The grand opening of a new business is cause for celebration in any small town, but the opening of two new businesses on the same weekend is – well, a truly grand affair.

Edgefield gave a hearty welcome over the weekend to a pair of exciting newcomers in the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Turkey Shoppe on Main, and, located just across Main Street, the new Doncaster clothing outlet of Mercy Me!

The opening of Turkey Shoppe on Main coincided with live music on the Square, a radio broadcast, prize drawings and plenty of customers crowding into the new store. Other Downtown businesses remained open late on Friday night just for the occasion.

“It was a diverse crowd and just people from all over,” said Turkey Shoppe manager Beverly Booth. “There were a number of people from around the area here, but there were people from North Augusta and Augusta and from everywhere. It was busy. We anticipated a good crowd and maybe received a little better crowd than we expected.”

Mercy Me! Owner Gail Mercer said she was quite pleased with the weekend turnout.

“Everyone was very complimentary and supportive and there was lots of traffic, which was nice to see,” she said. “The customers liked the selection of clothes and the prices. We sold lots of gift items and just a little of this and that. The amount of traffic we had was wonderful and it was all really exciting.”

The store even used the event to give back to the community, with 10-percent of the weekend’s sales being donated to Edgefield Regional Arts.

The store is currently hosting a fall/winter trunk show for its customers, which is a very popular way to shop for customers who prefer the Doncaster clothing line.

“It’s very popular and just a more selective way of shopping that the customers love,” Mercer added. “They know what they are buying isn’t found everywhere.”