In April, longtime downtown shopping destinations The Shoppes on Main and Cousin Couture relocated to a fresh, new space and rebranded as Southern Dash, while still offering the same selection of gift items, popular clothing brands, and bold accessories — all with their signature Southern style. Hear from owner Kristie Tart on her deep love of downtown Fuquay.
Backstory: My husband and I are originally from Fuquay-Varina. We grew up shopping downtown as children with our families, and as adults with our own family. Our (former) Main Street location was Pope’s Dime Store then. And I worked at our current location (116 W. Academy Street) as a teen when it was Mclean’s Grocery Store. We both wanted to bring the same warm experiences for our customers and create fun memories for kids shopping with their families, too.
Evolution: We acquired the downtown 212 S. Main Street building and business in 2009. The building was then composed of several small individually owned businesses that included a coffee shop. Over time, The Shoppes on Main took over the majority of the space in the back, and at the same time Cousin Couture boutique was created for the space in the front.
Because we had such a large space, we were able to host so many fun events that included dinners, fashion shows, and lots of parties and showers. But our vision was ultimately to become a one-stop shop for gifts, seasonal decor, and apparel, and to make sure we had something for everyone. It was really nice having so much to offer our customers all under one roof.
Opening Southern Dash: We spent a lot of time contemplating our move from Main Street to Academy Street, which is only one block away and walking distance. Moving into the smaller space would allow us to offer more individual attention to every shopper and to concentrate on the brands that are important to our customers.
Holiday Shopping: It is absolutely wonderful to see our customers come back year after year and recognize us as a destination to find that special gift for someone. It feels like Christmas every time someone walks through the door. Santa visits us in the store every holiday season and will continue to be here this year on the weekends for families to enjoy and take pictures with. One family comes to take pictures in matching pajamas every year!
Traditions: We have several favorite downtown holiday traditions that we cherish, too. The annual tree lighting event and sleigh rides, and the Christmas Parade — both bring families together for so much festiveness and fun.
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