The town of Littleton is experiencing a surge of positive developments, with new businesses, educational initiatives, and community events set to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. 

On Tuesday morning, local business leaders gathered at The Acorn Center for a community breakfast hosted by the Ed Fitts Charitable Foundation and the Greater Littleton Development Partnership to network and discuss ways to market the community as a whole better.

Leanne Patrick, president/CEO of the Lake Gaston Chamber, shared how much the Lake Gaston/Littleton community is growing. "Business is great in our community. We're getting inquiries daily from those looking to either visit or purchase property here," she said. "It's an exciting time to be in my chamber president/CEO role." 

Local entrepreneur Sherry Williams announced the opening of her new store, Brocante, on Main Street in Littleton. Williams explained that Brocante is French for "second hand," and her store features unique pieces and second-hand furnishings.

• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
• Click to open image! Click to open image!
•  

Lori Medlin, president/CEO of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented the area's new visitors guide, which features an entire section on Littleton and Lake Gaston's offerings. 

Medlin shared how visitors spend millions each year in Halifax County coming off both Interstate 85 and 95. She expressed excitement about the new developments and momentum in the region.

Kelly Barber, Halifax Community College Small Business Center director, discussed how HCC is partnering with The Acorn Center to offer classes in Littleton for entrepreneurs, including a Spanish for Business Owners class on June 25.

Local business owner Buddy Isles Jr. shared about his business growth in recent years, and the Greater Littleton Development Partnership and reminded everyone of the upcoming First Friday concert series:

July 4 — Carolina Shifters First Friday Concert

Aug 2 — Wild Country First Friday Concert 

Both concerts are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Main Street stage.  

Acorn Center summer concert series

The Acorn Center is also launching its highly anticipated summer concert series, featuring eight free shows and a diverse lineup of concerts, including holiday events and arts performances. The free Thursday evening concerts will run from July 11 through August 29, with gates opening at 5:00 p.m. and shows starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Ed Fitts Outdoor Amphitheater on Mosby Avenue.  

The series will showcase a variety of genres, from beach music to country, contemporary Christian, modern bluegrass, and rock.

The Thursday free concert lineup includes:
July 11 — The Chairmen of the Board Opener: The Executives (Beach)
July 18 — Jordan Rainer Opener: Chad Thompson (Country)
July 25 — Ben Fuller (Contemporary Christian)
August 1 — Nu Blu (Modern Bluegrass)
August 8  — Blackwater Band (All Genres)
August 15 — Brickhouse (Party Band)
August 22 — Riggsbee Road (All Genres)
August 29  — The Phoebes, Opener: Phat Albert (Rock)

In addition to the concert series, the Acorn Center is also offering arts classes and other family-friendly events this summer. A full schedule can be found at this link

Timber Water Brewery

Timber Water Brewery, a new addition to Littleton's business community, is gearing up to open its doors soon. 

Brewmaster Kyle Rakosky is optimistic about the brewery's future despite some construction delays. "We are starting to brew soon and hope to roll out our full line of beers before the end of summer. In addition to our taproom in Littleton, we plan to distribute our beer statewide.”  

The brewery is planning a grand opening event, which will include food trucks, live music, and games. 

Moving forward, Timber Water Brewery intends to host regular events such as trivia nights, live music performances, and food truck visits, in addition to offering a room for rent for parties and events.

Littleton Academy

Littleton Academy, a private K-8 school that opened in 2022, is moving into the former Littleton High School building later this year. 

The academy is adding grades each year as the school grows and has identified several Pillars of Instruction, which are taught in addition to core academics. 

These pillars include the arts, accelerated academics, agriculture, financial literacy and entrepreneurship, trades, robotics and technology, and emotional intelligence. "We're excited to have enrolled new students to begin this fall,” said Superintendent Dr. Mike Williams. 

Enrollment remains open for the 2024-25 academic year.  

The Fitts Foundation has played a significant role in supporting the growth and development of Littleton, helping to establish businesses such as the Blue Jay Bistro, a five-star restaurant, and Main Street Mercantile. "Net proceeds from any of these businesses go back to support the work of Littleton Academy," said Ed Fitts. "That was my goal from the beginning: to support Littleton Academy and provide a world-class education for children in our community."

As Littleton continues to grow and thrive, the community remains committed to providing its residents and visitors with a vibrant, engaging environment that fosters education, arts, and entrepreneurship.