Why I Love the Foothills: Tommy Williamson, Owner of Williamson’s Paint Center

Published 2:33 pm Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Tommy Williamson is the owner of Williamson’s Paint Center in Landrum. A longtime member of the local business community, Williamson was recognized in 2018 with the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce’s Businessperson of the Year. He is also a former member of the Tryon Little Theater board.

What is it you enjoy most about owning a business in town?

I really do enjoy seeing our longtime customers come into the store, as well as the faces of new customers building a home, renovating or just working on a small project. It’s always interesting to see people, especially those we’ve served for years, and how they have changed, grown or moved into a new stage in their lives.

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What do you think the community appreciates most about your business?

The fact that we offer, by today’s standards, “old fashioned” customer service. The business started in 1949 in Spartanburg and later opened in Landrum, and we have the expertise and focus that you will not find in the big chain stores or most similar businesses. We do our best to maintain records for customers, so that, down the road, we may duplicate product orders as needed.

In what ways have you and the business given back to the community?

Over the course of each year, we make numerous contributions to various local nonprofit organizations, either financially or in product. I feel that it is so important to support the community that supports our business.

What do you love most about the Foothills?

This is such a unique community in so many ways, and, geographically, you couldn’t ask for a better place. There’s nothing more visually special than where the Foothills meet the mountains!

What is the one place you recommend people visit when they come here?

It’s difficult to narrow it down to one place. The area has so much to offer that you really must take the time to explore. There are good local restaurants here for sure and are also so fortunate, for a small community, to have cultural organizations like the Tryon Fine Arts Center, the Tryon Little Theater and the Tryon Arts & Crafts School.