My Favorite York Co. Small Businesses | Small Business Saturday

Small Businesses are my jam. I am one, after all, and I love supporting others! When I purchase a product or service from a small business, I know I’m helping to support real people and not just a corporation. I’m helping to support a family, put food on a table, or send a kid to college. In honor of Small Business Saturday, I am featuring ten of my favorite small businesses local to where I live (in no particular order), and a bonus! These businesses have so much heart, and I am honored to share them!

Wendy's Pies, York County Small Business Owner — Wendy Melander of Wendy’s Pies

Noe Hernandez of Noe’s Gardening Service

Logan Harley of Harley Farms at her woodburning tool — Logan Harley of Harley Farms

Taylor Rhyne of Lemons & Willow Event Management with her team

Teresa Roche of Teresa Roche Art & Textiles

Wendy’s Pies | I have known Wendy Melander for years. I had the honor of teaching her son in elementary school, and I have watched her grow and run several small businesses over the years! Her most delicious leap has been her Wendy’s Pies pie bakery. She sells slices and whole pies, from pecan to peach to apple to chocolate pecan to rhubarb. And let me tell you—they are delicious! She packs three pounds of fruit with a special blend of spices into her handmade crusts. I had the opportunity this past summer to help her with some branding photos, and it was so much fun watching her make these pies! It’s truly a labor of love!
Noe’s Gardening Service | I have known Noe’s wife Kristy for 30 + years; we were both education majors at Winthrop and got teaching jobs in the York County area. So I got to watch her meet her true love, get married, have children, and now, I have a front row seat to the growth of Noe’s landscaping service! He has done quite a few projects for me, including edging several flower beds, ripping out and replanting our front shrubbery, pruning, and putting in a french drain. He is such a hard worker and has a wide knowledge of plants, solutions to yard problems, and beautiful ideas for landscaping. He also plants and grows a special kind of pepper, the “Palmetto Punch” hot pepper, and he sells the seeds through the Rare Seeds Company! If you need any yard work or landscaping done, he would be my top choice.
Harley Farms | Harley Farms is a beautiful, family-owned farm just outside of Clover, SC. I have been friends with Logan and her family for many years, having photographed both her and her sister’s weddings and watching them build a beautiful farm (and family!) out near King’s Mountain! They have a variety of farm animals, fresh eggs, and Logan is a whiz at so many side projects. She is a photographer as well as a wood-worker and crafter, and her creations are so impressive! From custom Christmas ornaments to etched wooden cutting boards, personalized puzzles to monogrammed pocketknives, she can craft pretty much anything you need for a special gift.
Indigo Iris Farm | Indigo Iris Farm is quickly becoming one of my favorite portrait session locations! (It doesn’t hurt that it’s not far from my house.) The farm is a working flower and bee farm with all kinds of nooks and crannies on the property that make beautiful backdrops. They also have the most amazing sunsets! Stephanie hosts bouquet-making workshops and frequently sells her bouquets and other crafts to passersby who stop at her beautifully painted barn. She is also one of the sweetest, most generous humans!
Five Blossoms Farm | Five Blossoms Farm is a seasonal farm that has flowers upon flowers, and bees! You can pick your own, buy bouquets, attend workshops, host events, they have a flower truck that visits local festivals and markets, and my favorite—they will allow photographers to book photo sessions on their property! It is absolutely beautiful, and their flowers are stunning. I recently had the opportunity to attend an event there as a guest (not just a photographer), and I had such a lovely time! Angelica and her husband have recently secured a retail space in downtown York, so stay tuned for their grand opening in early 2026!
Lemons & Willow Events | I had the joy of working with Taylor, the owner of Lemons and Willow Event Management, a few years ago when she planned a wedding I photographed. It only took one email from her during the planning process to tell me that I wanted to get to know this spunky lady better! She is a phenomenal wedding planner, host of the “Dazed and Engaged” wedding planning podcast, and a social media whiz, as well as a fantastic mom and Bible study leader! I have gotten to work with her several other times and participated in a bridal show she organized over the last couple of years. She is an amazing wedding and event planner and was even recently named “Best Wedding Planner of York County” by the Post and Courier! So if you’re looking for someone to help you plan your wedding or a special event, you should definitely contact Taylor! She has a great team and knows all the best vendors across York County.
Mercantile | The Mercantile in downtown Rock Hill is one of the most unique places to visit if you have a few free hours. The 2-story brick building was an old Coca-Cola bottling factory, so the building itself has a lot of history. Inside there is shopping, a cafe, a wine bar, ice cream, coffees, a DIY candle bar, bead bar, soap bar, spice bar, flower bar, and even a place to design your own hats with patches! And upstairs, there is an event venue where you can host weddings, meetings, parties, and more! It’s a great place to go for a girls’ night out, date night, or just to pop in and wander!
Bella & Oliver Soap | And it’s not just soap! One of my coworker’s sisters owns this small business that produces the most wonderful soaps, body butters, candles, lip balms, and other skincare items. Displaced from Asheville by Hurricane Helene, Bella & Oliver now sells their products out of the Yorkville Marketplace in downtown York and online. They weren’t quite ready for last year’s holiday season, but this year, you’d better believe everyone I know is going to be getting a bar of this amazing soap for Christmas! And I can’t wait to try some of their body butter!
Brick & Mortar Coffee & Mercantile | I recently visited Brick & Mortar for a friend’s book release/book signing event (Lucky by the amazing Amy Rossett!), and what a great little coffee shop! It has two stories, so the upstairs can be used for overflow seating or to host events. There were great games for kids and lots of seating options upstairs and downstairs. I am not a huge coffee fan, but their chai was delicious (it even got my son’s stamp of approval), and their baked goods were delicious as well! It’s such a cute little place—be sure to stop in next time you are in downtown Clover!
Parkin Latte | Ok, I have to admit, I just figured out the pun in the name of this adorable little coffee shop on wheels (it was so obvious I completely missed it!). Parkin Latte is a coffee truck that you will spot all over York County in various parking locations, and they have the best coffee and drinks! I am not a coffee person, but I love their chai lattes, and they are always served with a smile to make your day. They also have great seasonal inventions, like “Elfin’ Around” and “Frosty’s Frappe.” They were also recently named “Best Coffee” AND “Best Barista” by the Post & Courier! Check out their website so that you know where to find them next, or if you’re hosting an event or want to schedule them for an office visit.
Teresa Roche Art & Textiles | I met Teresa when I offered to do some photos of an AirBnB my family rented this past summer on Fripp Island called Tidal Treasure, and to use her words…”it was providence!” Not only is Teresa amazingly talented, but she is one of the kindest, most generous souls I have ever met. We became instant friends as I photographed the AirBnB she owns and rents with her brother, decorated with so much of her own art! She designs wallpapers, textiles, and stages furniture and details to create some of the most relaxing and serene escapes. She also hosts a studio and gallery called The Art and Light Gallery! While she’s not actually located in York County, she’s just an hour and a half down the road in the Greenville area, which makes a great day trip. So if you’re in need of some home accents and decorating ideas, be sure to visit Teresa Roche Art & Textiles.