By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — The former Bank of Pee Dee building will continue its makeover as Rocking Trends Consignment and Boutique.
The store is in the process of changing hands, from Amber Marcengill to new owner Lori Wright. Located at 201 E. Washington St., the building, now owned by Neal Cadieu, closed as a bank during the Great Depression and later housed Economy Auto Supply. It’s one of 18 Richmond County buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was home to the first established bank in Rockingham.
Rocking Trends turned 2 years old on Feb. 8. It opened up shop at a nearby location on West Hancock Street.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Lori Wright, new owner of Rockingham Trends Consignment and Boutique, hangs a prom dress to be on display in time for the Spring season.
Wright, 42, is a Virginia native and northern Indiana-raised woman who, as a mother of 10 children — including eight who still live at home — fell in love with the consignment shop as a nearby place to shop for children’s clothing.
“There’s nowhere local where you can buy good children’s clothing,” Wright said, noting she had to travel to Southern Pines or Fayetteville and that “I don’t have time for that.”
Walking into Rocking Trends, Wright said, is like “opening a closet.”
She credited Marcengill’s strict policy of name-brand clothing — be it by consignment, cash-for-clothes or donated — be in “impeccable” condition. It’s a trend she plans to continue and grow upon.
Wright said she was torn when she learned Marcengill was ready to sell. She was sad to have a friend move away, but similarly sad at the prospect of losing the consignment store.
“There’s no other really good consignment store around here,” Wright said.
Wright will be assisted by her daughter, Shelby Blakely, 19, and her partner, Benjamin Smith. Her other children are likely to make an appearance from time to time. Marcengill said that’s a bonus, as she has primarily done the bulk of the work herself.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Amber Marcengill is helping to smooth the transition to new owner Lori Wright.
Marcengill said she began the process of selling the store in December. At first, she was “kind of ho-hummy about the whole issue” but grew serious in January when her husband was on the inside track for a new job that would take him away from Richmond County. She and husband Chad will be relocating to the Charlotte suburb of Kings Mountain, about two hours west of Rockingham.
Marcengill said opening a business in downtown Rockingham was both a blessing and a curse. The southern hospitality was amazing, she said.
“One of the best pros was my acceptance” by others, Marcengill said. “Lots of laughs, few regrets.”
A lack of acceptance was a key drawback, though.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Shelby Blakely and her mother, Lori Wright, will lead Rocking Trends into its third year in downtown Rockingham.
“I’m not from here,” she said. “I’m an outsider. I’m a whirlwind kind of thing and sometimes people don’t like that. Everything else is a pro.”
Wright said she plans to continue the community outreach for which Rocking Trends is known with Richmond County Animal Advocates. She also indicated there could be opportunities to join with other organizations.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
The dogs go with the Marcengills, but Sophie the shop cat will stay at Rocking Trends.
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