About us
A Marriage Made in Almost Heaven
The F.A.R.M. is a unique destination, conveniently located on Main Street in Granville, that combines curated retail with creative culinary experiences. It is owned by Nikki Bowman Mills, founder of New South Media, and her husband, architect Michael Mills of the Mills Group.
In 2020, the Millses purchased 10 warehouses on Main Street in Granville, West Virginia, and created New South Square, which now includes New South Media’s headquarters, an event space called The Silo in the Square, This and That Bakery, and The F.A.R.M.
Nikki is a consummate entrepreneur and community champion. In 2008, Nikki, a West Virginia native from Clay County, founded New South Media, Inc. and published the first issue of WV Living magazine. Since then, she has launched multiple statewide and national publications, including WV Weddings, Morgantown, Explore, and WV Living Healthy, as well as a myriad of custom publications, travel guides, and initiatives like Turn This Town Around, West Virginia Wonder Women, Incredible Kids, Best of Morgantown, and Best of West Virginia. New South Media also manages the design and editorial for the state’s oldest magazine, Wonderful West Virginia. Her company’s mission is to create high-caliber publications that change the perceptions of West Virginia by championing the state with positive stories about our people, communities, and businesses.
Michael is the founding principal of the Mills Group. With more than 20 years of proven experience in historic preservation, architectural design, and planning, Michael inspires each Mills Group team member to approach architecture without arrogance but rather with a collaborative approach, building upon the talents of the staff and the vision of the clients. Michael’s expertise is a combination of his detailed knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation and his extensive experience working with historic structures. Michael has created historic design guidelines and has solved issues related to the revitalization of downtowns across the country.
Hailing from Bethel, Vermont, Michael was the first in his family to pursue a professional degree from a nationally recognized institution and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Building Science degree and a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree. After completing his education, Michael dedicated nearly nine years to architecture in Washington, DC and had the experience of working on some of the nation’s most prestigious cultural resources. Michael began his work in West Virginia on the historic B&O Railroad Station in Grafton and was offered the opportunity to become the Vandalia Heritage Foundation’s Director of Historic Preservation and Director of Planning. It was at Vandalia that Michael discovered a deep appreciation for the heritage of West Virginia and made the decision to start his own firm – focused on making a difference with the built environment in West Virginia.
Nikki is not just a media mogul. Michael is not just an architect. They are Appalachian ambassadors, and together they bring their passion for community-building to the Morgantown area with The F.A.R.M.