Local shop to close its doors after flooding from Matthew

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — In Whiteville, the flood waters have receded, but some people are still dealing with the damage those high waters left behind.

Joyce and Jim Mauldin have owned the Vineland Emporium on South Madison Street in Whiteville for five years now. They said they have never seen this part of town flood like it did after Hurricane Matthew last weekend.

Joyce said the water in the Emporium was about 11 inches high and took about two days to go down enough that they could begin to salvage what was inside. The Mauldins said they will have to close the Emporium now, because the expense from the flood is just too great.

“On Friday nights we had different groups playing music and it was a big community event, you know seventy people plus and they looked forward to it. But that is in the past, we won’t be able to do that anymore,” Joyce Mauldin said.

The couple said they are not going to let this get them down. They said the community has been so incredible at supporting each other over the last week and they say they are ready to start helping people in Fair Bluff.