Bourbon, Bites, & Cozy Vibes at Nomad in Middleburg
Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Shannon Ayres
Middleburg residents and visitors strolling down Madison Street late last summer undoubtedly noticed the sudden appearance of a camel banner hanging down the side of what once was Old Ox Brewery. For a time, the camel yielded little to no information, but stirred up excitement for what was to come to the vacant and expansive space between The Community Shop and The Accidental Peacock.
Soon the name “Nomad” was buzzing around town, and the Instagram account Middleburg Nomad posted a photo of a worldly-looking man with the vague but exhilarating promise of “Coming Soon.”
“The looming mystery of the floating camel in the sky a lot of people asked about. The sign was up for months building anticipation,” shares Dillon Baird, Nomad’s manager. He continues, “As soon as it was open, there was kind of this [sense] of mystery… We did this low-key.”
The theme of keeping things “low-key” perhaps stems from the owners of Nomad, one of whom kindly accepted Middleburg Life’s request for an interview, but asked to remain unnamed. The other owner is Bob Coonce, a Middleburg resident with a passion for good bourbon.
During Nomad’s soft launch over Oktoberfest weekend, guests to the bar learned that Coonce’s love of bourbon would be at the heart of Nomad’s offerings, in addition to craft cocktails, tasty small plates, and a relaxed atmosphere.
“We’re selling top-shelf bourbons,” Baird shares, “and great beer selections with skilled bartenders.”
The food menu currently features bar bites like fresh popcorn with clarified butter or Bavarian pretzels, small plates like baked mac n’ cheese, curried chicken salad sandwiches, and even sweets including banana pudding gelato and milkshakes. Looking ahead, Nomad’s unnamed owner adds, “Nomad will begin offering seasonal eats and a strong showing of Southern cuisine, all specifically paired to great bourbon and whiskey.”
While quality bourbon and tasty dishes are key ingredients to a great hangout spot, the team at Nomad might argue that atmosphere is just as important. Baird explains, “When people ask, ‘What is your mission statement?’ it feels a little cheesy or on the nose, but I say, ‘When you walk in, it’s like a pair of jeans that fits just right.’”
He continues, “It doesn’t feel like you are walking into some hoity-toity cocktail bar… I dig that there’s no pressure … no feeling like you don’t fit in. It reminds me of hanging out at a friend’s house.”
And Nomad’s co-owner offers, “We wanted to create a space where people were very comfortable coming in and spending a couple of hours in a warm, cozy space.”
The intimacy of the expansive bar and squashy booths is aided by vintage décor and a curated jazz playlist. Baird, a musician by day, says, “I call it dark club, low-lit jazz. It just feels like you are in a different time period.” He laughs, “I had nothing to do with the music choice, ironically. But as a millennial, I am just here to promote the vibe.”
Baird’s partner in vibe promotion is also his girlfriend, Katie Juneau. He says, “She is the linchpin to the whole operation… She manages the back of the house, basically. She does admin work, she does the scheduling. She is a machine.” Baird adds, “I’m training her to bartend, and she’s killing it.”
So why the name Nomad? Well, in part, it speaks to the nature of the clientele in Middleburg, according to the bar’s co-owner. He shares, “Middleburg is unique. There is an aspect of a nomadic lifestyle… People come to Middleburg to find something they can’t find anywhere else.” He continues, “We had a few names we were throwing around, but we kept coming back to Nomad.”
And for Baird, “It’s a philosophy of not being afraid to go outside of your little square.” Of the camel, he adds, “A lot of people seek Middleburg out as a destination … and it’s a symbol of, ‘You’re welcome here.’”
For those who have yet to discover Nomad, it’s certainly worth investigating for its many uses as a local lounge, serving predinner drinks and midafternoon snacks, or as a bourbon destination, according to Baird. As he puts it, “If someone likes the bar and likes the vibe and is feeling like the pair of jeans fits just right, then we’ve done our job.” ML
Published in the January 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.