Sanford Area Growth Alliance

????CUTTING THE RIBBON AT REFINED DESIGNS BOUTIQUE???? From her three beautifully decorated Christmas trees to the whimsical dresses she has on display, Refined Designs Home and Boutique’s Vanessa Stockton has made her slice of Historic Downtown Sanford a magical place for all things fashion and interior design! ?? As a Sanford native, Vanessa wanted to give back to her hometown. With the help of former Purple Poodle owner Nicole Allen, she saw an opportunity to make the space her own and opened Refined Designs. ??? Unique touches at the event included coffee and muffins from fellow Downtown destination Family Grounds and fun beverages for all! ?? Whether you’re looking for holiday decorations or a new cocktail dress, Refined Designs is the perfect place to shop for the season! ?? If you like what you see in the post above, be sure to pop by their store AND enter our Giveaway to win some of their ZENZII jewelry! ?? Thank you again to Vanessa and her team for including us in your special day! Congratulations! ?? #shopsmall #shoplocal #boutique #christmas #holidays #community

?? CONGRATULATIONS TO Tasting Queens Market ON THEIR RIBBON CUTTING! ?? Chef Shauna’s new space is definitely worth celebrating! We had the best time checking out this new business last night! Tasting Queen’s Market is truly a “foodie’s paradise!” From specialty spices to scented candles, Chef Shauna has a gift for everyone on your list. Some of our favorites included: ?? The fully stocked Caribbean Bakery, which features both sweet and savory options ?? Chef Shauna Creates mixes that make breakfasts and dinners a breeze (Tropical Mango and Guava Pancake and Waffle mix sounds like the perfect way to start the day) ?? The largest array of hot sauces and spreads we’ve ever seen ?? Unique loose-leaf herbal tea blends ??? Quirky food-themed art … and so much more! The event included samples of Chef Shauna’s creations, including spinach and rice, Caribbean chicken stew, stewed cabbage, plantains, Caribbean punch, and other goodies. Thank you for including us in your special day! We are your biggest fans! #shopsmall #smallbusiness #shoplocal #foodie #caribbean #yum #community

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS WHO JOINED IN OCTOBER! ?? Refined Designs Home & Boutique is the perfect place to find beautiful clothing, accessories, and decor. Visit their store in Downtown Sanford and contact them at 336.671.8511. ABC Supply Co. Inc. is a roofing supply store located on Colon Road. Contact them at 919.579.5656. Dan Martin Jewelers LLC. repairs and sells gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, including engagement rings. Contact them at 919.275.2994. The Web is a facility featuring batting cages, pitching machines, a plyo wall and workout station, and more. Contact them at 919.292.1113. Tri-River Consultants Brokered by eXp Realty is a local team of real estate experts. Contact them at 919.770.1475. Wilson Rd. Self Storage has units to fit your needs at affordable rates. Contact them at 919.776.0333. Congratulations, and thank you for joining the Chamber! #shopsmall #smallbusiness #celebrate

CONGRATULATIONS TO WANA NAVU KAVA BAR ON THEIR GRAND OPENING! ?? Wana Navu Kava Bar offers a variety signature Kava drinks ranging from clever mocktails to tasty teas that enhance your mood without altering your mind. ?? Kava is a plant that aids in relaxation, eases anxiety, and helps with sleep. Owners Casey Fox and Chloé Benhaim chose Sanford for their second location after opening a highly successful branch in Fayetteville. Their goal is to create an innovative and welcoming third space for those who want to enjoy an alcohol-free drink or a space to play board games, enjoy live music, and more. ???? We celebrated their grand opening with a Ribbon Cutting, where Chloe explained the benefits of kava and shared “shells” (cups) with guests, cheers-ing with the traditional Fijian term “bula.” Guests also enjoyed charcuterie cups from Chamber Member Restaurant the Debonair Chef, cookies from Chamber Member Restaurant Millie’s Mama Bakes, and coffee from Family Grounds. ??? If you’re looking to try something new, be sure to visit Wana Navu! They are open from 12 - 11 PM on weeknights and 12 PM - 1 AM weekends. #shopsmall #shoplocal #smallbusiness #kava #community #sanford #leecounty #northcarolina

