Iconic, Family-Owned Edwards Virginia Ham Smokehouse Suffers Catastrophic Fire, Shutting Down Operations Indefinitely

A major fire at the S. Wallace Edwards Smokehouse has shut down operations for Edwards Virginia Ham, the family-owned Virginia ham-maker that has been in business for nearly a century.

The beloved company was one of the largest employers in Surry County, Virginia, and Edwards' notable clients included chefs like David Chang of the Momofuku restaurants, and Sean Brock of Husk, as well as Dean & Deluca and Williams-Sonoma. In addition to its highly sought-after cured hams, the company was also known for its Surryano, a local version of Spain's serrano ham that was named after its hometown of Surry.

According to one local news outlet, the smokehouse was "fully engulfed" in fire by Tuesday afternoon, January 19, with "reports of explosions heard after the fire started." The full scope of the damage done by the fire remains unclear, but Edwards Virginia Smokehouse called the fire "catastrophic" in an official statement.

"We extend our gratitude to the community," said Sam Edwards III, the company's third-generation owner. "We are especially thankful for the numerous emergency response teams for their speedy and diligent work in difficult conditions. We are immeasurably thankful for the outpouring of support from across the country. With this support, we plan on rebuilding and continuing our family tradition."

The Edwards Virginia Smokehouse, along with the retail ham shops in Surry and Williamsburg, will remain closed until further notice.