Sep 30, 2009

Downtown sees business growthBy Michael DeVaultFranklinSun.com

Tuesday morning, Scott and Andrea Smith were enjoying a cup of coffee in one of Winnsboro’s newest businesses.

The couple were just one of several patrons of M&M Coffee House and Antiques, a new shop on Prairie Street.

The Smiths live nearby and said they have enjoyed walking to the shop and visiting with people since Mike and Maggie Griffin opened for business last week.

M&M Coffee House is just one of a spate of new businesses in Winnsboro’s thriving downtown — and that’s good news to Winnsboro Main Street manager Kay LaFrance-Knight.

“Isn’t it wonderful!” said LaFrance-Knight, who added she was “tickled pink” with recent growth in the historic downtown.

LaFrance-Knight said the new shops represent many new opportunities for area shoppers to keep retail dollars in the community.

“We can find more and more things right here, downtown, rather than go to the mall in Monroe,” LaFrance-Knight said.

The Griffins say the reception their new shop has received has been “just excellent.”

“We couldn’t have wished for a better beginning,” said Maggie Griffin.

Maggie has been in Winnsboro just 18 months. She moved to the region from Perth, Australia after marrying her husband, Mike.

Across the street from the coffee house, local realtor Kathy Morris has opened The Painted Pony.

Morris said her new store is a gift shop and home décor boutique specializing in “unique” décor items.

Morris said The Painted Pony specializes in Western home décor and gifts for western enthusiasts.

“We’re trying to build a really different stock from what some of the other shops in the area have,” said Morris.

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