Greenhouse Mercantile - Newnan

February 22, 2017

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We have made no secret of the fact that we love to buy local!

We prefer to buy our gifts, groceries and clothing from makers right here in Coweta.

Kenya Brantley, owner of Greenhouse Mercantile, is passionate about running a boutique that supplies a range of locally and sustainably produced merchandise.

She wants to be sure that what she sells strengthens and gives back to the community.

It is important to her that her offerings are made in the United States, are fair trade or in some way contribute to society.

We loved the giving keys, simple engraved key necklaces that provide employment for the homeless and give a percentage of sales back to those without a place to live.

Stepping into Greenhouse Mercantile, Kenya’s stripped down chic style was instantly evident.

Kenya has curated a range of products that line up with her values, but come together in an effortlessly simplistic way that is distinctly Greenhouse.

The minimalist style makes a soothing shopping experience where you do not feel overwhelmed by the merchandise.

Greenhouse offers unique jewelry, local art, beautiful home decor, bath products, coffee, food and clothing.

It’s the perfect place to find a one of a kind gift or treat yourself to something lovely or delicious.

Greenhouse Mercantile was conceived several years ago when Kenya and her family were moving.

She had a lot of beautiful pieces that she didn’t need anymore.

She decided to sell them at a booth in Stairway to Heaven Antiques.

She immediately knew that she had found something she loved and could do for the rest of her life.

From Stairway, she moved to different locations around Coweta County where she developed her unique style, which she describes as East coast meets West coast.

Greenhouse isn’t your typical boutique. Kenya wants people to feel free to come and stay awhile. She offers pour over coffee by the cup, free wifi and a comfy couch.

People will often stop in with their computers just to get some work done in a relaxing environment.

When you visit Greenhouse Mercantile, be sure to take a look in the back room where you will often find a pop up shop.

Kenya wants to help talented local artists and makers get exposure and grow, so she offers her back room as a temporary shop at a reasonable price.

Kristin Schriks and Gail Ross are the upcoming artists occupying the pop up space.

Visit Greenhouse Mercantile online to shop. You can keep up with the latest events and sales on their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Kenya also has a Pinterest where she posts inspiration and ideas.

You can also catch Kenya on the entertaining web show Real Talk on the Square.

Make Me Up Beauty Studio - Newnan

November 16, 2016

Update: Make Me Up Beauty Studio is now Evergreen Beauty Studio and is by appointment only.

Stepping into Make Me Up Beauty Studio right off the square in downtown Newnan, we were greeted by a warm, sweet aroma and the cheerful welcomes of owner and makeup artist, Lyssa Pfauth.

Make Me Up is a recently opened makeup studio that offers a range of organic beauty products, make up artist services, classes, and much more.

The bright, spacious studio is located in a portion of the former Gold Star Hotel, a one time Newnan landmark established in the mid nineteenth century.

The interior retains the handmade brick walls and well worn hardwood flooring of the original hotel.

Make Me Up Beauty Studio Coweta County, Georgia

Lyssa has always been passionate about makeup and helping women feel amazing by highlighting their beauty.

This magical quality of makeup was introduced to her by her grandmother whose lipstick and rouge were a necessary accessory.

She laughs as she recounts her first job as a makeup artist at the tender age of eleven. She led the bride to believe she was sixteen and ended up doing the makeup for the bride and entire wedding party.

This story has a happy ending, because the bride loved her look, and Lyssa knew she had found a special talent.

She continued to do makeup for her friends, sisters and proms until she landed a job doing makeup at Estée Lauder at the age of eighteen.

From there, she pursued an esthetician license and also became licensed as a laser technician.

For years, Lyssa was completely content to coat her face in the season’s trendiest cosmetics.

This changed with the birth of her oldest son. For the first time, she began to examine what she was introducing into her home in the light of her child’s health.

Suddenly, not paying attention to the ingredients in her cosmetics was not an option.

As she researched ingredients commonly found in makeup and skincare products, she was astounded that many of the chemicals are toxic, particularly to children.

Hormone disruption, cancer and neurological damage are just some of the conditions linked with these chemicals.

