Fueled by entrepreneurship and artistic camaraderie, this creative community to Savannah’s south rockets to success.
Written by MARY CORNETTA Photography by KATHRYN ANN WALLER Illustrations by NONO FLORES
WALKING AROUND THE STARLAND DISTRICT today it’s hard to believe that just 25 years ago, this area was filled with derelict businesses and unusable buildings. And while its transformation was a slow burn at first, starting with events like First Fridays, it’s now one of the hottest parts of town. With its loose boundaries encompassing roughly 35 blocks starting just south of Forsyth Park, Starland is where creatives converge to produce art, fashion and food.
Marguerite Seckman owns and co-owns multiple businesses in the Starland District. “It’s my favorite part of this city because you can always find a pop-up to shop, a new menu to explore or an event to enjoy,” she says.
Take the botanically themed Superbloom, for example, a business that Seckman co-owns with Lara Neece. You can work on your laptop while savoring an açai bowl and a mint matcha latte, sip a frosé during a weekly craft night or browse goods from over 30 local artists. If you can tackle all of that in one establishment, imagine all there is to discover throughout the rest of Starland.
Anna McCraney and Fred of Blank Canvas Showroom
Funky Shopping Abounds
From fresh, chic wardrobe pieces to offbeat home decor, Starland’s eclectic mix of stores offers treasures you’ve likely not seen elsewhere.
One step into the Blank Canvas Showroom, and you’ll be met with a colorful array of home decor, clothing and accessories, as well as the store’s official mascot, an adorably friendly Australian shepherd named Fred.
After founding Blank Canvas Development in Brooklyn, New York, owner Anna McCraney opened the Savannah showroom in 2018, where she often employs Savannah College of Art and Design students. According to McCraney, the creative Starland District location chose her. “We fit in perfectly.”
In addition to whimsical gift ideas (like the best-selling Tata T-shirt), Blank Canvas hosts custom charm jewelry events. Grab your friends for a night out and sip on some wine while designing personalized bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Born from the desire to help new business owners get up and running, Marguerite Seckman began One for the Road, a collection of shops under one roof in Starland. (It also features a mini market that carries essentials like rice, soups and olive oil.) Fresh off the collective’s one-year mark, Golden Hour, one of the first businesses it featured, has already graduated to a permanent shop space at Plant Riverside District. Here’s what stores are currently in residence:
• Owned by Seckman, Fête is a must for cocktail connoisseurs. It offers infusion bottles, filled with ingredients like dried fruits and spices, to which you add your favorite spirits. Pre-made concoctions include a chili mango margarita and a mocha espresso martini. On Fridays and Saturdays, Fête hosts a DIY Cocktail Infusion Bar experience that includes a tasting of eight flavors, plus your personally blended cocktail bottle.
• SCAD alum Emmy Davidian brings her vibrant vision to life with her Tribe and Temple designs. Shop her variety of tropical and art deco-inspired earrings, keychains and ornaments.
• Comb through a mix of vintage and modern jewelry, clothing and home decor inside Meaningful Boutique, curated by owner Kieanie Lee-Parker.
• Pop into Château NoNo for delightful ink prints, handpainted homewares or a personalized portrait courtesy of artist, illustrator and owner NoNo Flores. Her live sketches take mere minutes to come to life and make for a sweet souvenir, particularly for visiting friends and family.
“Starland is a true representation of Savannah’s creative community and local culture.”
— Marguerite Seckman, Fête, Starland Strange, One for the Road, Superbloom
• • •
Get your fill — literally — at Lite Foot Co. with refillable and sustainable goods. Owner Katie Rodgers-Hubbard opened the Starland location with the intention of supporting locals on their path to reduce plastic waste. In fact, she’s collaborating with SCAD on an initiative to introduce a Closed Loop Aluminum Bottle Program as an alternative to single-use plastic water bottles throughout the city of Savannah.
