Women Led Revival Brings New Life to Wartrace Town Square

Something is beautiful is happening in Wartrace. Doors are opening on once dormant buildings, live music is playing in the evenings, and shopkeepers are arranging vibrant displays for each season. Under the surface of this transformation is something pretty interesting: Right now, every business on the Wartrace Square is run by women.

Like a lot of small towns, Wartrace had a moment where things could’ve gone either way. We have all seen it before; the storefronts that could either turn into something meaningful to the town or sit idle. But instead of fading out, something began to take root. New shops and restaurants started to join longtime businesses. Somewhere in this revitalization, women began to run every business on the square. Not as a statement or a strategy. Just as a reality. And maybe that’s part of what makes it work.

What are these female business leaders offering to the town of Wartrace? There is an air of collaboration, not competition. Everyone is building something of their own but also paying attention to what’s happening next door. There’s a sense that people want each other to succeed and to see Wartrace flourish. When you walk into a shop, you are being welcomed into someone’s taste, their ideas, their way of seeing things. There’s art, handmade goods, vintage finds, and things you didn’t know you were looking for until you saw them sitting right in front of you. These women are bringing this experience to you: Unhurried conversations in shops with people who remember your name amidst small town charm that Wartrace is known for.

Truly it’s not just about things being sold, it’s about the culture that is being created. There are workshops, small events, small talk that turn into ideas, and ideas that turn into something real a few weeks later. There’s a sense that the square isn’t finished evolving, and people want to be part of that magic.

It really seems that this spirit of collaboration brought the square back to life, or maybe it just helped it find a new version of itself. Either way, if you haven’t been to Wartrace lately, come walk around and take in the energy of new the growth. And stop in to meet the Women of Wartrace helping it along. We even have a catchy name, so please meet the members of WOW (Women of Wartrace):

Brandy Pearson of Brandy’s Small Town Diner, Ellie Bemrose of Southern Goods Mercantile, Teresa Hutchinson of Sweet Memories Ice Cream Shop,  Kristina and Gabreielle Cataldo of Sweet Nook Coffee Shop, Irene Cataldo of The Iron Horse Restaurant,  Francis Bates of the TN Walking Horse Museum, Terri Holder and Karen Douglas of Sparrow’s Nest, Kiki Gian and Tracey Burks of That Massage Place, Karrianne Brewer of Rock House Deli, Laura Gentry and Marie Pope of The Shoppes at 31 Main, Suzanne Byrom and  Jenifer Spence of Strawberry Moon Catering, and Julie Barrett of The Wartrace Emporium.