Lyssa now has two young boys and described to us how they are affectionately all over her, ingesting whatever cosmetics she has put on her face.

She wanted to be able to snuggle with her boys without worrying about her cosmetics damaging their health.

The switch to organic makeup and skin care felt good for her.

Unfortunately, these products were unavailable here in Coweta County.

Her determination to provide these products to local women prompted her to open Make Me Up Beauty Studio.

Make Me Up Beauty Studio Newnan, GA Downtown

We were delighted to find that the studio extends beyond a place to buy earth friendly cosmetics or have your makeup done.

Lyssa has created a warm environment for women to learn, pamper themselves and laugh.

Lyssa is enthusiastic about education regarding the harmful effects of chemically laden products.

“Almost every drugstore brand lipstick contains lead" she tells us. “And we eat our lipstick. And reapply it all the time.”

The cosmetics she sells are all 30 to 90 percent organic.

“If these were 100% organic they would have to be refrigerated” she explains to us.

One of her regular customers, an oncologist, recommends her patients purchase all their cosmetics from her shop.

“It’s possible to be beautiful and toxic free!”

Make Me Up doesn’t leave out the guys. They can shop from a line of men’s skincare, beard oil or an old fashioned straight razor set.

Make Me Up has a delicious buffet of options for women looking for a makeup artist.

Make Me Up Beauty Studio Prices Newnan, GA

Bridal parties can utilize the huge studio space to have a relaxing place to get ready while they have their hair and makeup done.

While Make Me Up doesn’t yet offer hair stylist services, there is plenty of space for a hair stylist to work and this may be an option available in the future.

Lyssa is an accomplished stylist and offers styled photo shoots. The tinted windows offer privacy while still letting in ample natural light.

Girls can attend classes, have group or one on one makeovers, makeup lessons or a girls night in with wine and appetizers.

We love the date night package where you can have everyday makeup done when you want to look perfect but don’t feel like putting in the effort.

This would be perfect if you need to look your best for a presentation, job interview or first date where you are likely to be nervous and need that extra boost of self esteem.

Many of the products on Make Me Up’s shelves are locally produced from farm to bottle.

Lyssa has many exciting plans for the future of the business. She may even create her own line of difficult to find organic products.

To learn more about safer beauty care products, visit Make Me Up on the web, where you can shop from home. You can also follow Make Me Up on Facebook and Instagram.

Blue Fern Merchant - Newnan

January 7, 2016

Update: Blue Fern has moved to 167 Greenville St. Newnan.

Happy 2016, Coweta County! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season full of friends, family, amazing food and local shopping!

A few weeks ago, before the holiday madness began, we headed over to the newest store in town to talk to one of the owners, Lori Gillson Duncan.

Blue Fern Merchant was conceived about five years ago by Lori and her sister Staci Gillson Mandrell.

The Fayetteville natives are both talented designers. Lori is an interior designer, mainly working with Atlanta builders. Staci is a graphic designer with a successful Atlanta based firm.

The sisters wanted to combine their design aesthetics to create a local shop that expressed their eclectic tastes.

As soon as we walked into Blue Fern, we felt as if we needed more eyes.

The shop is filled with so many wonderful treasures, each one more unique than the last.

Coming from a very close family, Susan and I loved the little details in the store that make Blue Fern a truly family business.

The name of the shop is taken from the first name of their maternal grandmother and the maiden name of their paternal grandmother.

Additionally, each of the price tags on the merchandise features an old family photo, which gives you a glimpse into the sister’s family life and makes you feel right at home.

The store is 90% vintage, repurposed and found items.

Blue Fern is the kind of store you can step into and find something for yourself and everyone in your life in one place.

In addition to home décor, jewelry, footwear, bath products and garden decorations, Blue Fern also has furniture, floor coverings, wallpaper and window treatments.

We love the repurposed furniture, but those who want something more personalized can also order custom sofas, chairs and ottomans.

You can also bring in your own special piece of furniture and have it reupholstered to your taste.

We love the fact that you can step into Blue Fern and purchase entirely customized items including linens, window treatments and rugs.

This ability to customize furnishings and décor goes hand in hand with the Blue Fern design services.

