How this new Horry County shop embraced Venus flytraps and term ‘tippitiwichit’
Named for Venus flytraps found exclusively along the Carolina coast, Tippitiwichit is embracing creativity, quirkiness and community in a bid to bring people together on Loris’ Main Street.
The new South Carolina shop offers hundreds of books, goods and a bar with a slate of events and plans to showcase local artists, vendors and musicians.
“The weirdos are here,” said owner Candice Grella, who runs the shop with her mother and partner. “People are finding a safe haven here, which is nice, but really, any creative, anyone who’s looking for community, to express themselves.”
Equal parts bookstore, boutique, gallery and lounge, Tippitiwichit aims to offer something for everyone in an Instagram-worthy setting where all are welcome. The new shop opened on April 20 at 4116 Main St. and started operating with full hours on May 5.
Grella describes the shop as a place to hang out, make a new friend, read or listen to music. “It’s for anyone, really,” she said. “Loris doesn’t have many places to hang out.”
The Myrtle Beach native, who spent years in Conway before relocating to Loris five years ago, also works as a director of technical account management at a contact center software company. After making it to a runoff but failing to win a seat on Loris City Council last year, she’s trying to address her concerns for the city with Tippitiwichit.
“I actually ran for City Council in November, and one of the things I talked about a lot was economic development downtown,” said Grella. “We needed more retail, we needed more nightlife. I have a lot of passion for the creative community, music, so I kind of rolled it all into one.”
Local art and unique goods
In addition to the store’s book collection, which Grella calls “smaller, but specifically curated to be impactful” with popular, poignant and topical titles, Tippitiwichit sells a variety of local goods. Displays feature accessories, natural wellness products, skill toys, snacks and more. The store also hosts vendors every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for consignment sellers and even more locally sourced selections.
“We have some things in here that you’re not going to find anywhere else in Loris,” Grella said. “Our focus is on vendors, so a lot of this stuff is unique.”
Grella plans to convert the sparse walls into a gallery spotlighting local art. Tippitiwichit has already partnered with Solaris Art Collective to adorn the store with some local pieces and paint the store’s front windows.
Events and expos
Customers can also purchase more than 100 drinks, including beer, wine and THC-infused beverages, which they can drink in-store or take to go unopened. The bar ties into Tippitiwicht’s plans for social and creative events.
Half the store is dedicated to an open layout featuring tables, groovy couches and an empty floor in front of a DJ-area with a massive screen.
Tippitiwichit has already used the space for karaoke and open deck events for local DJs. In the future, Grella wants to host workshops, open mic nights, paint-and-sip events, yoga and movie nights, starting with 1960s’ “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“We’re just trying to bring all of these things that Loris needs into one, a place for the community, a place for creatives to share their talents, a place to pique your curiosity,” said Grella.
Visitors can check out Tippitiwichit Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Customers can also keep up with the latest updates on Tippitiwichit’s Facebook page.
“Everyone who comes in says, ‘Wow, Loris needed this. Wow, this is crazy to come in and find all these different things in here. Wow, Loris didn’t have a bookstore. This is great,’” Grella said. “Everyone is really receptive to it. They’re really excited. People might be more excited about one thing over the other, but there’s something here for everyone.”