Almost 9 Years Later… We’re Opening Our First Store!

After almost 9 years in business, we’re doing something we honestly never thought we’d be doing.

We’re opening our very first brick-and-mortar store!

And the funny thing is… this wasn’t something we had been planning for years. There wasn’t a five-year plan that included a storefront. There wasn’t a moment when we sat down and decided, “Let’s start a business.”

We got the keys to our first brick and mortar store in Sylva, NC!

In fact, Cullowheegee Farms has never really happened that way.

From the very beginning, it has been this organic idea that somehow took on a life of its own.

What started in our kitchen in 2017, making soap as Christmas gifts, slowly grew into something much bigger. The growth was never overnight. It was slow, steady, and consistent. Along the way, we listened—to our customers, to our hearts, and to the opportunities that seemed to find us at just the right time.

And somehow, here we are.

When this opportunity came along to open a small shop in downtown Sylva, we knew almost immediately that we had to jump on it.

It just felt right.

The timing felt right.The town felt right.And the building felt right.

And then the building started giving us little surprises that made us feel even more certain we were in the right place.

We’re still very much in the middle of renovations, but early on we discovered something hiding underneath those low, white drop ceilings: a beautiful angled wooden shiplap ceiling.

It was absolutely gorgeous—and it wasn’t even part of our original design plan!

Then, as if that wasn’t exciting enough, we had to replace some old drywall and discovered a beautiful brick wall hiding underneath.

We exposed this beautiful brick wall hiding behind the drywall.

There it was, just waiting to be uncovered.

Needless to say, we took that as a pretty good sign.

Sometimes the best things aren’t part of the plan.

The space itself is tiny, but it’s absolutely perfect for what we need it to be. We’ve been dreaming up all the little details that will make it feel like Cullowheegee Farms—from the colors and old wood to the shelves that will soon be filled with our handmade soaps and natural body care products.

And there’s another little piece of this building that has us especially excited.

Before us, this space was a bakery, which means there is a small cottage kitchen tucked away in the back.

If you’ve followed us for a while, you probably know that food is another passion of ours. Eric was a chef for many years, and both of us worked in the food industry before we ever became soap makers.

That love of food never really left us.

So, while our focus right now is getting our store open and filling those shelves with all the Cullowheegee products you know and love, we’re excited about the possibility of expanding our offerings down the road—most likely next year—to include some of our favorite homemade sauces, dips, seasoning blends, and other seasonal things we can cook up.

Because apparently, after almost nine years of making soap, we’re not quite done letting Cullowheegee Farms evolve into whatever it wants to become. 😉

Beautiful ceiling uncovered beneath the drop ceiling tiles.

And honestly?

We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cullowheegee Farms has always been about following the next step when it feels right. We’ve never known exactly where this journey would take us. We just kept putting one foot in front of the other, making good products, listening to our customers, and staying true to what we believe in.

This store feels like the next chapter.

A little place in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina where you can walk through the doors, smell the soaps, see where all those products you’ve been ordering online come to life, and experience Cullowheegee Farms in a whole new way.

We are so incredibly grateful for this opportunity.

And we are even more grateful for the people who have made it possible.

Every bar of soap you’ve purchased. Every order you’ve placed. Every wholesale shop that has given us shelf space. Every kind word, recommendation, social media share, and visit over the years—it has all helped get us here.

We truly couldn’t have done it without you.

So, if you find yourself traveling through the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, come see us in downtown Sylva!

Cullowheegee Farms — The Alley opening September 2026

We can’t wait to open those doors, turn on the lights, fill those shelves, and finally welcome you into our little corner of Cullowheegee Farms.

Here’s to almost nine years behind us—and whatever comes next. ❤️