In 1873, Thomas H. Walker purchased just under 100 acres of land from John Webster and began building on the property.[1] By the following year, he had completed construction of buildings valued at $3,000, likely a farmhouse and farm buildings.[2]

Twenty years later, likely in late 1892 or early 1893, Thomas Walker, or his son Clarence M. Walker, constructed, in the southeast corner of his lot, a structure that functioned as a store on the lower level and a residence on the upper level. The building value of this structure was assessed at $500.[3]

It is supposed that Clarence Walker was operating the store and resided there with his family. The Floris post office began operating in the store in January 1900 when Clarence Walker was placed in charge of the office.[4] Previously, when the post office address was Frying Pan, the postmaster was George A. Albaugh.[5] The Walkers used their home as a summer retreat for Washingtonians who objected to having their mail delivered to a post office named Frying Pan, so the Walkers used their influence to have the post office address changed to Floris, Virginia.[6] Oral tradition asserts that bars were placed on the windows for security of the post office. The window bars can be seen in early photos of the store.

Walker operated a general store. In 1906, he advertised for a clerk to assist him in the store.

Clerk Wanted – Young man from 18 to 25 years of age to assist me in my General Store. Must be strictly temperate. Salary very reasonable if satisfactory. – C. M. Walker Floris, Va Aug 31[7]

Clarence Walker purchased the corner of the his fathers lot in 1901. The lot totaled 20,000 square feet and had 100’ of road frontage. (The parcel dimensions were 100’ x 200’)[8] Immediately, he began construction of a residential addition on the north of the store.

Mr. C.M. Walker is building a pretty new house adjoining his store…Mrs. C.M. Walker and little son, who have been spending some time in Herndon, are at home again. Mrs. Walker’s health is much improved.[9]

Various proprietors rented the building and operated their store business there. Messrs. Orrison, Kirk, and Armfield were the proprietors for relatively short periods of time during the first quarter of the twentieth century.

Armfield attempted to sell his business in March of 1925.

Floris Store Selling Out…Entire Stock at Cost for Cash…Ladies’ and Gents’ Shoes, Rubbers Goods…Dry Goods, Notions and Hardware…[10]

He was finally successful in April of 1926 when he sold his stock of goods to C. M. Bowman.

Mr. C.M. Bowman, of Ashburn, has purchased the business at Floris formerly conducted by Mr. E. M. Armfield, and is laying in a new stock of groceries and dry goods.[11]

Mr. C. M. Bowman rented the store building from the Walker family until 1932 when his son, Arlis Bowman, assumed management of the business. During this time, C. M. Bowman sold a wide variety of general merchandise.

FOR SALE – 50 bu. Good Irish Seed Potatoes, at $1.50 per bu., different kind; yellow buff. Orpington Eggs, $1.00 per setting; new and second hand Furniture; Bed and Springs, second, $2.50; New Simmons Beds, $7.50; Mattresses, $3.00 to $5.00; Dresses, $7.50 to $10.00; food Piano, $40.00, and other Furniture at low prices.   C. M. Bowman, R.1, Herndon, Va.[12]

C. M. Bowman  Floris   General Merchandise   New and Used Furniture Lowest Prices[13]

For Sale  Burroughs Adding Machine on stand, $35; Remington Typewriter, $8; Victrola, $5; new D. tube Atwater Kent Radio, $35 – all in good shape. Also all kinds of Furniture for sale – C.M. Bowman Herndon, Va.[14]

Arlis Bowman and his wife Dorothy F. Bowman, after having run the business for three years, purchased the store building in 1935 and continued to operate the store for another twenty years. In April of 1936, about two years after the repeal of prohibition, Bowman applied for an on sale beer license for his place of business so that he could sell beer to be consumed on the premises.[15] Bowman store was a social gathering place to discuss politics, local activities, and for school children to gather while waiting for the school bus. Bowman once wrote:

At the store local residents could purchase gas, bread, a variety of canned foods, kerosene, soda pop, shoe laces, candy and various other items. In addition, we bought and sold used furniture. We had an older gentleman who worked with us a number of years who became a special community resident. Mr. Pace was well known to many, and was a friend to the children who came to the store for candy and pop... [16]

A 1946 newspaper sales advertisement labeled the business Bowman’s Furniture Store.

Bowman’s Furniture Store   Floris, near Herndon, Va. New bedroom furniture, Simmon’s Springs and Mattresses, USED FURNITURE BOUGHT AND SOLD Free Delivery GENERAL ELECTRIC APPLIANCES Phone Herndon 27-W-3[17]

Robert Bowman, Arlis and Dorothy Bowman’s son, purchased the store in 1955. He operated the store until 1990 when he moved from the area.[18]

From 1990 to 2008, Curtis Holdaway operated a new and used furniture business at the store. In 2008 the building was demolished due to the widening of Centreville Road.