Lori and Staci use their carefully honed talents and unique eye to work with clients who want to re-imagine their spaces.

The design services they offer range from designing a single room to a complete home restyling.

They can merge their experience and eye for design with the specific style of the client.

Lori emphasized that they sincerely want to make the entire design process fun.

As you probably know by now, we love to shop local and buy from local artists.

Blue Fern also tries to stock a wide selection of items by local artisans and craftsmen.

Because of the unique nature of the merchandise, there is always something new to see at Blue Fern as more pieces are acquired and sold.

Blue Fern is located right in downtown Newnan in the old Dubose jewelry building.

Gift cards are now available if you want to share the gift of design with friends or family.

You can find out about special discounts, promotions and upcoming events on the Blue Fern Facebook page.

Blue Fern is also on Instagram.

We would love to see any of your Blue Fern pieces “in action”. Post your pictures to our Facebook page!

Downtown Olive & Kitchen Supply Co. - Newnan

March 25, 2015

Update: Downtown Olive is now closed. Please support local businesses.

Living in the south, we know that we are supposed to use butter like it’s going out of style, but honestly for the most part we prefer using olive oil. We won’t mention that to our grandma. That’s why we were really excited when we noticed that there is a new olive oil store in town!

Downtown Olive and Kitchen Supply Company is right on the square in downtown Newnan across the street from Stairway to Heaven Antique Mall. Food lovers will be in heaven from the moment they walk into the brightly lit store.

There are rows of infused olive oil and vinegar for sampling and a friendly employee to walk you through the process and give you recipe tips.

We spoke with the owner, Amy and her husband Ted about how Downtown Olive was conceived.

Amy’s father chose a military career that took the family from one small US town to the next. As a result, Amy was very familiar with the typical American downtown from a small age. She loved the small town feel of a downtown with several small scale locally owned specialty shops.

Her early encounters with small town stores left her with a strong desire to open her own gift shop someday. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, her dream of owning a shop got pushed to a back burner. She married, moved to Newnan and started a family.

The opportunity finally came for Amy to realize her dream around a year ago. Her love of cooking, healthy eating and fine foods came together into her unique shop.

The olive oil and vinegar available in Downtown Olive is Olivelle and is sourced from Italy, Greece and Spain. The oil is the same olive oil you would be served at a restaurant in Italy. Amy smiled as she told us stories of world travelers who came in skeptical that the oil was true European olive oil and leaving with several bottles after declaring that they never thought they would taste oil like that in Georgia.

In addition to the infused olive oils and vinegars, Downtown Olive also offers a range of functional and fun cooking accessories. Many of the kitchen gadgets feature bright colors and uniquely whimsical designs. The shop also has tea towels printed with witty graphics, charming dishware and pre-prepared specialty foods.

All of the merchandise in Downtown Olive has Amy’s stamp of approval. As a mom to a pre teen girl with a range of severe allergies, Amy has to be able to prepare dishes that the whole family can enjoy and also meet her daughter’s strict medical requirements. As a busy Mom and small business owner, Amy needs kitchen tools that will match her need for utility and quick clean up. You can be sure that anything you buy in Downtown Olive lives up to these standards.

Amy and Ted are always working to improve and expand the store. The latest additions to the shop are gorgeous pieces of kitchen furniture that have a rustic, hand crafted look and Big Green Egg barbecue cookers.

We loved browsing through the store and looking at all the fun kitchen supplies and accessories. We especially enjoyed getting to sample some of the oils and vinegars. Our favorites were the caramelized garlic and the Tahitian lime infused olive oils.

We are used to cooking with olive oil, but Amy gave us some great tips on new and interesting ways to use oil and vinegar. She suggests pouring it over your ice cream and adding a little salt on top, using olive oil to make popcorn from scratch, delicious marinades, yogurt and cottage cheese toppings and as a delicious addition to a fruit and cheese plate. We really can’t wait to try it on ice cream!

If you have not yet stopped by Downtown Olive, we strongly suggest it. It is a delightful experience for your taste buds and we’re sure you will come away with something you love! If you are out and about on one of Newnan’s Market Days, look for Amy and Ted walking around with treats made with their infused olive oils. Follow Downtown Olive on Facebook to get their latest updates, get sneak peeks of new products and an array of yummy recipes. Amy was kind enough to give us one of her favorite recipes. Please let us know if you tried it and how it tastes!

