Recently voted #1 Best Convenience Store Food, Best Fried Chicken, and Best Gas Station by the Lake Anna community in Best of Lake Anna 2025, Elk Creek Country Store has a historic heartbeat with a modern soul.

“When I first came to the lake in 2013, I fell in love with it immediately,” says Mike Rassiwalla.
That first impression was all it took for Mike to imagine a future in the Lake Anna community. Just a year later, he officially took ownership of Elk Creek Country Store—a place with deep roots and endless potential. “The store was in a bit of rough shape,” Mike recalls, “but I loved it.”

Originally built around 1904, Elk Creek began its life as a post office, later transforming into a feed store before being remodeled into a convenience store and gas station in 1985. It was named after the nearby Elk Creek, now part of Lake Anna’s waters. Mike is the seventh owner since its gas station days, and under his leadership—with General Manager Terry Snyder—it has become something more than a fuel stop.

“I don’t want to be known as a gas station,” Mike says. “I want people to come here for the food—really good food—and then say, oh, by the way, they sell gas too.”

And that’s exactly what’s happening. Elk Creek Country Store has become known for its fresh, made-to-order meals, pizza and wings, seasonal produce, and especially its award-winning fried chicken. “The food is our focus,” Mike explains. “We get local honey, and when we can, we bring in tomatoes and other produce. We try to keep it fresh and relevant.”

Part of the store’s success is its ability to offer a city-level experience without losing small-town charm. “We get a lot of visitors from Northern Virginia,” Mike says. “They’re used to certain standards, and we want to provide that quality without them having to leave the lake. But we also want to preserve the character of the building and its history.”

Regulars love it for more than just the food. One long-time customer, Joey, made a lasting impact. “He always told me, ‘You and Terry are good people. The prices are fair, and you treat people with respect. That’s why I keep coming back.’” When Joey passed away recently, Elk Creek provided chicken for his funeral service at Elk Creek Baptist Church.

Terry has helped lead that transformation since she joined in 2021. “Bringing Terry in has been one of my proudest decisions,” Mike says. “She’s helped refine our selection, source new vendors, and she has a heart for giving back.” Whether it’s donating to the Humane Society, the local food bank, or catering events like the February gathering at The Waters, Elk Creek doesn’t just serve customers—it serves the community.

The store continues to grow and adapt, most recently adding a slushy machine and soon, a new “bean-to-cup” coffee station for fresh, on-demand brews. “It’s the little things,” Mike adds, “that make people’s day better.”

Looking to the future, Mike envisions Elk Creek Country Store becoming more of a go-to food destination than ever before. “Five years from now, I want people to think of us as a place to grab great food—maybe gas, too—but mostly a place they enjoy coming back to.”

Jen Bailey

Hi! I’m Jennifer Bailey and I partner with entrepreneurs who have massive ideas that could change the world. Most marketing is meaningless. Filled with empty promises, its only job is to bring in new traffic, new leads, and new customers. But I’ve drawn a line in the sand, and I’ve learned that marketing can do so much more than reach business goals and build profit. My methods give businesses the fire and soul they need to reach the right people, set the groundwork for sustainable relationships, and offer true value to the people on both the giving and receiving ends of marketing.

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