In the meantime, whether you’re running low on cleaning, laundry, shower, skin care, oral care or pet products, you can restock at the self-serve refill stations. The store also has plenty of glass and aluminum container options available for purchase. Next, peruse their displays of zero-waste products, like toothpaste tablets, metal razors, eco-friendly gift wrap or upcycled clothing.
Lite Foot also hosts a suite of monthly events, including a clothing swap on the first Saturday of the month and rotating DIY workshops where you can learn to design anything from a reusable tote bag to a jacket for your pup.
“As a neighborhood almost entirely run by small businesses, we all help each other out and want each other to thrive. I think that goes for the shoppers in this district as well.”
— Katie Rodgers-Hubbard, Lite Foot Co.
Starland Strange
Starland Strange
If quirky finds are your thing, look no further than Starland Strange, another one of Seckman’s innovations, alongside business partner Emily Bargeron. Think Starland-themed T-shirts, an eclectic mix of gifts and adult-themed sprinkles courtesy of the Starland Strange Sprinkle Co. Depending on the temps and your mood, sit indoors or outside while indulging in ice cream, bubble tea, cookie dough, a chocolate-covered banana (Sheriff Splitz) or a pickle stick (Deputy Dill). New additions to the bazaar in 2025 include DIY craft stations and game nights.
Kirby Waller, owner of Knack Studio
Indulge Your Inner Artist
With creativity emanating virtually everywhere in Starland, it’s impossible not to be inspired to dabble with your own.
Budding pottery enthusiasts can flock to Knack Studio, owned by Kirby Waller, to learn the art of wheel-throwing or to glaze ready-made pottery. Be on the lookout for upcoming collaborative workshops, like glazing your own pie plates with Auspicious Baking Co. or beer steins with Service Brewing Co.
Female-led artist workspace Dreamhouse Studios is home to seven resident artists, with the newest addition, Sally Shake of Savannah Fabric Co., joining in 2025. Each artist hosts monthly workshops in the studio on a range of art forms, such as quilting, ceramics and watercolor.
“I feel like it’s a great environment to try new things and experiment. Dreamhouse Studios and my business, Mod Bird Creative, have had the opportunity to work and partner with so many other businesses in the area.”
— Sophie Millet, Dreamhouse Studios
Stump
“I love the collaboration and genuine support among our Starland District businesses.”
— Kiley Wright, Stump
Plant store Stump is holding drop-in workshops on Starland First Fridays. Manager Kiley Wright says these events will give participants the opportunity to create terrariums, curate tropical plant pairings, arrange cacti gardens, learn about the art of Kokedama and more. Check in for info on plant swaps and even non-plant-focused activities, like a sound bath followed by brunch.
Starlandia
Knack Studio
A staple in the Starland District for a decade, Starlandia is where artists of all ages and skill levels can shop for materials, trade in old supplies and craft ideas for their next project. Reflecting on the past 10 years, owner Clinton Edminster is proud of how the store and his team have grown in the heart of the neighborhood. “The Starland District is a tightly woven mesh, a fabric of families and sidewalks, eateries and memories, and all the variety of life knitted together by so many caring hands,” he says. “To be part of the fabric, as a store and as a person, is an honor and a blessing.”
Keep Up Appearances
Bell Barber Co. has set the bar for cuts, shaves and grooming in the area, and owner Mimi Bell has been proud to be here since 2017. “The Starland District is super alive right now,” she says. “It’s been so cool to see the neighborhood bloom through the years. It’s really a lovely place.”
After five years at 1915 Bull St., Savannah Ink Tattoo relocated up the block to 3001 Bull St. Although the space is newer, owner Peter Faenhrich has maintained the same relaxed, homey feeling.
“Working in the Starland area is very electrifying. You’ve got great restaurants and shops including a brewery, record store and music venues. I can’t wait for more to come in the future.”
— Peter Faenhrich, Savannah Ink Tattoo
Starland Movement Studio // Photo by Wyatt Junnila
Make Some Moves
Recently opened in January, Pilates for the People is the only Pilates-specific studio in Starland, with eight reformer machines. It provides four types of Pilates over the course of 30 small group classes each week. With her first location in Athens, Georgia, owner Lindsay Hammond says Starland was a no-brainer for the second branch. “The creative, vibrant energy in Starland made the neighborhood a perfect fit for our bespoke approach to Pilates, and we cannot wait to contribute to the neighborhood’s design-forward vibe,” she says.
