New Owners Have Big Plans for Woodlawn Store 'Sissy's'

WOODLAWN - Big things are ahead for the little store in Woodlawn.While new owners, Steven and Jillean Holland, just took over the store July 15, sales have already quadrupled and they are making plans to expand the store into a home base for the community.For the Hollands, both residents of Woodlawn and graduates of Woodlawn High School next door to the store, they know the importance of the store for the community, especially the kids after school.“The store is a big part of our history,” says Jillean, who remembered spending many afternoons in the store after school.Steven feels the same way, but said to keep the store alive, “It needs a face lift.”Along with the new look comes a new name. The store known for decades as Woodlawn Grocery will now be called Sissy’s. If you’ve every visited the store in the last 30 years, you know why.Longtime manager Monica Brown is known to many as Sissy. The Hollands felt it was appropriate to name it after what they call the heart of the store.The name holds a special meaning for Jillean too, who is also called Sissy by her nieces and nephews.Over the years, the store has been leased from long-time owners Jimmy and Brenda Richardson. The Richardsons sold the store and property to the Hollands this summer, giving opportunity for the new owners to invest in the store.According to Steven, the first change people will see is a new lighted sign outside the store with the name Sissy’s, as well open and closed lights.“Many people never knew when the store was open,” he said.The store is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Looking ahead to the next year, they plan to demolish the house that is attached to the store and build on to the original storefront.Steven assures the iconic front of the store that has mostly remained the same since the 1960s will not change.“We canno...