Pesto Chicken Grill Pouches

Caramelized Garlic Olive Oil or Primagoccia Olive Oil*
8 chicken tenderloins
salt and pepper
Pesto Alla Genovese by Genevese Specialties*
2 zucchini, thinly sliced
1 large Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
1 can garlic diced tomatoes, drained or 4 roma tomatoes, chopped
16oz. thin spaghetti
Pasta Salt Rocks*
*Available at Downtown Olive & Kitchen Supply Co.

Preheat grill to medium. Cut four 16" sheets of foil. Drizzle 1 tsp. olive oil into the bottom half of each piece of foil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and lay 2 tenderloins on each piece of foil over the olive oil. Spread 1 T. pesto on top of chicken. Top with zucchini, onion and tomatoes. Top with 3 T. pesto. Bring the longer side of foil over the chicken and vegetables and fold the three open sides of foil together and pinch the edges to make a good seal. Cover and grill the packets over indirect heat for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a salt rock to the water for 2 minutes. Remove the salt rock, add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain. Place pasta on plates and with a knife carefully cut an edge of each grill pouch and slide it onto the pasta. Serves 4.

Shop Local

November 26, 2014

Regular readers of Coweta Life may have noticed that the shops and restaurants we write about are independent, locally owned businesses.

This is no accident. Every place we cover in this blog is somewhere where we love the food, products or service they offer. There are a variety of reasons that the independent shops of Coweta fit these criteria.

Simply put, we like the local view better. As a photographer, Susan particularly values a beautiful view. We don’t think anyone will argue that the shopping centers clustered around I-85 and the football field sized parking lots that surround them are just not as visually appealing as the shops in the downtown areas of Senoia, Newnan, Moreland and Grantville.

Maybe it’s shallow, but the immense generic facades of the huge chain stores just don’t have the same aesthetic appeal of a small storefront with a creative display behind the glass window.

We like to think that we are a friendly pair and we enjoy interacting with people. When you walk into a big box store to make a purchase, you may receive a mechanical greeting from an employee who does not really care if you are there or not.

Walking into an independent shop is a completely different experience. Yesterday, we went into Downtown Olive & Kitchen Supply Co. for the first time. We were warmly greeted by every person working in the store. We were invited to try samples and we chatted about the store and a few of the products. The level of service was incomparable with anything we have ever experienced at a multinational retail store.

When you walk into an independent shop and speak with the owner, you are very likely encountering a person who is pursuing a dream. Someone who has spent countless hours hand picking product, working on displays, bookkeeping, marketing and perfecting a business plan.

In other words, someone who is intimately invested in every aspect of their store, passionate about their product and interested in ensuring that you have the best experience possible. We find this kind of enthusiasm to be energizing.

When you step into a multinational chain clothing store, you are browsing through racks of the same clothes that your neighbors in Douglasville, Fayetteville, Atlanta and Boise, Idaho are. It’s just a little bit boring.

There is only one C.S. Toggery, and the clothing they carry isn’t available in every town from here to Boise.

We like finding unique pieces. We really like that we can surprise friends with amazing one of a kind gifts. Try finding a gift to match handcrafted artisan truffles or French macarons at a big box store.

One of the huge reasons we shop locally is the difference in quality. Independent shop owners are passionate about their wares and carefully select products for quality. They are also quick to make recommendations based on your needs and are sympathetic when you need to make a return. Products that customers don’t like quickly get removed from the store.

This is not the case with big box stores. Having the decision makers in the store getting first hand experience with the products and how they relate to customer need allows independent stores to more quickly hone the product selection to best fit the requirements of the community.

For some reason, independent stores have gotten an unfair reputation for having higher prices than their multinational corporate competitors. We have not found this to be the case.

We just each bought new outfits for Thanksgiving from The Pink Chair Boutique in Senoia and paid less for a whole look than what we would have for a single pair of jeans at The Gap.

