Retail shopping event to boost small businesses in Hartsville

The push to draw new business to Hartsville and to breathe new life into and around the downtown area has been progressing steadily for nearly two years.

In response to the push, several new businesses have opened, many of which are small, retail ventures whose survival largely depends on support from the community.

Goose Creek Coffee, which opened in July, is one of Hartsville’s new businesses that has received a lot of community support, and in return, owner Tilly Dillehay has decided to lend a helping hand to other small businesses in the area.

Today, Goose Creek Coffee is hosting Shop the Square, a free family shopping event featuring local small businesses, many of which still operate as mobile boutiques or shops, but are looking for permanent sites.

In addition to pop-up clothing boutiques, the event will include food trucks, woodworkers, jewelry, plants, and live music from the Nashville-based trio The Rusty Nails.

Goose Creek Coffee will also be serving a full brunch today during the event.

“This whole thing started because I was trying to lend support to some of these small businesses that are wanting so badly to get into the brick and mortar stage, particularly on the town square,” said Dillehay. “I just wanted to provide a way to show the building owners, who are ready to populate the rest of the town square, that people are ready to shop here.

“I really see downtown Hartsville as a place where people should be able to come and stay and spend some time. So, that’s really how this whole event started, and it just exploded in a way that I never expected.”

While many small businesses depend on events like Shop the Square to stay afloat, Dillehay’s goal is not only to help other small ventures, but to also bring business back to downtown.

“These events are helpful to the really, really small businesses because that’s the way that they do their business,” said Dillehay. “I guess I wanted to combine that special event kind of fun with bringing downtown Hartsville back.”

Shop the Square will be open today from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and will be set up in the parking area around the Trousdale County Courthouse, located at 200 East Main St. in Hartsville.