Paint-your-own-pottery studio 9th of September is closing its doors after 22 years in the heart of downtown Southern Pines.
When longtime owner Eugenie Wing died in December, her family was unable to secure the Broad Street location for continued use. Now, along with longtime family friend and shop staff member Jamie Perkins, they are looking for a new spot to showcase your budding artistic talents.
“While we were not able to secure our current location for the future, it is our hope that the 9th of September will reopen in a new location in the coming months,” said Laura Parker, Eugenie Wing’s daughter. “Our goal and our hope is to find a new location as soon as possible so we can continue to bring joy to the community. It’s very important me to continue on the legacy my mom built with the store, and I am grateful that Jamie wants to take that on.”
About the 9th of September
For more than two decades, 9th of September has been the home to drop-in paint experiences and gatherings such as birthday parties, girls’ nights, team building, and more. Guests have painted designs on everything from ornaments, cups, plates and pots to other commemorative items. “People have even gotten engaged there,” said Laura. “It’s nice that they have these little tokens to take with them — little life treasures.”
Community members are known to drop in to paint, visit and stay a while. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen former kids come back and bring their kids in here,” says Jamie Perkins. “This is where people come to feel good and celebrate. And we need that especially now more than ever.” Remembering her friend, Jamie says, “everything happy about this store has been built by Eugenie.”
What are the plans to return?
The family intends to release ownership of the store once they close their doors at the end of this month. Jamie will then re-open once securing a new location.
Jamie says Eugenie had told her that the way the shop had always done things didn’t have to be the way they continued to do them. Jamie felt that was Eugenie’s way of giving her blessing to take on the store’s future, a role that Jamie does not take lightly.
“I have a whole wave of emotions,” she says. “I’m committing, and I know the community is here to help. It’s so important to me to keep Eugenie’s legacy alive and make sure something as important as this store remains here.”
What’s the story behind 9th of September?
The shop was established in honor of Morgan Perdue by her sister, Mackenzie, after Morgan died in an auto accident as a teenager. September 9 was her birthday. Because Morgan was creative, her sister opened the space in her memory for others to gather and paint custom pieces — even painting a few of Morgan’s journal entries on the wall such as, “let your creative spark soar” and “the earth laughs in flowers.”
In 2000, the Perdue/Peele’s family-friends, Joseph “Joe” and Eugenie Wing, purchased 9th of September. According to Eugenie’s obituary, that purchase “ignited her passion for the business and community it touched. For 21 years she loved welcoming customers and felt privileged to play a role in bringing people together to connect, to create and to laugh.”
Eugenie had already brought in her dear friend, Jamie Perkins, to help run the store full-time in 2021. The two met when Eugenie opened the business under her family’s ownership. Back then, Jamie would drop-in to paint and talk with her new friend.
The last day to paint at the current location will be Saturday, February 12 and all projects must be picked up by Saturday, February 19. The doors will officially close on February 28. For new developments, follow 9th of September on Facebook.
