New businesses

Kenneth Parker has recently opened Carolina Thunder, located off I-26 at Exit 5 in Campobello. Carolina Thunder is open Thursday through Saturday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., serving beer, wine, soda and snacks. Live music is presented nightly and there is a dance floor. Pool tournaments are scheduled for every Thursday. &bsp;

Angie&squo;s Tailor Shop has opened at 40 E. Mills Street in Columbus. Owner Dolores Rivera says she is offering alterations of men and women&squo;s clothing and tuxedo rentals.

ERA LakesEdge has opened its third office at 2060 Lynn Road (Hwy. 108), Suite #7, Valley Plaza in Lynn. The realtors invite everyone to stop and visit the new office, open 7 days a week, or call 859-2787. The realtors in the business are members of both the Tryon-Polk Multiple Listing Service and the Western NC Multiple Listing Service.

The CrossRoads office staff was joined by other LakeGuys for the ribbon cutting and open house held recently (see photo above).

New Ownership

The Flower Cottage of Landrum is now owned by Expressions of Greenville. John Greaser, previous owner, will continue at the shop and Melanie Jennings will be the shop manager.

Jennings, who has lived in Columbus for more than 10 years, is a certified NCCPF, SCCPF and FTD Master Designer. She currently is vice president of the S.C. Florist Association and teaches floral design at Isothermal Community College – Polk Campus.

The Flower Cottage of Landrum is located at 142 N. Trade Avenue in Landrum. 864-457-3942.

Charles Neff, owner of Tryon Financial, has sold his investment business practice to Roland Stadelmann, owner of Foothills Financial Group in Landrum, S.C. Stadelmann has more than 18 years experience serving his security investment clients.

Neff will continue as branch manager for the Medallion Group, the broker/dealer, and will be acting as a consultant to Stadelmann and his successor company through the coming year.

For more information, call 859-9909. Tryon Financial is located at 136 Pacolet Street, Tryon.

New location

Owner Dani Russell announces that Carolina Tour & Travel moved on Jan. 1 to its new downtown location at 120 E. Rutherford Street, Landrum, S.C. 864-457-2066.

Business notes

Glenn Covington of Covington & Co. Jewelry has been awarded SJTA Certified Jeweler status by the Atlanta Jewelry Show, the nation&squo;s premier trade show for independent jewelers.

Covington, along with the business, will also be highlighted in the Atlanta Jewelry Show&squo;s official buyers guide and on the show&squo;s website, www.atlantajewelryshow.com.

Covington & Co. Jewelry is located at 210-A E. Rutherford Street in Landrum. Call 864-457-5854 for more information.

This month, Pinecastle Records recording artist Grasstowne will be honored with a #1 album, &dquo;The Road Headin&squo; Home,&dquo; on Bluegrass Unlimited&squo;s National Bluegrass Survey.

The album marks the first for Pinecastle Records to appear on the survey. Pinecastle Records is located in Columbus. 894-0322.

Edward Jones Financial Advisor Christopher Chestnut of Landrum recently received the Jack Phelan Blue Blazer Award for his outstanding performance over the past year.

Edward Jones – Landrum is located at 400 E Rutherford Street, Suite 320. For more information call 864-457-4245.

Twig&squo;s restaurant, located at 130 N. Trade Avenue in Landrum, is now serving breakfast Monday through Saturday from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call 864-457-5155.

Jeff Brown, Broker, has joined the RE/MAX Advantage team, licensed in both North and South Carolina.

Brown has spent more than 25 years in the real estate development industry for one of the nation&squo;s largest home-builders. He and his wife Connie relocated here

from south Florida in early 2007 and are avid equestrians.

RE/MAX is located in Columbus. Call 894-5454 for more information.