Category: Business Spotlight

    When I was a kid, I found my small town to be quite boring. Raised in Marion, South Carolina, it was often considered a treat to visit Florence and especially Myrtle Beach. Throughout the years, I would often meet people who weren’t from “around these parts.” I’ll never forget the cool new girl who arrived to my school in eighth grade. Cool simply because she came from California. When I was told this information, I asked what I have always asked when someone arrives in South Carolina – “Why in the world did you want to come here?” This state was all I knew, and I just couldn’t imagine someone wanting to come here, especially from the glamorous California.

    Hartsville resident Brad Carr ended up here in South Carolina after spending a portion of his childhood in Louisiana. When he turned 18, Brad started baking as a hobby. Inspired by the idea of creating the perfect chocolate chip cookie, Brad had two other important ingredients at hand – the unconditional love and support of his parents, who were excited to see their son’s passion begin to develop. After working in local restaurants and bakeries to gain experience, Brad began to craft some pretty delectable recipes of his own. Brad spent some time in the University of South Carolina’s Culinary Arts Program, but it’s his work experience at these local businesses that have helped him mold his craft the most. “In the early days, I had friends that were chefs. They would give me feedback and help develop recipes. Those were fun times!”

    Brad decided to follow his heart and build a baking business. And so the magic began on Griggs Circle! “When I first had the idea of starting a bakery, we planned to feature a small variety of breads and pastries at various farmers’ markets around the Pee Dee. I would bake late at night and into the early mornings to have enough products to sell at the markets the next day.” Brad and his wife Kimberly soon transformed the den of their home into a packaging area. “It’s pretty crazy to look back and see how much stuff I baked in our little residential oven for those markets.” By October 2016, Brad and Kimberly opened Griggs Circle Bakery in Hartsville. “We decided to open a store for a few reasons. First, we were outgrowing our home. Second, we saw that there was a market for our type of bakery in Hartsville and we felt we had an adequate customer base to get it off the ground. And lastly, we needed to move into a commercial facility so we could produce a wider range of products.”

    The folks in Hartsville were eager to try Brad’s delicious items and he and Kimberly welcomed the success with open arms and humble hearts. He admits owning his own business has been a humbling experience, as he has learned to be grateful for any support received from family, friends, and the community of Hartsville. “I’m super grateful for the awesome people at Main Street who were instrumental in helping us get started. We have good relationships with the people in city management that support our dreams. The Chamber of Commerce also helps us out a ton.” According to Brad, there are a lot of awesome new things in Hartsville to experience and plenty to be proud of, as the city is constantly growing. However, what he and Kimberly cherish most is being a part of One Church Hartsville. “Those great people have been the most loving and supportive community we can ask for.”

    At Griggs Circle Bakery, you can find many delicious items to satisfy your sweet tooth. There are multiple different types of cookies to choose from (including gluten-free options), muffins, Danish, scones, Rice Krispies Treats, brownies, blondies, pies, cupcakes, cakes… The list goes on! All items are beautiful and eye catching, guaranteed to make your mouth water and stomach growl in anticipation. I can’t forget to mention the bread Brad and his team make. From Everything Bagels to focaccia, spinach artichoke, rolls and more, the only challenging aspect of walking in Griggs Circle Bakery is deciding which one to try! If you’re in the mood for something different, the bakery now offers lunch boxes that include your choice of sandwich, side, and a fresh baked cookie. They’ve also started a weekly bread subscription that bundles together different types of breads for a flat weekly rate. Out of all of the items he makes, however, Brad most enjoys creating custom birthday cakes. “When someone brings me an idea for a cake, such as a theme or a specific style, I love being able to create the cake they describe to me.” If you happen to visit their Facebook page, you’ll see not only the baked goods offered, but also pictures of the wonderful cakes this talented soul has created. And in case you were wondering, he has most definitely created the perfect chocolate chip cookie!

