Washington welcomes new space for local businesses to grow

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN)—A new space to help businesses start and grow is now in one Eastern Carolina City.

Cultural Grounds on Main Street in Washington is a business incubator, supporting up-and-coming businesses owned by local entrepreneurs.

It’s a storefront for new local businesses that opened up over a month ago. The space is already home to 8 entrepreneurs.

Hilary Hopkins-Cahoon, Cultural Grounds Office Manager says, “Some of us are freshly starting out and others of us have been online but this is our first place where we are brick-and-mortar.”

The space prioritizes diversity and growth with a variety of goods and services.

Nadine Dennis, Waves Owner says, “Modern decor. The idea behind Waves is that you can add a splash of decor to anything in your home and just liven it up. We bring inspiration from many shores around the world.”

“Custom shoes, shirts, business essentials, cards, decals, in a plethora of sizes, and accessories,” Diablo Kustoms Owner, Jesse Williams, also told WITN.

Betty Stevenson, another business owner also says, “I couldn’t paint but as time went on, I was able to produce paintings and I like it. It’s relaxing, fun to do.”

With rising inflation and the cost of living at $43,959 per year in North Carolina, according to SoFi, Williams says the new space is affordable too. “Trying to open up a business and get my own location, I would have to be making a couple thousand dollars a month to be able to afford a business this size.”

In addition, Cultural Grounds creates community both in the four walls and beyond.

Dennis told WITN, “If I was in a brick-and-mortar situation by myself, I think I wouldn’t have the family and support that I have here and it’s really been wonderful.”

“Small business is one of the main ways that you can really support and keep the money within the county so rather than going to get things from the name-brand, big-box stores—coming in to find what you’re needing from a small local business helps support families in the community but also the community itself,” Hopkins-Cahoon also says.

For more information on each business within Cultural Grounds, follow along on their social media.

For businesses looking to take advantage of the spaces still available, you can contact the office manager, Hilary Hopkins-Cahoon, or the owner by calling Cultural Grounds at (252)-833-0977.

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