Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Floyd County, Virginia has become known as a Mecca for those who appreciate music and art.  Residents and visitors alike are engaged by the area’s tranquil beauty and inspirational environment.  Traditional music and crafts of old Appalachia are still alive and well in Floyd and those traditions have established a rich cultural soil from which new artistic energies are cultivated. 

A long-time resident of Floyd County, Avis McCutchan opened noteBooks in October 2003 to provide the local music and art community with the tools needed to accomplish their creative endeavors.  Additionally, noteBooks has a large collection of books, both fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages as well as unusual gift ideas and unique greeting cards.  Books and CDs by local authors and musicians are also available.   

In the spring of 2004, Avis and her family transformed the second floor of the building into Black Water Loft, a beverage and dessert shop.  The Loft also hosts a gallery for local artists and a small stage for weekend musicians. 

Taking pride in being a family-run business, with help from a few good friends, noteBooks and Black Water Loft take the time to treat their customers like family, too.  The old cedar building on Locust Street in downtown Floyd is a perfect union of rural attitudes and urban coffee shop culture.  The Loft, like Floyd itself, serves a diverse clientele of artists, farmers, and those just passing through on the Crooked Road.