Provisions carries cheese and wine from more than 20 countries
Downtown Wetumpka STORY BY BRITTANY SMITH & PHOTOS BY JAKE ARTHUR
“W
e can, together.” A simple phrase; yet, highly impactful in the hearts of those who treasure the small town of Wetumpka. A bustling city once again, Wetumpka has so much to offer those new, old and visiting. With her natural beauty, Wetumpka is a community determined to thrive, and an excellent place to put down roots. In 2019, a tornado went through the heart of the small town, leveling a historic church and decimating everything in its path. The community, although totally heartbroken, rallied to build back stronger and, in the process, attracted the attention of HGTV’s Ben and Erin Napier. The Napiers decided Wetumpka would be a great revitalization project, and before the town even knew what was happening, Wetumpka was to become the first town on a new HGTV series titled Home Town Makeover. Fast forward two years in the wake of the tornado and six months after HGTV finished its revitalization plan, and Wetumpka is stronger than ever. The community is growing and once again thriving. And with people coming from all across the nation to visit, there appears to be a bustling, prosperous future ahead for this tight-knit community. So, we welcome you. Whether you are moving in from somewhere unknown to us or a current local, we urge you, step into the magic that is downtown Wetumpka and experience the “We can, together.” A few places to visit when perusing the downtown corridor:
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PROVISIONS CHEESE AND WINE SHOPPE
Located centrally on E. Bridge St., in downtown Wetumpka, Provisions Cheese and Wine Shoppe offers over 100 types of cheeses and 200 wines from more than 20 countries. The shop also provides artisanal style gourmet gifts. Owners Kate and Dustin “Lucky” Lawrence purchased the Fain Theater to revive an older building and give back to their small community. They decided to keep the original marquee intact during the renovations because of the rich history that the Fain Theater brought to Wetumpka. “We really had the vision of a small building,” Lawrence said. “But this place just spoke to us. And I told Kate I thought we could find a way to make it work, so we dug in. “We wanted to provide Wetumpka with something unique, and with our European experience, and my world travels, our affinity for cheese and wine, we thought, ‘why not?’” Thus, Provisions was born, and the Lawrences began taking people along on a wondrous food adventure. “Once we decided to do this, our mission became to prioritize fun, invest in the community and give people a place where they choose to be,” Lawrence said. Since opening their doors, April and Jeremy Hunt have joined them as business partners and co-owners, growing the business to include imported chocolates, hand-painted wine bottles, live music, special events and so much more. For more information or to attend an event, visit provisionscheeseandwineshoppe.com or follow them on Facebook. 2021-22 FYI
