'Southern Hospitality' is a phrase that can overwhelm the senses just by reading it. The smell of a neighbor-baked pie arriving on your doorstep, the sound of a knock at your door, and the firm grip of a new friend's handshake all flood into one's thoughts at the mere mention of 'Southern Hospitality'.  It is an expression of the neighborly spirit of the South; an understanding that open doors and open hearts form strong bonds within a community. In celebration of that spirit, the Chamber is proud to present some of the local businesses who are opening their doors to the community to share their time and talents.

Sound Solutions Hearing Care has invited the Hartsville community to their ribbon cutting and open house next Tuesday. They have a huge range of services and products for every kind of hearing care, including device maintenance and repair, and hearing consultation and screenings. We at the Chamber have enjoyed welcoming them to Hartsville through events like our Business Expo and the Taste of Hartsville. Now they get to return that hospitality, and we know they will host an enjoyable and informative open house.

Morningside of Hartsville is May's Business After Hours sponsor. They have invited all Chamber members to their place of business this Thursday, and we hope to see many of you there. Morningside is a leader in the business community and in their field of senior care. This is a great opportunity to learn about what they can offer Hartsville. Come, eat, and get the latest scoop from Morningside and other local businesses.

Durant Children's Center is opening not one, but two doors to the Hartsville area this week!  Their Florence location will host an open house on Wednesday, May 14.  Durant's Hartsville open house will be the following Friday, May 16.  Come to one or come to both to celebrate two decades of service to the area.

Not to be outdone by our members, the Chamber is also hosting an open house this Wednesday and Thursday to introduce our mobile app to members. This app will unify Hartsville's businesses, non-profits, and events into a single convenient button on your Android or Apple iOS device. We are always happy to meet members here in the office, but we are especially excited to invite you all to the Duke Energy Community Room to learn about the opportunities this app is creating.

This is the face of Hartsville in May - open doors, invitations, and little sandwich trays. 'Southern Hospitality' is a perfect description of the way Hartville's business community is kicking off the summer. We hope that you will take advantage of those open doors; we know that if you do, you will discover a world of opportunities right here in town that you never knew existed.

 This week's poll:  What's the best way to welcome a new neighbor? Click Here