VINEMONT, Ala. – Thanks to a partnership with The Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center, known as “The E-Center,” three small business owners from South Vinemont have moved into their very own storefront.
A 10-foot pastel sign along U.S. Highway 31 denotes where the journey of a lifetime began for the three Vinemont residents. Tucked behind Haven Counseling Services is a small red building that now houses the Shops of Vinemont. The newly opened storefront houses three businesses, all under one roof. Katie Westmoreland owns Katie’s Gourds & More; Lucretia Echols is the owner of Details & Do-Hickies; and Angela Corscadden is the purveyor behind Where Did You Get That?
Vinemont Town Councilman Chris Thompson, who also owns the popular Man Cave Market, knows that his northern slice of the county has big things in store. He mused, “Cullman is growing, and that momentum is moving into Vinemont. We are so happy to be able to foster this project and shine a light on the entrepreneurs in our community.”
The E-Center partners with the USDA, offering small-scale entrepreneurs financial backing to get their small business into a brick-and-mortar storefront.
The E-Center Executive Director John Joseph IV said of the quaint but mighty town of South Vinemont, “We asked South Vinemont to partner with us because of the presence of creative, well-branded businesses like Man Cave Market, The Butcher Meat Co. and more.” A thriving community is imperative when kick-starting a business, something Joseph said Vinemont is. “The community clearly has momentum, and we wanted to support the good things already happening.”
Entering into the Shops of Vinemont is nothing like entering into a run-of-the-mill vendor shop; upon walking through the door, guests enter into a gourd lovers’ paradise. There are gourds of all shapes, sizes and varieties. Some are on shelves as decorative items, each handcrafted, carved or painted to fit any aesthetic. Westmoreland said she caught the gourd bug at a gourd show and decided to grow the squash relative to stock her own crafting room, quickly outgrowing the space available in her home. Katie’s Gourds & More has the potential to expand and Westmoreland is looking to the future.
“With gourds, there are over 700 varieties so there is an unlimited canvas,” Westmoreland said. “I would love to host classes for the community, and we might be able to do that in the future.”
Details and Do-Hickies is the next small business housed at the Shops of Vinemont. As an avid collector, Echols has plans to keep her tables and booths stocked with vintage finds, eclectic upcycles and handcrafted décor items reminiscent of childhood memories. “It’s details and do-hickies that you would find, and want to take home,” she said. “A lot of it is thrift and second-hand finds now, but we will be adding more crafted things in the near future.”
Corscadden said of Where Did You Get That? “My shop will be a versatile mix of old and new. There will be something for everyone.” An eye for detail is needed when selecting items to feature in her shop, something she takes seriously. When scouting for items to fill the shelves of her storefront, Corscadden looks for things that are new with tags, discounted past-season items and even a few goods from local craftsmen, Kustom Kreations and Side Quest Scents.
The Shops of Vinemont is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., and is located at 18305 U.S. Highway 31 in Vinemont.
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