Grove Station lands in downtown Wetumpka

Grove Station has a new home. 

Corrie Sid opened Grove Station in 2021 in Tallassee and quickly developed a loyal following known as the Grove Station Nation. Sid purchased Our Place in Wetumpka last year. Friday, Sid joined leaders from Wetumpka to announce Grove Station will relocate to Company Street in downtown Wetumpka.

“I decided Tallassee wasn’t the right location for us,” Sid said. “We just needed to move. I started looking in Wetumpka as a second location even before I bought Our Place. I was also looking in Millbrook and Opelika.”

Sid said the city and community have been great with lots of support..

“Wetumpka has been so incredible, especially since I got Our Place,” Sid said. “I called the city to say I’m looking to relocate from Tallassee. They were so excited and eager to work with us. They have been great.”

Sid asked for help locating a building and eventually the vacant Overton building on Company Street was found.

“We helped connect Corrie with the building’s owners,” City of Wetumpka economic developer Lynn Weldon said. “From there we all went to work to make everything work.”

Sid’s mind quickly went to work on how Grove Station could be woven into the building. She shared her vision with city leaders and the building’s owners.

“They have been wonderful,” Sid said. “We have been working with them to create a great project. It’s been a great experience all around.”

Sid is bringing everything Grove Station had in Tallassee except the butcher shop. 

“I’ve always been a proponent of small local business and because Wetumpka has a butcher shop, George’s, I really don’t want to compete with them,” Sid said. “The city asked me to tweak my model to include some of the things that Provisions did like wine and cheese. We already have wine and beer. We will continue that and add things to create a market concept where you get a lot of to-go, already made things.”

Sid tried the to-go concept in Tallassee but it didn’t work. She does believe Wetumpka is ready for the idea of prepackaged smoked salmon salad, Asian Station chicken salad or ready-to-go sandwiches.

“There are many workers around that don’t have a long lunch,” Sid said. “They are looking for a quick but healthier concept in the pick up and go.”

There will also be local fruits and vegetables available.

Sid estimates the build out to take between six and eight months but said the bakery is first priority.

“We will have a dedicated section for our bakery which is different than we had in Tallassee,” Sid said. “We will have a bakery, deli, wine and beer, little market and private dining room for those dining experiences.”

The Grove Station bakery supplies pastries to places such as Restoration Coffee. Currently Sid’s baker is using the ovens at Our Place. 

“We will get the bakery up and running first and then be able to open the deli,” Sid said.

Weldon is confident Grove Station will succeed.

“Corrie’s dedication to improving and growing her businesses reflects her deep commitment to Wetumpka,” Weldon said. “Grove Station will be another exciting addition to the city’s flourishing business scene.” 

Grove Station’s announcement means 90% of the buildings in downtown Wetumpka are occupied.

“It is definitely an improvement from 2019 when there were about 60% of the buildings occupied,” Main Street Wetumpka executive director Haley Greene said.

Main Street Wetumpka said business and property owners within downtown spent more than $837,000 in 2024 to improve buildings. The City of Wetumpka invested more than $1.5 million in the downtown area through ALDOT grants to renovate the streetscape of South Main Street. It also replaced the deck in Gold Star Park overlooking the Coosa River.

Greene credits the vision of business owners such as Paula Sargent who opened The GAB Salon more than a decade ago and Pam Martin who owns The Shoppes Downtown.

“She and others like Johnny (Oates) at River Perk and The GAB took the risk early on,” Greene said. “They had a vision of a better downtown Wetumpka.”