CONGRATULATIONS, ELITE STORAGE! ?? We celebrated the opening of Elite Storage’s 4th location in Sanford and their 5th location total (with units located in Sanford and Greensboro) on Tuesday morning with a Ribbon Cutting. We enjoyed coffee, orange juice, and a variety of biscuits from Chamber Member Buttermilk Biscuit Bar before hearing from Chamber Director Susan Gomez and Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. Elite Storage offers a 10% discount to veterans, teachers, and first responders. They are currently running an Elite 50 special: customers get 50% off their temperature controlled storage units for the first 6 months of use! Thank you to all who came! #shopsmall #smallbusiness #storage #community #sanford #northcarolina #leecounty

MEET OUR 2024 Duke Energy Corporation CITIZENSHIP AWARD WINNER: Chadburn Spivey Every year at our Annual Meeting, SAGA honors an individual who helps foster a culture of citizenship and service that acts as a catalyst for others to become involved in civic and social activities and uses their time, talent, and compassion to positively affect the lives of others. Lee County native Chad Spivey was a perfect fit for the award. His love of our community is evident in his work in the following roles: - Mentor with Big Brother Program - Organized local roadside clean ups between Waste Management and Rotary - Organized a river access cleanup between TLC and Rotary - Helped restore the Christian United Outreach Center with Rotarians - Assisted with Rise Against Hunger disaster relief meal packaging events - Previous Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce Board Member - Previous Lee County Parks & Recreation Board Member and Board Chair - President of Jonesboro Rotary Club - Chairman of City Parks and Rec Board of Directors - Work volunteering with Lee County Schools Chad has also been an employee of Chamber Member Business Harris & Company Insurance Agency since 2017. Thank you for your contributions to our community, Chad! #citizenship #award #service #community #sanfordnc #leecountync

SAGA's Human Factor series has been an incredible way to connect with our community. Thank you to our Director of Business Retention and Expansion, Crystal Gaddy, and our Chamber Director, Susan Gomez, for your incredible work on this program! #HR #internship #pipeline

?? IYKYK: BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT KATHRYN’S HALLMARK ?? Last Thursday, we had our BEST Business After Hours raffle giveaway of the year at Kathryn’s Hallmark Cards. We gave away 20 gift bags over the course of the evening… we had a lucky winner every five minutes! ??? Guests enjoyed beer and wine from Chamber Member Camelback Brewing Company. ?? Chamber Member Gigi's Creations Catering provided two absolutely beautiful charcuterie boards… almost too pretty to eat! ???? Thank you to Owner Joe Purce and Manager Susan Bradley for welcoming us! We had the best time, and we appreciate your generosity every time you host this event! ?? If you are looking to get ahead with your holiday shopping, be sure to stop by Kathryn’s Hallmark for a variety of decorations, gifts, and cards for everyone on your list! ?? #shopsmall #shoplocal #charcuterie #gifts #holidays #christmas #community

?? HAPPY GRAND OPENING, Batteries Plus! ?? We had a fantastic time celebrating one of Sanford’s newest businesses, Batteries Plus, on Wednesday. The store has everything you need to power ? Your electronics ?? Your car ??? Your motorcycle ??? Your boat … and more! We enjoyed hearing from the new owners, the Mustaphas, about their journey to opening the store, and hearing words from the Mayor, Rebecca Wyhof Salmon. Speeches were followed by the official Ribbon Cutting, then a sub lunch catered by Chamber Member Restaurant Bubba’s Subs. Attendees took home gift bags complete with multiple types of batteries and candy! Thank you for having us help you celebrate your special day, Batteries Plus! #shopsmall #smallbusiness #community #chamberofcommerce #ribboncutting #sanford #leecounty #nc

???????? THERE’S MORE IN THE CORE ???????? Did you know that our region has won three of the top economic development projects two years in a row? We heard statistics like this one and more during Monday’s Public Policy Luncheon at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center during an insightful presentation from the NC Carolina Core’s Regional Economic Development Director, Loren Hill, as he discussed progress in job creation and economic development within our region. Our lunch, served by Chamber Member Gigi's Creations Catering, was delicious! We enjoyed: ?? Marinated Grilled Chicken ?? Garden Salad ?? Green Beans ?? Potato Casserole ?? Homemade Rolls ?? Peach Cobbler We hope to see you there in January! ?? #shopsmall #shoplocal #lunch #community #carolinacore #economicdevelopment #sanfordnc #leecounty #nc