We have found local prices to be the best available in most cases. To enjoy one of the best burgers you have ever tasted at Meat and Greet in downtown Newnan, costs significantly less than a passable burger at one of the chain restaurants in Ashley Park.

While we may shop at local stores for mostly selfish reasons, a vast body of research shows that our spending habits are really good for Coweta County.

Independent shops return over half their revenue to the local economy and the numbers are even higher for local restaurants. Independent eateries return nearly 80 percent of their profit back into the local economy.

Compare this to big box stores returning a low 14 percent of revenue to the local economy and chain restaurants returning 30 percent. This means that if you spend $100 at Stairway to Heaven Antique Mall, 58 of those dollars will recirculate into the local economy.

Taking your business to independent retailers directly translates into a healthier community.

Research has found that the encroachment of big box stores into an area cuts jobs and pay. For every employee hired at a big box store, an average of 1.4 jobs are lost due to small business closures. As if the lower employment rate weren’t bad enough, these companies pay their employees as little as possible often purposefully trimming their hours to just under 30 to avoid providing mandatory benefits. As a result, retail worker’s wages have been reduced by an astounding 4.5 billion dollars annually. When these employees fail to make enough to feed their families and do not qualify for insurance benefits because they are not allowed to work over 30 hours a week, taxpayers are forced to pick up the financial slack to the tune of 4.2 billion dollars every year. This covers food stamps, housing assistance and Medicaid. Combine this tax drain with the massive tax breaks and subsidies given to giant corporations and it turns out that big box stores create a net drain on local economies.

This low wage trend is not true for most small businesses. In fact, small businesses employ more people and pay them higher wages. Additionally, studies show that independent businesses encourage creativity in their employees, generating new ideas that have an unmeasured but positive impact on the economy.

Because of the sense of community that comes with working for a small, local business, employees report being more satisfied with their jobs and are more engaged in the community. They are more likely to be aware of local concerns, they vote more and they participate in local committees and activities at a greater rate than employees of chain stores. Research also shows that small business owners donate twice as much to charitable organizations as multinational corporations!

I hope that we have made a compelling case for why spending your money at local businesses is beneficial to you and the health of the local economy as a whole.

We realize that not everything you may wish to purchase is available from a local shop. The good news is that economists estimate that if people took just ten percent of the cash they were spending at chains and instead made purchases at local stores, it would put an additional 235 million dollars into the local economy every year. In real terms, if you browse our blog and try each of the local restaurants we feature, you will be putting contributing to the strength of the Coweta economy and get (in our opinion) better food into the bargain.

The benefits we highlighted so far are mainly the economic and social welfare ones. There are also others, such as the preservation of historic buildings and positive environmental impact that are equally important. We hope that this information will inspire you to avoid big box stores this black Friday and take advantage of some of the amazing sales that our local businesses are offering. Please tell us what your favorite local business is and tell us your reasons for shopping locally!

Chantilly - Senoia

October 15, 2014

Update: The name of Chantilly has changed to Cobblestone Market. They remain in the same location.

If you haven’t been to downtown Senoia in a while and you love to shop, you may want to visit. Several adorable little shops have sprung up over the past couple of years that make this Coweta town a great place to do local shopping.

One of our favorite shops is Chantilly, an adorable French inspired store right on Main Street.

Owners Rhonda and Marty, inspired by their love of French décor, opened the doors of Chantilly five years ago.

The store is an eclectic one that sells everything from paint to wine.

Their love of 18th century France is apparent as soon as you walk through the glass paned door. The shop is filled with light colored wooden furniture that softly curves, subtle pastels and delicate porcelain figurines.

The whimsical music, the beautiful scents and the visual harmony all create a delightful shopping environment.

One of the first things you notice when you walk inside Chantilly are the gorgeous chandeliers that were acquired when a local Senoia restaurant recently closed.

The store is stocked with beautiful jewelry, soft knits and stunning accessories as well as delicately scented candles, soaps and lotions.

Shoppers in Chantilly will also find blankets, French inspired décor and boutique clothing.

As we browsed around Chantilly, we found the furniture throughout the store to be very charming.

It was beautifully painted in pale, radiant colors with what appeared to be raised gilt trim.

