HOGANSVILLE – Friday morning marked the grand opening of downtown Hogansville’s newest business, Hometown Quilt Shop. The grand opening was marked with a ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments, shopping and smiles as business owner and lifelong Hogansville resident Penny Willingham finally was able to realize her lifelong dream of opening and owning a quilting business in the city she has always called home.

“I’ve always been in Hogansville, I’m a hometown girl,” Willingham said. “I love quilting. It’s been my dream for a long time to have my own shop here. This idea has been in my head all my life, a really long time.”

The shop is decorated with quilts made by Willingham and friend Jeanne Lowery, though the quilts that decorate the store are not for sale. The shop is specifically set up to sell supplies to assist others in their efforts to create quilts. In addition, Willingham said Hometown Quilt Shop will also be hosting classes to teach those interested in the techniques and practices of quilt making.

“We will have classes,” Willingham said. “We have one already planned for Feb. 27 from 1-3 pm, it will be a wool class.”

The class will be $25 to participate, and kits will be included.

The opening saw members of the Hogansville City Council, as well as the city manager and mayor in attendance. Mayor Bill Stankiewicz said he hopes the city will soon have all of its downtown space occupied, and will be able to expand its downtown economic hub.

“When I first moved here in 1999, my wife and I couldn’t find a shop, every shop was occupied,” said Stankiewicz, who co-owns William & Mary’s Antiques and Collectibles with his wife. “We want to get back to that soon. We hope to expand our downtown to Commercial Street and High Street, but we have to fill up Main Street first. We think that the move to the new city hall and the renovations to the Royal Theatre will be big steps in getting there.”

Hometown Quilt Shop is located at 204 E. Main Street in historic downtown Hogansville.