Combined retail store, cafe, Mameem & Maudie, opening on Bluffton's bustling Lawton Street

One family seeks to add a bit more charm to Old Town Bluffton, on a street quickly growing in popularity.

Mameem & Maudie, at 7 Lawton St., is described by co-owner Chris Johnston as a "throwback establishment," with a combined retail store and cafe. He compared the concept to Cracker Barrel: The store's inventory will include nostalgic candy, infant and toddler clothes, women's jewelry, and novelties, and the retro-style cafe will serve brunch and lunch.

Plans to serve snocones, ice cream and popcorn to cater to youths is also on the table, Johnston said, in addition to providing assistance to plan birthdays, weddings, baby showers and other events.

But the most important aspect of the business is to keep it family-oriented, Johnston said, as that was how the idea to open the store got started.

"The great-grandmother (Mameem) and great-aunt (Maudie) who inspired this business always wanted to do this," he said, which then inspired great-granddaughters and great-nieces Sherry Johnston and Lesley Tapp to start a shop featuring their relatives' interests and passions.

Chris Johnston said it was important for Mameem & Maudie to not duplicate businesses Old Town Bluffton already has, adding he and the other co-owners "have been careful in selecting categories and purchasing products" that are unique and not found in the immediate area.

The goal is to open Mameem & Maudie by the end of the month, Chris Johnston said.

Lawton Street has seen steady retail growth in recent months. Boutique Eggs 'N' Tricities relocated to 5 Lawton St. on Feb. 7 and The Filling Station Art Gallery moved to 3-C Lawton St. this spring, both of which were longtime Calhoun Street tenants.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Combined retail store, cafe, Mameem & Maudie, opening on Bluffton's bustling Lawton Street."