    In addition to running his own business and playing an active role in his church, Brad is also the father of Alice Belle and newborn Charlie. All of which he admits occasionally requires lots of prayer and faith! But thankfully, he has quite the support system to help him navigate through waters that can be bit rougher than others. “I have an awesome staff that are all rock stars. My wife is a champion; she’s an encouragement and a strong, amazing woman. I have a solid community of friends and family. We all go through good seasons and tough seasons. But, tough seasons don’t last forever and I feel that it’s how you come out of them that determine what kind of person you are.” His parents continue to inspire him today, as well as his in-laws. “They have all worked hard for everything they have. They value honesty, faith, and determination. They’re the kind of people I aspire to be one day.”

    I’ve known Brad for several months now and I’m blessed to not only have trained under his mentorship but to also call him a friend. I can honestly say he’s the sort of person I aspire to be one day. And while I asked him when we first met why he wanted to live in such a small town, I’ve realized now that it’s people like Brad who are the secret ingredient in the charm of these small towns. The type of people who are warm and welcoming, gracious and forgiving… And leave a little bit of love and light everywhere they go, making the community and the world a much “sweeter” place to be.

Griggs Circle Bakery | 116 N 5th St, Hartsville | 843.309.9375 | griggscirclebakery.com

    With her creative talent, Ashley LeSage crochets a variety of original handmade pieces. What started as a hobby turned into more with the start of Ashley Aesthetic, LLC. Originally from Storrs, Connecticut, Ashley came to Hartsville to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Dance at Coker College. Ashley loves the small, close knit environment of Coker College and the city of Hartsville. In fact, she even stayed in Hartsville after graduating in 2015, as she had both a full-time and part-time position lined up in dance education. Along with running Ashley Aesthetic LLC, she is a dance teacher at Thornwell School for the Arts and a dance instructor at MOVE Dance Academy in Hartsville.

    Ashley taught herself how to crochet the summer going into her junior year of college. “I wanted to find something I could do between classes or in the little free time I had that made money,” shares Ashley. “Both my junior and senior year I sold hats, headbands, and scarves to make a little extra money and to relieve any school related stress.” After leaving it alone for about two years, Ashley suddenly shifted her focus and picked it back up again, this time in full force with the creation of new items. Ashley created crocheted tops, blankets, and even monster slippers, which were a major product that pushed her to start her business. “Last November I had a friend who asked me to make monster slippers for her daughter, so I found a pattern, adjusted it to make it my own, and crocheted them.” After that, Ashley continued to take special requests which have become very popular. With the development of an Etsy shop online, she was sending her creations to places as far as California, Arizona, and Hawaii. “The Christmas season was insane! My hands and wrists would be sore from crocheting, yet I was never sick of it,” says Ashley “Creating something from just yarn and a hook is still fascinating to me.” In January of 2018 she finally turned her hobby into a real business and registered Ashley Aesthetic as a single member LLC. Since then she has attended numerous festivals, farmers markets, and has continued with online sales.

    In addition to taking special requests, Ashley Aesthetic continues to offer a wide variety of items in stock. Ashley explains, “My favorite thing to do is make new items. Currently some of the more recent items I have added to my collections are baby bibs, baby booties, purses/bags, anklets, rugs, and pillows. I am always adding new items and changing things up.” Ashley’s dream is to own her own store full of all of her work. She hopes to turn her side business into a full-time career in the future.

To check out Ashley’s work, visit her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/theashleyaesthetic or to contact Ashley regarding custom made items, email her at ashleyaestheticllc@gmail.com.

    Anderson Brothers Bank is a full-service community bank offering a complete range of competitive loan services and deposit products. Founded in 1933, the family-owned bank blends the elements of traditional personal service, local market awareness, and advanced technology to meet the financial needs of its customers. Anderson Brothers Bank has a total of 23 branches in 16 communities throughout the Pee Dee, Coastal, and Low Country regions of South Carolina. Their Main office is located at 101 North Main Street in Mullins.

    Anderson Brothers Bank has continued to strengthen its presence by opening new branches in the area. The ground breaking at the Grissom Parkway location in Myrtle Beach was held on June 29 with hopes to have the office open by fall of 2019. The new office will replace the small temporary that is located on Oleander in Myrtle Beach. They currently have four locations along the Grand Strand.

