About Us
I was born and raised in Ocilla, Ga, the same small, southern town I still call home. A two-traffic light, one high school, everybody knows everybody, tiny, sometimes maddening, wonderful little jewel of a town! For me, being southern means yes ma’am, y’all, please and thank you. It means sweet tea, fried chicken, pimiento cheese and more delicious desserts than you could ever count. It’s church dinners, casseroles for shut ins, summer gardens and dinner parties. A place where gentlemen and ladies still exist, where your front porch is the most relaxing place in your home and where manners still mean something.
The Southern Mercantile was started in 2015 and was birthed from a dream to share the beautiful experiences I've had and the lessons I have learned from growing up Southern. From recipes and how-to's to stories of community and loving your neighbor, I have been so honored to have shared my life with you for so many years! Both online and in the shop, I have taken great care in curating a wonderful selection of goods and stories that I feel represent the beauty and the ease of southern living.
This little business has taken many turns over the years. From humble beginnings as a pop-up shop at weekend markets,
to booth space in several beautiful stores in Georgia,
and finally, to this beautiful space on the corner of Grant and Pine St. in beautiful downtown Fitzgerald! What a blessing it has been to be embraced and loved by this community. If you would like to read more about the journey that brought me to Fitzgerald, click HERE. The next step in this retail journey is to now partner with Fourth Street Design to offer in house design services and access to beautiful wallcoverings and home decor options. The opportunity to expand our services and to partner with my good friend and mentor Lisa Eldridge has been such an exciting development that has been years in the making!
I first met Lisa when she and my dad opened a florist in 2001 called "Occasions". They were two creative peas in a pod and quickly became known as "Two Fools Arranging" They had big dreams and quickly set out to expand, renovating a century old bank building in the middle of our sweet little town and opening The Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry, which housed a Cafe, Florist and Catering business and a large retail store that featured local vendors. The Shoppes opened in August of 2003 after months of hard labor and lots of love. I came home from college in May of 2003 and agreed to stay for one year (that has now turned into 20+) to help them finish the renovations and get the business up and running. Well, the rest is, as they say, history. Long story short, the opportunity to work alongside Lisa all those years ago woke up a love of retail that I never knew I had. I have a Fine Arts Degree in Fabric Design from The University of Georgia and have always had a love for design and decor, but I had never imagined a life for myself where I would get to use that love and my creative talents every day. Lisa has been one of my biggest cheer leaders and a constant supporter over the last 22 years, so it is an honor to now work closely with her again by welcoming the Fourth Street Design Studio to be housed inside The Southern Mercantile. A match made in heaven!
Over the years I have learned the importance of embracing the joys of where you live and delighting in the simple things. Some of my best and happiest moments are sipping wine with friends on a patio or laughing during impromptu visits with neighbors.. “Simple Living, Southern Charm". That pretty much sums it up. Simply living, by appreciating the beauty that surrounds us and taking the time to soak up the history and the nostalgia of our southern roots.
My parents were not "from here", so I guess I am technically still an “outsider”. My father is from Colorado and my mother is from Arlington, VA. Even though my parents were not raised in the deep south, I have grown to appreciate my southern upbringing and cherish the lessons I have learned. My southern roots do run deep as my grandmother was raised in Selma, Alabama. Despite living outside Washington D.C. for 60 years, she never lost her classic southern drawl or her need to serve a fruit or congealed salad at every meal. There are so many things I have learned to cherish about growing up southern. Loving (and feeding) your neighbors, appreciating a beautifully set table, the art of writing a thoughtful thank you note, a well-planned party, baby shower, or wedding shower, the importance of manners... I could go on and on, but you get the gist. Welcome to The Southern Mercantile, we're so glad you're here!
xo, Roxie
Our Mission
We are so blessed to be able to do what we love. To work in a beautiful environment, to get to be creative and use our talents, to interact with sweet people every day, and to get to work alongside folks we truly love. We also believe that with that, comes responsibility. We feel that it’s our responsibility to give a portion of what we have been given, to be aware of the needs of our community, and to show the love of Christ to everyone that walks through our doors or who interacts with us online. We have made it our mission to love. To listen to those who need an ear, to encourage those who are feeling weak, to feed those who are hungry… to do our very best to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Whether that be through retail, community service, or just in being aware of how we choose to live our lives every day. We cling to 1 Peter 4: 8-11 as we try to work in a way that glorifies the Lord in all we do.
“Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.”
We believe that the Bible is clear that we are to love and care for widows, orphans, and women in need. It is a privilege for us to partner with these beautiful missions through prayer, purchases, fundraisers, and sponsorships. If you are able, won’t you join us in supporting one of these efforts?