South Main Opens Friday
Jimmy Hood and Tim Berryhill put the finishing touches on South Main’s new sign at 310 South Main Street. Owner Kathy Williams invites everyone to come out for the grand opening scheduled Friday afternoon from 5 to 7 p.m.
WATER VALLEY – A new shopping experience is coming to Water Valley with Friday’s grand opening of South Main, a boutique offering gifts, gourmet food products, vintage items, antiques and a “man cave” for those hard to find men’s gifts. South Main will also feature work from several Mississippi artists as Kathy Williams’ passion to continue her family’s strong business roots in the community becomes a reality.
“I wanted to reinvest in the community that has been so good to my family,” Williams explains.
Her new store, located at 310 South Main, is in the same location her mother, Mary Lou Williams, operated William’s Flowers and Gifts for over three decades. Her father, Harold Williams came to the Valley in 1955, first opening a department store with his siblings before operating a Chevrolet dealership with his father-in-law Vernon Johnson.
“My parents and grandparents were such a vital part of Water Valley, it just didn’t seem right not to continue that tradition.”
The grand opening is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. and South Main will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with afternoon hours on Thursday and Friday to accommodate after-hours shopping. The gallery will feature several of Williams’ artist friends, including Jenny Cason Crowson, Terri Dallriva and John Willcoxon. Their works include paintings, pottery, copper work and reclaimed wood pieces.
“The artists I am carrying are different from the other artists that are exhibiting in town. We have great art galleries in town, great stores and I wanted to compliment them, not compete with them,” Williams explains.
“Who would have ever believed 10 years ago that Water Valley would become this artsy community. I want to thank the people who have done this for us and thank the people of Water Valley who have supported them,” Williams added.
Williams also identified another niche South Main could offer with a line of fun women’s clothes. The shopping experience will also include jewelry and vintage items including old furs and hard-to-find gifts. Her niece, Jessica Williams, will provide monogramming for the store.
The gourmet food products will continue a tradition Williams’ mother started in her store.
“One of the things my mother loved that she carried in her store were easy things to fix, such as dip mixes and things you could open up, and with two or three ingredients you could prepare a dish that people will think you spent all day in the kitchen,” Williams explains. She plans to continue the tradition with similar products.
“My hope is that South Main will be a fun place to stop by, browse, see what’s new and find that unique item. Please join me on Friday from 5-7. Come sample our gourmet food, register for door prizes and just have some fun visiting with friends- old and new,” Williams added.
