Martins Creek Eve Worden, a native of New Jersey, was born in 1954. She grew up and graduated from high school there before moving to Averill Park, N.Y., where she then spent most of her time before moving south to Cherokee County.
She has spent almost 42 years in business – 33 years in New York, and the past six years right here at home.
Worden’s New York shop was 10,000 square feet of a country shopper’s paradise, fit with a candy store in the center and the ghost of a young girl on sight that never bothered anyone, although customers did feel the girl’s presence. Worden loved her store.
Worden and her sister were on an adventure when they ended up meeting in Murphy. Worden and her husband, Gary, fell in love with the area and asked each other why they were living in New York. They returned home, packed up and moved to Cherokee County.
She opened a store called New Old Stuff that is similar to her previous store, but on a smaller scale – and without the ghost sightings.
Worden tried running her New York store and New Old Stuff while selling at Market Place Antiques in Murphy, but it became too much work. She liquidated her first shop to ease some of the burden.
What was once a horse barn with a few additions added on has became home to a wide variety of fun and interesting items on the Worden property, such as Amish furniture, candles, soaps, yard decor, candy and signs. The second floor of the shop even has a section set aside for fun and festive Christmas items.
Bob Berry of Murphy is a happy customer.
“I come here because I like the cute little stuff they have,” Berry said, “as well as the prices and the people.” He stops in about once a month and has purchased little bird figurines, sun-catchers, bird-houses and other fun items.
Worden”s granddaughter – Liberty Worden, who attends Murphy High School – works in the store and loves it.
“I get to deal with a whole bunch of interesting people and see all the crafts from around the country that other people have made,” she said.
One of her favorite store items is the handcrafted furniture. Liberty said of her grandmother, “She is definitely an amazing entrepreneur and knows how to be successful.”
Worden said of how she buys for the store, “We try to stay with American-made items. Our decor is country.”
She added, “My mother was a big-time antique dealer. She loved antiques, but they weren’t functional so I got into this. I have my staples that are popular, and then I try to buy things that nobody else has.”
Outside of Worden’s shop stands reproduction antique gas pumps along with numerous whimsical yard art pieces.
Worden and her husband, Gary, have been married for 50 years, with two grown children and two granddaughters. They have enjoyed hot rods and antique cars. She owned a gas station once before turning it into a barn restaurant, then New Old Stuff.
Her hobby is gardening, but Worden really enjoys mowing and weed-whacking. She likes the hydrangea flower, and her favorite color is blue.
When asked where she sees herself in the future, Worden simply said, “Right here. I’ll probably be buried here.”