Suttle Street welcomes revitalization, new businesses
A former strip mall and grocery store on Suttle Street in Shelby has been revitalized and seen new growth with long-empty storefronts now filled.
A ribbon cutting was held Thursday afternoon at 701 Suttle St. to celebrate two of the recent additions - Custom Creations Events and Rentals and Williams Florist.
The two small locally owned businesses recently joined Sweet Sensations, an old fashioned candy store, Jenny Do Nails which was formerly on Marion Street, and WPCW Shelby radio and podcast, run by Jimmy Hall, known as DJ Dr. Jim. Four of the five are women run and owned, and all are minority businesses.
“We sincerely welcome these two businesses to the chamber family,” said Christine Cribb, with the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce.
Steve Padgett, director of the small business office at Cleveland Community College, said he was proud to be there Thursday and recognize the two of five businesses.
“I’m so proud of each, and I look forward to these two being successful,” he said, “We help people build, start and grow small businesses.”
Padgett said small businesses are important because they run the country.
Ronnie Whetstine, county commissioner, was also in attendance and spoke to the crowd assembled outside.
“Without small businesses, we would lose the backbone of this country,” he said.
Latonya Dorsey, who opened Custom Creations Events and Rentals, described her business as a “one stop shop” for all kinds of events and celebrations.
“We do venue rental or decor,” she said. “We have bronze, silver and gold decor packages.”
Dorsey said they have luxury chairs, marquee letters, table letters and luxury thrones in gold, white and silver as well as white and gold loveseats.
They have childrens’ thrones, and letters that spell out love, bride, baby and more.
Dorsey said they also offer custom made backgrounds for childrens’ parties, weddings, baby showers, church events, bridal showers and any other kind of celebration.
Custom Creations rents out linens, glasses, vases and drapes.
They host pop-up shops and plan to be active in the community with a back-to-school drive planned later this summer.
“We’re ready to get out there and get the community involved,” Dorsey said. “This area doesn’t have a rental place where you can get glasses and linens. We’re trying to bring that here.”
Dorsey said she was born and raised in Waco and has been calling Shelby home for the past eight or nine years.
“I am excited about what's to come,” she said.
Custom Creations Events can be found on Facebook and Instagram as Babygirl.1030 and TikTok @latonyadorsey7.
The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is available for events on weekends. For more information call 704-977-7260.
Reporter Rebecca Sitzes can be contacted at rsitzes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Suttle Street welcomes revitalization, new businesses
