Easy Pay Store

For this next chapter in a photographic homage to my Dad, family and heritage, @richardisrael and I took to downtown Fort Mill, the corner of Confederate and Main Streets, to visit the location of my Grandfather's store, The Easy Pay.

For 43 years my Grandfather owned and operated The Easy Pay. It was named this because he offered layaway to customers who needed this option for purchasing home goods and supplies. More or less the town general store, my Grandfather sold everything from paint to small appliances to hunting and fishing supplies, tools, toys, farming supplies, even Good year tires.

I remember as a child arriving to visit my Grandparents, we would go to The Easy pay first to put new tires on my Dad's car, a shiny silver 1977 Volkswagen Bug Convertible that I loved so much it basically was my sibling.

In an article published in The Fort Mill Times, at the time of closing the store, I love that my grandfather said if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing. I always fondly recall my father telling me my Grandfather's mindset was competition breeds business. In the article he explains "the money is in selling things, but to stay in business you have to have good service." At the end of the day, it's how you treat people, no?

I always love going back to visit the store. For decades after Paw Paw closed the store, The Knife Shop existed in its location. The front of the house now plays home to @theimproperpig restaurant while the back of the house has more recently served as brewing headquarters for @amorartisbrewing. I enjoyed talking to management for a down home friendly tour where my Grandfather's office once was.

After reflecting there, I took Richard across the street to the Police Department to show him my Grandfather's plaque in the Fort Mill Hall of Fame. For almost two decades, he served on the once small-town school board. Just look at it now! I sure hope the town of Fort Mill will continue to do everything it can to preserve the historical integrity and charming architecture of its most darling downtown!

📸 @richardisrael
👒 @lucchese x @resistol1927

SHOP THE EDIT + GET THE LOOK

The Language of Letting Go

Got my decades long collection of @vanityfair, my Christian based book of daily meditations and my most trusted @lucchese boots. I am ready to roll!

I am also linking to the book. It is one my therapist recommended to me. On a personal note, if you have experienced any level of co-dependency in your own life, I highly recommend this one as a book to help you feel good and provide you with support in the process of self-care and recovery.

Shop The Post + Get The Look

Dress (now on mega sale) | Boots | Signature Clutch by Sarah’s Bags | Bracelet | Dolls Canister + Entire Collection Here | Bird Plate | Lamp | Planter | The Language of Letting Go | To Kill A Mockingbird|Belt

25th Annual Black Cowboy Festival

What can I say? It was blazing hot in the wide open, treeless field and the lines to enter were a wee long and slow (until the credit card machine went down PTL and PS what line in a blazing hot open fiend ISN’T too long and slow?!), but the 25th Annual black Cowboy Festival in Rembert, SC was a fired up HIT!

In addition to the horse shows, barrel races and other performances, you know I was chasing the rodeo STYLE, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint. Most important of all, I don’t think I have ever experienced a nicer crowd of people in all my life. The most ideal family friendly environment!

🐎 Mission: The Mission of the Black Cultural Enlightenment Society is to enlighten the community awareness on the attributes of the African American culture of yesterday and today and to expose youth, as well adults, to the art of horsemanship.

👁 Vision: To create a community- based flow of resources that will meet the needs of youth and adults through agriculture, arts, music, diversity, and education.

🌍 Goals: 1. Improve the quality of community relations through the unification of people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
2. Develop an Equine facility
3. Promote agricultural interest and teach self-reliance
4. Increase visitation through tourism, recreation, entertainment, education and arts.

🤠👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏾☀️ So next year, grab a friend—and a tent for some shade — and Giddy up and GO!

👢 Lucchese

American Town + Italian Style

If you're into fine Italian fashion, be sure to check out my latest styling project, featuring Brunello Cucinelli for Fort Mill Magazine.  The story accompanying the photo shoot shares conversations with the designer from a small town with big time dreams, also highlighting Rock Hill, SC native country recording artist, Zach Ludlam, serving as a clever analogy to Cucinelli. The publishers of Fort Mill Magazine are tireless in their efforts to put a heartbeat back into Main Street while maintaining a strong focus on local business. Read the entire story here.  I am proud to say my Grandfather operated the Easy Pay Store, Fort Mill's general store, for 43 years.  It was located behind me in the below picture, right on the corner of Main St. and Confederate St.