We later learned from Rhonda that most of the furniture in the store is rescued and refurbished by herself.

In the very back room, there are shelves of the DIYers paradise also known as chalk paint.

Chantilly is the first shop in Georgia to carry Annie Sloan chalk paint.

This versatile paint can be used to create a variety of looks on furniture and other home décor.

This paint, combined with easy to apply Efex appliqués, can create a gorgeous French inspired piece of furniture out of a thrift store haul.

Not only does Chantilly have accessories, home décor and painting supplies, they also offer something for the sophisticated palate.

Past the lovely décor, there is a small coffee bar and racks of fine wine.

Marty can generally be found manning the Nespresso bar, which serves macarons and coffee.

The macarons are light and sweet and pair perfectly with the Nespresso.

The wine is carefully curated and includes a variety of French wines as well as European, Australian and American selections.

We found this bright store unique and believe that it offers something of interest for those with a variety of tastes.

We loved the cute lavender piano that sits outside the Chantilly storefront, inviting passerby to play a tune.

Chantilly hosts many events throughout the month.

There are monthly wine tastings, occasional wine dinners where a chef prepares a five-course meal that pairs well with the wine selections and home décor workshops with the chalk paint.

They are considering adding additional events and classes, so be sure to follow them on Facebook or sign up for their email list to keep up to date.

Stairway to Heaven Antiques Mall - Newnan

October 1, 2014

Update: Unfortunately, Stairway to Heaven Antique Mall is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of great shops like Stairway to Heaven.

Being history lovers, it is no surprise that we love antique stores. Each object for sale is an artifact of a bygone era.

It’s fascinating to browse objects that were once in everyday use and now are not always instantly recognizable to twenty first century inhabitants like us.

Stairway to Heaven Antiques is exactly what an antique store should be. The shop stretches back into several rooms with antique lined walls and tables full of old treasures.

The first thing you notice after you ascend the steep staircase is the wonderful smell of old wood and used books. It’s the rich, spicy fragrance that lingers in all the best antique stores.

The gorgeous hardwood floors creak as you walk across them, attesting to the many feet that have been there in the past.

Owners James and Christy Johnson, who purchased the store from the previous owners about a year ago, claim that antiques are not the only inhabitants of Stairway to Heaven. A number of unexplained incidents have led many to believe that this antique store is home to ghosts.

Long before the Johnson’s owned Stairway to Heaven, the store was having a lull one afternoon when a girl and her mother came in to shop. The mother was chatting with the cashier while her daughter played in the back room.

When it was time to leave, the mother went to retrieve her daughter and found her laughing and chatting. When questioned, the girl claimed she was talking to a little girl in a fancy dress. There were no other customers in the store.

The Johnson’s do not have to rely on second hand testimonies of ghost sightings. They have seen enough throughout their time in the store to convince them that there is something out of the ordinary in the shop.

They say when darkness falls there is an eerie feeling of being watched. Customers have felt jabs and pokes when there was nothing near them and things frequently fly off the shelves.

The many cameras in the store provide the opportunity to go back and review footage. James recounts a day when he and another employee were hanging clothes. A military helmet that was on a mannequin fell, causing a loud crash.

When they reviewed the camera footage, James describes the helmet as briefly levitating off the mannequin before it crashed across the room.

In a similar incident, a wooden purse was flung so violently from a shelf that it flew across the room and was broken on the wooden floor.

When paranormal author and investigator, Christina Barber visited Stairway to Heaven with a recorder, she captured what sounds like a ghostly warning.

According to James, she was chatting with a customer about ghosts. When he stated that he did not believe in ghosts, the recording picks up a voice that was not audible in person saying, “you better start”.

The paranormal activity does not seem to bother James. In fact, he first visited the shop after hearing stories of ghostly activity. He liked the place enough to rent a booth and later become the owner.

One room of Stairway to Heaven is completely dedicated to military surplus and antiques.

James seems to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of modern military history.

Each artifact has a story behind it. We could have listened all day.

We saw an armband worn by observers from the Auxiliary Women’s Service during WWII. These volunteers were tasked with keeping radio communication with radar operators. When they saw suspicious activity in the sky they would radio the closest observer who would go look to see what the aerial activity was.