    Additionally, there are now two offices in Dillon County. The Latta Office was opened over a year ago and most recently, the Dillon Office. Johnny Floyd, VP Marion County Executive, shares, “The citizens of Dillon County expressed an interest in having a community bank, and we listened. We felt there was a need for a community bank in Dillon County and are looking forward to being a big part of the Dillon County community. The citizens response to both locations has been phenomenal and we appreciate the warm reception. The opening of the SC Inland Port in Dillon County will create numerous opportunities for the citizens as well as business community in Dillon County. The county will be transformed in the coming years, and we’re excited about the opportunity to be a part of that transformation.”

    Blake Pate is the owner of the newly re-built Chick-fil-A on David H. McLeod Boulevard in Florence, known as the West Florence FSU location. After two years running as a Drive Thru Only location, the restaurant recently shut down for a rebuild in order to open as a dine-in facility to better accommodate the volume of customers. Blake was born and raised in Florence, graduated from Wilson High School and attended the University of South Carolina where he double majored in Marketing and Management. He is happily married to his wife, Annie, who is also a Florence native.

    Blake has numerous years of experience with the brand. He began working at Chick-fil-A when he turned 15. His first job was at the Chick-fil-A inside Magnolia Mall working for his father, David Pate. David Pate brought Chick-fil-A to Florence in 1979 and was an Operator for 38 years. Blake had the pleasure and opportunity of taking over the Mall store from his father in 2009. After running the Mall Chick-fil-A for 6 years, he moved outside and took over the Magnolia Mall Drive Thru Only Chick-fil-A when his father retired.

    Prior to the new building, Chick-fil-A existed on the corner of David H. McLeod Blvd as the Magnolia Mall Drive Thru Only location, which was built in 1994. “We have been trying to expand the Drive Thru for as many as 6 years,” explains Blake. “The DTO (Drive Thru Only) concept did not offer the type of service our customers have come to expect, so we knew we needed to change. A single entrance and exit, coupled with barely enough square feet to house our staff prompted our expansion. That and the fact that you couldn’t even get onto the parking lot on a busy day!” Expanding the restaurant was a tedious process, and they shut down for a necessary rebuild. Construction began February of 2018 and ended in May of 2018, with the whole process taking around four months total. For Blake, it seemed like ages! “To the community at large, it seems like it went up in the matter of a few days. However, when you are working right beside it, it seems like it takes forever. The anticipation and buzz it created was worth it, even with having a giant fence right next to us. People had been begging us for a change for so long. It was great to finally be able to show them something was happening.”

     The restaurant reopened on June 21, 2018 with a facility big enough to handle the volume of customers. “It will take some time for us to become proficient in a brand-new restaurant, but we are confident we built the store big enough this time,” says Blake. “It has been a huge boon to our employees. Not only has the size of the kitchen tripled, but we have brand new canopies outside over our order-taking areas that are equipped with fans and heaters which keep our employees at a comfortable temperature no matter the time of the year! That allows us to be outside, serving guests face-to-face, and giving them an experience they can’t get anywhere else.” The restaurant includes a beautiful dining room with a play area attached for out-of-town guests, travelers, and locals to enjoy.

    Blake truly appreciates his Chick-fil-A team and the positive influence they have on every customer they come in contact with. “I have been blessed to work with some of the most hard-working, dedicated, and gracious people throughout my life. I have employees that have worked at Chick-fil-A for around 35 years! Some of my employees babysat me when I was a kid, if you can believe it!” Blake believes the new store is just as much for them as it is for their customers. “Providing them with the space and tools necessary to do their jobs to the best of their ability has been awesome.  After working in the Drive Thru for the past couple of years, the new building is amazing and the team sure does seem to enjoy it!”

2701 West David McLeod Blvd, Florence

(843) 665-1512 | www.chick-fil-a.com

Mon-Sat 6:30 am – 10 pm, Closed Sunday

Download the Chick-fil-A App for faster service!

    Planning a wedding can be overwhelming to say the least. However, Andrea Knapp and Stephanie Forte have had years of experience in creating the special day. In 2015, Andrea and Stephanie decided it was time to share their expertise, as well as the expertise of many local wedding professionals, with brides throughout the Pee Dee by hosting a wedding expo, Savvy Soiree Wedding and Event Showcase. Join us as we venture into the minds and backgrounds of these skilled wedding professionals.

