WIGGINS — What began as a woodturning studio has grown into a coffee shop and gift store that is helping revitalize downtown Wiggins. Southern Turnings, founded by Scott and Jane Ann Maddox, has become a staple for residents and a tourist destination for visitors.
The business now hosts community events, weekly classes and has expanded to additional locations, playing a significant role in efforts to bring activity back to Pine Avenue.
Starting with a single lathe
When Southern Turnings opened more than eight years ago, Maddox said downtown Wiggins had “one other struggling business.”
“When I moved here (in 1997), this was a vibrant community,” he said. “All the buildings were open, there were shops, there was things to do. It was wonderful. Over time, that kind of dissipated, and basically there was nothing here.”
Originally, the space was intended to be Maddox’s studio — just an air-conditioned space to turn wood. The idea to add a coffee shop and retail area came from Jane Ann. Still, the first few years showed little promise.
Maddox remembers asking Jane Ann to buy a soda just to log a transaction for the day.
“I just thought we’d lost our minds. I mean, there was just no business,” he said.
They stuck with it through COVID-19 pandemic, and eventually, the tide turned.
“Pretty soon we were sitting here going, ‘This is crazy!’” Maddox said. “I give credit to our community for making that (growth) happen, because obviously, if they wouldn’t come through that door, we wouldn’t be growing.”
He said there’s no secret to success — much of the credit goes to their employees and patrons.
“I don’t think I’ve done anything different than anybody else could have done, but I am told that people hope we never leave,” he said.
Teaching the next generation
As Southern Turning continues to grow, it offers new opportunities to connect with the community — including weekly hands-on woodworking classes.
Maddox first learned about woodturning — using a lathe to shape wood into symmetrical items like bowls and cups — during a trip to Silver Dollar City. He was fascinated by the craft, watching a young ex-Marine with PTSD turn wood for three hours.
A retired high school teacher, Maddox said he envisioned his studio as an extension of the classroom. Over the years, he has taught students who have gone on to sell their pieces to help pay for college. Today, his students range from age 11 to 92.
While Maddox may be the one of the only practicing woodturners in the area, he’s part of a broader community that stretches across Mississippi and into Memphis.
“There’s something about making something,” he said. “I would hope that kids would get more involved because that’s something that will last forever, but once people like me pass away and are no longer turning, it’s a craft that’s going away.”
A vision for what comes next
Southern Turnings’ success has grown alongside renewed efforts to revitalize downtown. Maddox said local business owners formed the Pine Avenue Business Association, which now hosts events on the first Saturday of each month to bring more people to the area.
That momentum has inspired the Maddoxes to expand. Two and a half years ago, they opened a drive-thru coffee hut, which has thrived like the original location. A third location — a coffee shop at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College — is expected to open Jan. 5.
The Maddoxes have also begun thinking about the future. With Retirement on the horizon, they’ve considered eventually selling the business — but for now, they say they’re focused on staying connected to the community.
