OPENING DAY OF TASTE UNLIMITED IN HILLTOP WEST, 1973.
BORN FROM A CRAVING TO BRING THE BEST FOOD TO HAMPTON ROADS.
When Peter Coe opened the first TASTE UNLIMITED as a wine & cheese shop in Virginia Beach in 1973, he set a course to invigorate the Coastal Virginia palate. Multiple generations of loyal fans have now embraced the opportunity to TASTE the Good Life.
In 2006, the Coe family passed stewardship of this iconic local business to the Pruden family, with their own rich history in the specialty food business as curers and packers of Virginia country hams for three generations. Through a senior management team with a combined 100 plus years in the trade, TASTE has been re-imagined as a contemporary and dynamic specialty food company and has grown to include many unique businesses.
At the end of 2024, we proudly became a 100% employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This milestone ensures that the people who bring TASTE to life each day—our team members—share directly in the success they help create.
Today each traditional TASTE location is part specialty foods market and part upscale café offering made to order salads, sandwiches & soups; small batch, from scratch housemade prepared & packaged foods; boutique wines & craft beers; specialty food & gift items; gourmet drop-off catering and convenient cafe catering.
All of these endeavors are united by our mission to Cultivate Community through The Good Life, with an unmatched guest experience offered in authentically local spaces that inspire the good life every day.
TASTE Pungo, our 10th location, opens in south Virginia Beach.
Chase Kopp is appointed president and CEO. Kopp is the youngest president in TASTE’s history, bringing a fresh perspective to leadership. Predecessor Jon Pruden transitions to the role of Executive Chairman.
TASTE becomes 100% employee owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Jon Pruden is elected Chairman of the Board of the Specialty Food Association.
Beloved legacy brand Rowena’s Cakes and Drizzles joins the TASTE family as a part of the TASTE Bakehouse.
TASTE Town Center opens in the heart of Virginia Beach; our fourth location in the city.
TASTE Westhampton opens in Richmond; the first location outside of Coastal Virginia.
Celebrated local caterer Cuisine and Company joins the TASTE family as a part of TASTE Catering, which today specializes in gourmet drop-off catering and convenient cafe catering.
TASTE is featured in Architectural Digest as Virginia’s Most Beautiful Independent Store.
After a six year absence, TASTE Ghent returns to Norfolk at its current location.
The TASTE Bakehouse launches, providing made-from-scratch baked goods to TASTE stores, TASTE Catering, and TASTE Online.
Headquarters moves to Virginia Beach. The location includes the TASTE Kitchen, TASTE Bakehouse, TASTE Specialty Catering kitchen, Warehouse & Corporate Offices.
Peter Coe is inducted posthumously into the Specialty Food Hall of Fame.
TASTE Harbour View opens in Suffolk in the Riverfront Shoppes.
TASTE UNLIMITED rebrands as TASTE. The Good Life is born.
TASTE expands to the Peninsula, opening TASTE City Center in Newport News.
TASTE UNLIMITED is recognized nationally as an "Outstanding Retailer" by the Specialty Food Association, and both TASTE and Rowena's are recognized as a "Retailer of the Year" by the Retail Alliance.
Father and son Peter & Jon Pruden purchase TASTE UNLIMITED. Peter Coe continues in the business until his death in 2011.
TASTE Greenbrier opens in Chesapeake.
Rowena Fullinwider—a baker, single mom, scientist, and celebrated entrepreneur—opened the beloved Norfolk brand Rowena's with her trademark cake. Rowena's joins the TASTE Bakehouse in 2020.
TASTE Oceanfront opens at its current address at 36th & Pacific.
TASTE Bayville Farms opens at the former Bayville Farms Dairy Farm on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach.
Louise Nagourney opened her Pacific Avenue specialty food retail shop, Pasta & Company, which later became Cuisine & Company; a premier caterer that joins TASTE Catering in 2019.
TASTE UNLIMITED is founded by Peter Coe at Hilltop West in Virginia Beach.
