“ Everybody says it takes a year to get off the ground and running , and we ’ ve been running since we opened the door ,” Sandi says . “ The Lord has just blessed us .”
Twenty booths are currently open for business , and the couple is already in the process of expanding to open up the entire building for vendor space .
“ We do need space for about 10 more vendors because they just keep coming in and asking ,” Sandi says .
Currently , vendors from four counties — Jefferson , Washington , Johnson and Emmanuel – have spots in the store .
Both Jeff and Sandi agree that the people are what they have enjoyed the most about being in business so far .
“ It seems like we ’ ve been here forever ,” Sandi says . “ The people have just taken us in .”
They love seeing old friends and making new ones as well . Sandy says Jeff has become popular with the customers . Just last week , one customer brought him three pies , and others stopped by to help him celebrate on his birthday .
“ He ’ s pretty much taken over my little shop ,” she laughs .
“ I love the people ,” he says . “ I ’ m a people person . I love interacting with people .”
And for Riner , seeing that has done his heart good as well .
“ It filled my heart when it came back to life ,” he says of the corner . “ It just hurt me to see it empty … I love to see people coming back in here because I remember growing up in here and interacting with people .”
The couple has many visions of how they would like to see their business continue to grow , but for right now , they ’ re happy to keep making new friends who have begun to feel more like family .
“ The first time they come in they ’ re strangers , but after that , I say they ’ re family ,” Jeff says .
SANDERSVILLE SCENE 41