About the Owners

Laura Weigand

Recently returning to her home-state Virginia, Laura brought with her an entrepreneurial vision and a degree in Small Business Management. Having developed the concept and business plan for Live Local-ISH™ many years ago but not quite sure of how to put it into action, Laura spoke with her neighbor, Ellen O’Brien, one day and VIOLA!, a partnership was formed. Ellen is the one person who saw the same vision and together, they put it into action. Thus, Live Local-ISH™, LLC was born as the concierge service that Inspires Shore Hospitality and provides a boots-on-the-ground concept for self-managed vacation homeowners in and around the Cape Charles area.

Expounding on the concept of keeping the economy local, supporting the arts and providing local job opportunities, Local-ISH™ Art was born as a retail art gallery. Laura has an extensive background in community engagement and management; thus, has learned to be able to create a sense of community among all people. Laura happily lives with her wife, Michele Molina (an artist in the gallery, MichMoArt), and 5 furbabies in their home in Cape Charles, Virginia. They also own Drizzles, a gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting room, also located on the hip new Strawberry Street. Stop in and visit their shops!

Ellen O’Brien

Ellen has been part of the Cape Charles community since 2014. Living here full time since 2017, she is driven to give back to the town that has offered her so much and asked for nothing in return. She is an artist at heart and values the creativity of artists. The concept of Local-ISH™ Art was hatched when she and her business partner, Laura Weigand, walked into 22 Strawberry. The large windows, natural light and high ceilings screamed art gallery….a Local-ISH™ Art gallery, for the artists and artisans of the Eastern Shore. The co-operative concept followed to offer the Cape Charles community and its visitors an opportunity to become more familiar with the culture of the Eastern Shore shared through local art.

Ellen spent the next few months seeking out artisans on the shore and was touched by their excitement and willingness to help make it happen! Ellen struggles to speak about the gallery without giving thanks to the friends, artists and local business who support Live Local-ISH™ and Local-ISH™ Art gallery. “This is a group effort and Laura and I are both excited to offer the artists a spot back in the commercial district of Cape Charles, it is the artists that contribute to, and continue to share the history of the shore through their art. We are forever thankful for the Local Love shared in this community, there really is no place like Cape Charles.”

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