Our view: Small businesses making strides in Crenshaw County
Published 12:00 pm Thursday, December 15, 2022
- The Busy Beans owner Julia Kirby enjoys making specialty drinks and visiting with regular customers like Katelyn McElwaney who drives up from Sardis for tea once or twice each week.
In recent months, several Crenshaw County residents have put their best foot forward when it comes to entrepreneurial endeavors.
Coco Momma’s, a restaurant in Highland Home owned by Ronald and Corinna Davis, reopened in October after closing in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic caught us all by surprise.
As the pandemic appears to recede, other businesses continue to pop up in the county.
Julia Kirby, a 20-year-old Crenshaw County native and former manager of Squadron Nutrition, purchased the store from then-owner Britt and rebranded it as The Busy Beans, a beverage shop selling energy teas, milkshakes, and many more products.
Kayla Hermeling, owner of the recently-opened Liv and Zoe Boutique, watched as her 8-year-old daughter Olivia cut the ribbon in front of her store Dec. 2 – the snip symbolizing the realization of a dream come true.
Operating a business can be a daunting task, but we commend these individuals, as well as the many other small businesses owners who are braving an economically-tough time to bring a variety of services to their communities.
As a community, we must all step up to the plate and support our businesses, especially those homegrown and locally-owned stores in town operated by our community members who’ve chosen to take a risk and invest in their hometowns.
We only get one life to make a positive impact wherever we reside, and people like Kirby, Hermeling, and the Davis family serve as examples of how taking a bold risk can benefit our county.