VIP: “Tell us a little about yourselves.”

Andrea: “I moved to the U.S. almost 20 years ago and became a citizen in 2009. I have been a professional photographer for 14 years and am the owner of ‘Photographs by Andrea.’ As a wedding and portrait photographer, I have shot 25 to 30 weddings each year.”

Stephanie: “I’m lead planner at Elegant Events, a wedding and event planning company. I became a certified wedding and event planner shortly after moving to Columbia 13 years ago. I’m originally from Johnsonville so we work a lot in the Pee Dee area because it’s still home to me. Seeing a wedding or event come together and executed flawlessly is one of my greatest joys.”

VIP: “How did the two of you meet?”

Stephanie: “We met through a wedding vendor forum online right after Andrea moved to S.C. She was searching for area wedding vendors to network with and we QUICKLY became GREAT friends. We have worked a couple of weddings together as vendors, Andrea as the photographer and I as the wedding planner.”

Andrea: “During this time we also attended and participated in many wedding shows in S.C. and N.C. We quickly realized that we weren’t happy with the way those shows were being produced or the way we were treated as wedding experts. We knew that we could do better by producing well-rounded shows.”

Stephanie: “While being vendors, we also learned that we didn’t only want to cater to the needs of brides and grooms, but also to the industry experts. We wanted to do everything we could to get their businesses known to people that need their services.”

VIP: “How is the success of Savvy Soiree?”

Andrea: “Each one has been more successful than the previous one! We have industry experts that showcase with one show and immediately sign up for the following one, which is a testament to our success. The feedback from not only the experts who showcase with us, but also the brides confirms this. We have brides and grooms that have been to one show recommending the follow up shows to their recently engaged friends.”

Stephanie: “We are excited to take the show on the road this August to The R.O.B. in Lake City! Our next expo, August 5th, will be our first show outside of Florence. Seth Kines and the team at Visit Lake City have been wonderful to work with.”

Hunter Seafood Co.

 Providing Healthy, Fresh, and Delicious Seafood

Duncan Hunter grew up with a great appreciation for the outdoors and all that comes with it, including fresh seafood. With a strong upbringing founded on eating whatever game your harvest or whatever fish you catch, he developed a strong interest in fishing, hunting, and spending time with mother nature. Duncan realized if he did not catch fresh seafood himself to prepare, then he would have a difficult time finding it within Hartsville. With that being said, Hunter Seafood Co. opened its doors mid June providing fresh, local seafood for Hartsville and surrounding areas.

Duncan grew up in Hartsville and attended Presbyterian College after graduating from Hartsville High School. He lived multiple places after college, but eventually settled back in his roots in Hartsville. Duncan has been married for ten years to his wife, Karen Hunter. They have two children, Campbell and Kate. Duncan has always been in the sales and service industry, and enjoys interacting with the public. For years, he felt there was a need for fresh seafood in the community and pondered the idea of opening a seafood market. With a love for fishing and working with people, plus endless encouragement and support from his family, he finally brought his idea to life.

Duncan states his main goal with Hunter Seafood Co. is to “provide seafood for the community that is as fresh and as local as possible.” Hunter Seafood Co. offers fresh seafood options daily. Items offered vary, but have included everything from crawfish and crab legs, to tuna, sea bass, and more. Take-out meals are offered during lunch hours four days a week and have been extremely popular thus far. The lunch menu offers a little bit of everything, from salmon caesar salad to fish tacos, plus different weekly specials. The store also includes retail items such as seasonings, spices, sauces, and supplies. There are even shirts and hats printed with the Hunter Seafood Co. brand logo available for purchase.

The business has only been open for about a month and is still working on improvements. “We are always willing to listen to supportive comments, as well as constructive criticism. The community seems to be happy that we are here. That is a win-win situation for all involved.”

Hartsville is not too far from the coast, but Hunter Seafood Co. is conveniently bringing specialty seafood to Hartsville so it is available for locals to enjoy more often. “An option for healthy, fresh, delicious seafood is something Hartsville deserves and has not really been an option in the past. I am proud to say that it is now a reality.”