Saving Grace, a new faith-based retail shop in downtown Eatonton, held its official ribbon-cutting Saturday morning, hosted by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce.
The shop, owned by Kirsten Thompson, opened for business Feb. 18, and carries Bibles, Bible study materials, and a variety of gifts and tools intended to help readers engage more deeply with scripture.
“I have been creating online content for almost 20 years,” Thompson said. “I started a blog a long time ago called 'Sweet Tea and Saving Grace,' but shortened it to just 'Saving Grace' a couple of years ago.”
The blog originally focused on crafts and activities, but over time its content evolved.
“It started as mom-and-daughter craft projects,” Thompson said. “As my life changed, the blog changed, too. Eventually, I began writing more openly about my faith, and it grew into Bible study content.”
Last June, Thompson expanded by launching an online store that sold Bible studies and related products. Demand quickly exceeded her expectations, with a key moment coming last fall when she introduced what she calls a “loaded Bible box,” essentially a bundled set of study materials offered through pre-orders.
“I thought I would sell maybe 20 or 30,” Thompson said. “Instead, I sold 300.”
The large order required additional space to assemble and ship the boxes. Thompson temporarily used an empty storefront in downtown Eatonton for packaging and fulfillment. During that time, she realized the location could serve as a permanent retail space.
“It ended up being the perfect spot and the perfect size,” she said.
Following eight weeks of preparation and renovations, the shop’s layout now reflects Thompson’s goal of creating not only a retail space but also a place for visitors to gather and study. At the center of Saving Grace is what she calls the “Bible buffet,” a large table stocked with pens, highlighters, sticky notes, and other tools for Bible journaling and study.
The store also includes a children’s section with seating, books, and a large stuffed bear named Bruce, where young visitors with parents or guardians can sit and read.
In addition to faith-based materials, Saving Grace carries a selection of gift items suitable for graduations, birthdays, and other special events, such as holidays.
The response from the community so far has been “very positive,” Thompson said, even before the official grand opening. She added that many visitors have expressed appreciation for the store’s presence downtown.
“People have come in and said thank you for opening a Christian store,” Thompson said. “That has been one of the most surprising and meaningful responses.”
Before opening The Saving Grace Shop, Thompson co-owned a retail store called Lake and Local in downtown Greensboro with her business partner and friend, Kelly Parham. Although that storefront eventually closed, the pair continues to operate a wholesale apparel business that produces lake-themed shirts for retailers across the country.
Now, Thompson’s focus is on building Saving Grace into a community gathering place.
She plans to begin offering workshops and Bible study events in the near future and said the store’s meeting area will be available for local Bible study groups or book clubs.
“I want to encourage people to come and spend time here,” Thompson said. “The goal is to create a space where people can gather, study the Bible, and build community.”