 block of Main Street in downtown Lynchburg—turning dilapidated buildings into something approaching their former glory. On one end of the block, in a stretch of once-empty space, one now finds a charming market/diner, a pastry shop, a furniture showroom and upscale lofts—the last all occupied. And later this year, he will finish a restoration of three new buildings next to his first Main Street projects, adding another swath of mixed-use space to his portfolio. Locals say the affable Wilson is a model for entrepreneurial zeal and urban revitalization because, well, he gets things done. Marjette Upshur, director of economic development for the City of Lynchburg, calls him the city’s “ambassador” and “one of the most innovative businessmen I know.”

Spend time with the Chopper—who says he got his nickname because he ate a lot as a kid—and it’s easy to detect his old school savvy. He says he’s spent more than $4 million buying and restoring his downtown buildings, recouping about 45 percent of that amount from federal and state historic tax credits and watching his initial Main Street projects rise in value. Once a deal is closed, he immediately puts contractors to work on the building—keeping a sharp eye on costs. “I’ve had people I know do most of the [construction] work,” Wilson says. “They give me a good deal on things.” And he’s not averse to doing some labor himself.

Upshur lauds Wilson’s commitment, saying that he “stays involved on a personal level with his buildings. He’s actually invested in the community—he’s got skin in the game.” And, she adds, “He knows everything, because he’s a barber. You lean back in the chair and talk. He listens.” The city official calls his success “astounding, because he doesn’t have a large payroll. He flies under the radar.”