The jewel of North Laurel Street in Springfield is undoubtedly the Mars Theatre, a community-supported entertainment hub offering a variety of events for adults and families in the Coastal region. A historic landmark-turned-high-tech venue, the Mars Theatre boasts a unique blend of music, film and performing arts.

“It’s a great place to meet friends without driving too far and spending a lot of money. We love seeing our regulars and we love meeting people who are just visiting for the first time,” Mars Theatre director Alison Newberry said. “Movies and live events can be experiences people never forget, and we like to think we are a small part of that.”

The venue hosts a wide range of concerts. From up-and-coming artists to renowned musicians and Grammy nominees, the Mars Theatre provides live music with exceptional sound quality. When the house isn’t a-rockin’, visitors can catch a flick on a large cinema screen.

912.754.1118   |  marstheatre.com  |  106 South Laurel St., Springfield  

Korin Sutherland is the owner of The Stamper’s Boutique, a popular Rincon establishment that has become a home base for stampers, crafters and shoppers alike. Her brick-and-mortar business grew from a successful online business (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps) that ships products to stampers around the world.

The classroom area is a popular space for classes both private and public. With projects such as “make & takes,” Bible journaling and traditional stamping projects, The Stamper’s Boutique workspace is available to crafters for just $5 per hour to use classroom tools. Group accommodations are available with the room that accommodates up to 28 people.

Sutherland attributes the success of her local business to where it resides: “Effingham County’s support for small business is like no other I’ve been in,” she said. “I’m so blessed to be a part of it.”

912.295.5174  |  thestampersboutique.com  |  586 S. Columbia Ave., Ste 11, Rincon

Walk into Wright Wicks and you will be transformed from the sweet aroma wafting from both Heather Wright’s newly constructed open work area and a burning candle at the front counter. With the many signature fragrances in various sizes, soy coconut candles and wax melts are all hand-poured in house. 

Accessories such as wax melt warmers, candle care accessories, bath bombs, soaps, body butters and scrubs create a variety of sale items to stock your home.

A meaningful component of Wright’s business is Wright Wicks fundraising for charitable, educational, religious, athletic teams and non-profit groups to raise money as part of its commitment to the communities it serves. A portion of the profits from every candle sold will go to the designated charity or organization.

Wright is amazed at the support from the business community.

912.754.6503  |  www.wrightwicks.com | 503 N. Laurel St., Springfield

Carlson and Co. is a retail mecca on the front end and a professional service powerhouse behind the scenes. The retail side is beautifully designed within a rustic setting against exposed brick walls that features a full stock of niche decor items, food products, clothing and very Carlson-esque floral displays throughout. 

Since 2012, James Carlson has been known for his floral design talent in our region and now has cornered the market on North Laurel Street in the quaint downtown of Springfield. Known for extravagant holiday decor, Carlon and Co. is a must-see this holiday season. Their retail boutique is now open seven days a week for the season.

Professional services include—but are not limited to—event planning, venue rental, floral design and tuxedo rentals. With something for everyone, you are sure to find something that you love at Carlson and Co.

“We have felt welcomed from Day 1,” Wright said. “The support, kindness and sense of community we have received has been incredible. Effingham offers a down-home, friendly environment that makes you feel like family. We love being a part of our little storybook community.”

912.754.9116  |  www.carlsonsandco.com  |  405 N. Laurel St., Springfield

Maybe it’s the made-from-scratch and closely guarded secret recipe of The Rusty Pig’s barbeque sauce, or perhaps it’s the tender meats and delicious sides. The restaurant believes the most important element of its success is the fresh selections. 

Either way, regular customers flock from all over to The Rusty Pig for its famous barbeque. 

The restaurant started as a family decision over 10 years ago. Cindy and Neal Anderson acted on their passion of delivering great barbeque to friends, family and neighbors. Fast forward—they now have two locations with a mobile food truck.

If you are one of the fortunate folks who have discovered Rusty Pig barbecue, you might already know they start preparing and cooking in the wee hours of the morning. Their selections are always fresh, their meat is never frozen and everything they prepare is as close to home grown as it gets.

Hours are Monday–Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., closed on Sundays.

912.826.4233  |  www.rustypigbbq.com   |  360 S. Columbia Ave. Rincon

Gnann’s Fix-It Shop has been the go-to store offering new equipment parts and service for outdoor power equipment since 1964 when it was founded by Bowers Gnann Jr. 

They are certified dealers of well-known and reliable brand names such as Snapper, STIHL, Exmark, Billy Goat, Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, Tecumseh, and more. Financing options are available for qualified buyers and offer warranty work in-house.

The store is now owned and operated by Bowers’ sons Clarence and Charlie Gnann who both grew up working in the store. This family business has come a long way in the past 57 years, but the values remain the same: high quality and great service. 

Business hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

912.754.3745  |  www.gnannsfixitshop.com  |  1015 S. Laurel St., Springfield

Nestled in a corner A-frame building on Springfield’s North Laurel Street, Paddle’s Coffee is a cozy coffee house serving locally sourced roasted java along with tasty entrees and savory sweets. 

Owned by the Kirkland family, the name was derived from an acronym of their names: PADL = Pat, Analisa, Dana and Layla. 

“We’ve worked hard to make sure it remains a family affair, so you’ll almost always see one of us behind the counter. Yes, even the youngest gets involved,” Dana Kirkland said.

“Here at Paddles, we like to say you come for the coffee and the kindness, and you leave with a little bit of small-town home. It’s our hope that everyone who enters our shop feels welcome.”

Paddles Coffee accepts Joe App, an online ordering solution accepted by over 1,500 independent coffee shops to serve customers while encouraging them to buy local.

Hours are Monday–Wednesday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Thursday–Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

912.407.0721  |  www.paddlescoffee.com  |  401 N Laurel St., Springfield

Furnish with Style at Wiley Home Center

A longtime Rincon establishment, Wiley’s Home Center has long been the furniture source for Effingham County and surrounding region. 

Wiley’s Home Center has combined old-fashioned customer service with quality products since 1987. Wiley and his wife Rosalyn opened the doors to a 20,000-square-foot furniture and appliance facility and added 15,000 additional square feet of floor space in 1988.

A family business, they are committed to making your house feel more like a home. Not just a furniture and appliance store, they also have interior design and appliance repair services to accommodate their customers’ needs. They do it all, from helping you choose a statement piece that adds a fresh look to redesigning an entire room.

Hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

912.826.2932  |  wileyshomecenter.com  |  1202 Columbia Ave., Rincon