We also got to try on a helmet from the Second World War. They were incredibly heavy and we wondered that the men on the front did not have constant headaches. Christy described to us how the helmet would serve as not only protection from shrapnel, but also as a multitool for soldiers in the field.

The men would use it for cooking, drinking, digging, storage and even as a makeshift toilet.

In the front room of the shop, there was a display set up to honor the life of Mayhayley Lancaster. She was a notably eccentric woman who lived in Heard County well into the twentieth century. The display is meant to represent the cabin she made her home.

She did not like to get rid of anything, and her home was crammed with old newspapers, furniture and cash, which she stuffed into any available space. At a time when women were just beginning to find a voice, she was the first woman in the state to run for the Georgia Legislature.

She was a lawyer by profession, but she also had a legendary reputation as a fortuneteller and prophet. People would travel from all over the south to have their fortunes read and ask their burning questions of future love and lost items.

We thoroughly enjoyed our walk through history in Stairway to Heaven.

The Johnson’s are in the process of expanding the popular military surplus section of their store. They are opening a standalone shop next to the antique store.

There will be a larger selection of military antiques and tactical gear and James may even display some of his extensive private collection of military antiques.

For those who love the supernatural, James gives ghost tours. The tours through downtown Newnan go into the details of the compelling history of some Newnan’s paranormal activity.

Ghost tours can be booked by making reservations through Stairway to Heaven.

To see new products and get the latest information on sales, visit the Stairway to Heaven Facebook page.

Let Them Eat Toffee - Newnan

August 13, 2014

When we were younger, the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was so frequently watched that we could quote the entire movie. Our greatest childhood dream was to gain access to that candy paradise. When Phyllis and Kerry Graham invited us into their candy shop to watch how the toffee is made, it felt a little like the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Let Them Eat Toffee is a cozy shop tucked into the square between a hair salon and a Thai restaurant. The sweet aroma of candy in the making draws you right in the door of the warmly decorated shop with trays of freshly made sweets on display.

Kerry learned the art of toffee making the traditional southern way, in his mother’s kitchen. He carried the knowledge with him through the years until it collided with the skills of his Florida neighbor, Pierre, a French master chocolatier. This was the birth of the dark chocolate covered toffee that launched Let Them Eat Toffee.

Walking into the tiny kitchen where Kerry carefully hand makes the shop’s candy, our eyes were instantly drawn to the large basin of chocolate. The dark liquid is constantly kept in motion by a wheel. It was a mesmerizing sight to our chocolate loving souls.

We were surprised to learn just how precise the toffee making process is. Any variation in temperature, humidity or ingredients will change the consistency of the candy. It truly is an art.

The delicate process of cooking down the ingredients into a thick, golden brown syrup seems like second nature to Kerry

The result is a crisp, buttery sweet confection with a warm caramel flavor that recalls southern traditions.

The Grahams are very careful to ensure their raw ingredients are ethically sourced. They like to keep their products free from unnecessary additives and fillers. It is also important to them to use local ingredients as often as possible.

The Grahams are passionate about making their shop a community enterprise. They view community involvement as a way to connect with people and strengthen Coweta.

In addition to their hand prepared candies, the shop carries a few products from other chocolate companies as well as chocolate themed t-shirts and greeting cards. They also offer gourmet popsicles from the Atlanta based company King of Pops.

Let Them Eat Toffee has many exciting plans for the future of the shop, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates. We recommend the rich, flavorful fig Newnans, melt in your mouth chocolate truffles and the classic toffee.

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Newnan Art Rez Artist in Residence - Christina Laurel

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Greenhouse Mercantile - Newnan

about 7 years ago

Make Me Up Beauty Studio - Newnan

about 7 years ago

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RT @TimesHerald: Southbound traffic on Interstate 85 has reopened. Suspect in custody following interstate shootout.… https://t.co/y3DvTSQSVA
Dec 9, 2018, 12:30 PM
RT @TimesHerald: Police have a second suspect in custody following an interstate shootout, according to Sheriff Mike Yeager.… https://t.co/fCYo4xwohz
Dec 9, 2018, 11:45 AM