Squirrel Crossing

08/19/2026

When we tell people how much we love Elkin and our decision to call this place our home, one of the first things we talk about is the trails — the access to nature right out the door! It truly is like no other that we’ve experienced.
And we can’t wait for our store to be its own li’l stopover right on the MST (Mountains-to-Sea Trail), as part of Elkin Main Street.

This video is a testament to the power of nature as the ultimate connector, and what’s possible when you have people who care enough to make it possible — huge kudos to Elkin Valley Trails Association for building what we get to experience, and all the work that continues day in and day out.

We love our li’l trail town, and this video sweetly captures the trails as the lifeblood.

There’s so many ways to Explore Elkin & here, & what a truly beautiful thing that is to be part of.

08/10/2026

Meet the MCWILSONS
(Yer Founding Squirrel Fam 🐿️)

ANDY is a rootin-tootin, problem solvin’ wood workin’ conceptualizing kind of human who is responsible for saying LET’S GOOOO! and keeping things moving forward. He can find solutions to just about everything, and isn’t afraid to commit to the process to get there. His gift is visualizing and painting it out, whether on canvas or in his mind. He gets us from point A to point B. He fixes our breaks. He mends our fences. He believes in accessibility (of art, of food, you name it). He was born to build. And good thing since that’s what he’s been leading the charge on here this past year.

If he’s not at the store you can catch him on drums with Luke Mears & at Country Blues jam every second TH of the month at our neighbor’s house Reeves Theater

SARAH is a rootin’ tootin’ detail-oriented idea (whoa!)man who likes to believe the impossible, then convinces herself she can do it. Back in the day she got a business degree with the thought she might open up a veg-friendly community space one day (and look Ma! here we are). She’s learned to do just about everything to have the life she has. Connection is what she’s made for. Girl can talk! And write ;). She’s mapped out the route to get us here on this road less traveled. She roots for us and picks us up where we’re down. She’s the thread that mends our seams when they start to come unraveled.

If she’s not at the store you can find her at Yoga On Main Studio teaching an All Level Flow yoga class every WED night at 6:30.

COPPER is a rootin’ tootin’ red Dobie-man turned Shop Dog. Affectionately known as Copper Bopper, or “Cop Bop” for short, this guy lives to greet you. When we adopted him we were told he was a little bit everybody’s dog. And now we know exactly what that means. He truly is a big circle guy! He loves everyone, almost as much as he loves soft things. He takes the invitation “lean on me” very seriously. He’s responsible for ushering us into this season and honestly, he is just the best.

If he’s not at the store you can catch him cruising main, or walking up the steps to get his treat fix from Melissa's Natural Pet Treats

03/15/2026

Sarah here. I asked my mom if she had any old photos from inside the hardware store. Not just any store…her dad’s hardware store. Papa's hardware store. The early beginnings of State Road Hardware, back when it lived just steps in front of their family home, on Klondike Road. This photo is of her and her mom inside the store in 1952. To me, it shows so much. And I'd like to share a bit of that with you:

It shows a very🍀 Irish woman named Maria, who left everything she knew to start a life overseas with her love Paul in his homeland of rural NC. Mimi never met a stranger, and made everyone she met feel like family.

It shows her daughter, a young Maureen, who much like her mom, has never met a stranger. And who would soak up so much inspiration from her dad — his resourcefulness, his utilitarian nature, his simple practicality towards life. This same little girl who would one day move all the way to Florida to write her own story, and then years later find her way back home.

It shows paint, an entire wall of paint. Sherwin-Williams paint. The very same kind of paint Maureen’s daughter Sarah would grow up to paint murals with, alongside her love, Andrew.

It shows pot belly stoves, and while these might have been for sale, Papa had a wood burning stove in use, where kids would gather 'round on cold mornings before riding the bus to school. A visual we hold close when creating a sense of warmth in our own space.

It shows floor to ceiling shelves, stocked with usefulness, lined with care. Filled with necessities. For Papa, this was hardware supplies. For us, it’ll be healthy food.

It shows hand-painted signs, and personal touches. Elements that offer an authenticity. A realness.

Overall, this photo captures a feeling. One of family, of home, of sense of place.

And most of all (at least to us) it represents the full circle nature of this life. And of our story, Sarah & Andrew. The one that led us here, from creating sense of place through our painted murals as Hand in Hand, to opening our own mom n' pop shop we get to live above, right here in Elkin.

Sometimes the journey brings you back to somewhere you didn’t realize a part of you always was.

Sometimes everything comes full circle ⭕️, just as it’s always meant to be.

03/02/2026

Who are we and what are we doing here? For those who don't know us (yet), here's a link to our website with a bit of backstory on your founding squirrels, Andrew and Sarah. Anything else you want to know, drop us a question below.

MEET US: squirrelcrossing.com/meetus

02/26/2026

An energy we so love being part of...and even more so when we open this Spring! To us, it truly feels like living in Mr. Roger's neighborhood. Elkin Main Street has got it going on y'all. And did you know it's right on the path of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail? Not only do we intend to be a daily stopover for locals & visitors for your healthy grocery staples, grab-n-go bites and community hangs (meeting a need we've identified right here in downtown)...we also look forward to serving as a stopover for hikers along the MST. What do you love most about our little small town, downtown charm?

Explore the heart of Elkin, our beautiful downtown! From eateries, pubs, and drinkeries to shopping. Elkin has a variety of businesses to suite your needs!

02/22/2026

👋 Hello out there! We’ve been quietly burrowing a bit, and are beginning to surface. It sure feels good to be thawing out, doesn’t it?

This season has shown us a lot — including what a gift it’ll be next winter for us to have everything we need, right downstairs. And for you to burrow in with us.

•••

We’re now just a month out from the Spring equinox — the official start of a new season and the marker of our 10 year marriage-aversary. And we’re hoping not too far beyond that…our store opening. (We can’t wait and we’re working our way there…we promise).

As the rising temps in recent days have meant doors open downstairs while working, we’ve been watching passerbys and welcoming friendly pop-ins. And it’s giving us a taste of what’s to come — screen doors offering a sense of warmth and a cool breeze blowing in. What a feeling! (What a feeling).

As we’re rollin’ some fresh paint on our walls, we’ve also been given another reminder. It’s always been hard to put into words how our mural paintings are different. Why they take longer sometimes. Why we’ve never treated them as “ pictures on a wall.”

We’ve always been after something different. And this creative venture is no different.

We chose something with a lot of moving pieces and parts, because that is the Sarah and Andrew way — but the gift is getting to arrange these pieces in a way that only we can.

Throughout the process we continue to connect with so many people who shape the journey and become a part of the finished piece.

This whole project isn’t just a storefront for us — we’re building something we believe in. And we are reminded daily that it’s what matters most to us in this world — facilitating moments of human connection — hand in hand.

It’s an extension of every part of our story. And we can’t wait to bring you in soon to write the next chapter with us.

Until then, let us know what you’re most looking forward to with Squirrel Crossing. And if you see our doors open, please stick your head in and say hello.

- The McWilsons 🐿️
(Sarah, Andy, & Copper)

[Not AI. Arrangement of words by Sarah.]