Weiss Lake Emporium Celebrates Grand Opening with Chamber Ribbon Cutting

CENTRE — The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed a new local business Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Weiss Lake Emporium, located at 800 West Main Street in Centre.

Although the store has been open for about a month, the chamber hosted the formal grand opening at 10 a.m. on Jan. 5. Chamber members and community leaders attended the event to show their support for owner Kourteny Laughlin, who is also known locally as the owner of Abandoned Storage Finds.

Weiss Lake Emporium operates as a vendor and consignment mall, offering local entrepreneurs the opportunity to rent space inside the large building to showcase and sell their merchandise. During the ceremony, Laughlin explained the concept to attendees, noting that the shop focuses on one-of-a-kind and unique items. She highlighted that inventory changes frequently as vendors continually bring in new products.

The business currently serves about 60 vendors and is expanding with additional shelving and space to accommodate more sellers. Laughlin said the store’s success depends on the variety and creativity of the merchandise offered, and she works closely with vendors to develop new ideas and respond to customer requests.

Individuals interested in becoming vendors are encouraged to visit the store to pick up an application, discuss the type of space they need, and share what they plan to sell. Laughlin said the business works closely with vendors to help them succeed and welcomes requests from customers for specific items, which vendors are often willing to source.

Laughlin, a Centre native, said she enjoys serving the local community and bringing a new shopping experience to the area. She also noted her more than 15 years of experience in storage sales has helped shape the venture.

Weiss Lake Emporium is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closing only on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For more information, the business can be reached at 256-266-1136 or through its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585101603851.