Finding Community Through Small Business: Our Journey in Mooresville, NC
In 2020, at the very onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my family made a significant move from our native home in Tampa Bay area in Florida to the quieter, more close-knit community of Mooresville, NC. Like many families during this time, we found ourselves facing not just the challenges of a new environment, but also the profound isolation brought on by the pandemic. This was particularly challenging for us, a family of inverted neurodivergent individuals who struggle with social anxiety yet yearn for a sense of community. Our journey to connect with our new home has been a unique blend of our personal challenges and passions. Early on, we decided to channel our special interests into a small business, Niche & Nicknacks. This venture became a therapeutic outlet and a bridge to the community we longed to be a part of. While our business primarily operated online, the desire to engage face-to-face with our community remained a strong, albeit daunting, aspiration. Our breakthrough cam