Although Wendy Pellegrino has owned Victory Gym in downtown Savannah with her husband, Victor, since 2022, Starland Movement Studio is her first solo venture in the area. It opened early this year and offers a wide range of workouts, including yoga, Pilates and dance. Challenge yourself by signing up for a glute- and core-focused Peach Pump class or relax with a sound bath; classes are available to book a la carte. You’re also welcome to join the free walking club Wendy started, which sets off from the studio every Wednesday at 9 a.m.
In the mood for a more high-intensity workout? Classes at F45 Starland combine HIIT with strength and circuit training in 45-minute classes.
Pull Up a Chair
“Simple, approachable and sophisticated” are the words Tyler Kopkas, co-owner of Ardsley Station, uses to capture its essence. And while the restaurant keeps things fresh by introducing seasonal menus now and then, he says the ultimate goal is for it to feel welcoming and familiar to guests, even first-timers.
One tradition that’ll continue in 2025 is charity evenings Sips at The Station. These take place on the third Tuesday of every month (with the exception of December) and feature music, food, drinks and networking. Since its inception three years ago, the well-attended events have raised more than $70,000 for local community nonprofits.
Courtesy Brochu’s
Courtesy Shuk
Courtesy Late Air
Brochu’s Family Tradition is no stranger to nostalgia, as owner Andrew Brochu designed the concept to be reminiscent of his childhood. One way the restaurant will continue to infuse retro vibes is through its increasingly in-demand Sour Hours, held at the bar on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Rotating themes influence the menu and music, which is often from the 1980s, an era Brochu has a penchant for. Keep an eye out for other events as well, such as the second annual Jimmy Buffett celebration, You Had to Be Here, in late summer.
The already robust Mediterranean menu at Shuk recently expanded thanks to a new bar bites menu, served in the atrium post-brunch until closing. Shuk’s owner, Alexis Levin, notes the dolmas have been particularly popular.
“The Starland District has flourished into a space for Savannahians by Savannahians. It’s wonderful to have a community oriented area that focuses on our neighbors and builds into the local economy.”
— Alexis Levin, Shuk
Although it began as a wine bar, Late Air has evolved into a restaurant as of, well, late, according to Madeline Ott, who owns it with her husband, Colin Breland. Credit that to the chef, Daniel Harthausen, and to the popular Thursday night seafood platters, featuring oysters from Tybee Oyster Co.
Flora and Fauna’s chicken schnitzel, daily bread with cultured butter, tuna crudo, Johnny cake and terrine, and Carolina Gold Rice purloo. The cocktail is an Amaracano, with Amara liqueur, Cappelletti aperitif and orange.
Farm Hospitality Group has two outposts in Starland, both under the direction of Chef Brandon Carter:
• Now open daily for breakfast and lunch, Flora and Fauna is the hot corner spot to stop in for an espresso and a bite of something sweet, like the s’mores French toast, or savory, like the biscuits and gravy. The well-received Supper Club is still running Wednesday through Sunday evenings, with a prix fixe $55 three-course meal, but there is now also the option of ordering from an à la carte menu.
• Open for dinner, Common Thread has been working to revitalize its courtyard to make way for more outdoor events throughout the year. Wine lovers will be happy to hear the Wine Club is still going strong, with sommelier Libby Burk hand-selecting bottles you won’t find anywhere else in Savannah. Common Thread’s chefs, Brandon Carter and Joseph Harrison, have been nominated this year for a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast.
Both restaurants will continue to host monthly guest chef pop-ups (Common Thread on Mondays and Flora and Fauna on Tuesdays), so keep tabs on their social media.
• • •
White Whale Craft Ales is fondly referred to as the “watering hole of Forsyth Park” by Jason Piccolo, who owns the brewery with his wife, Jocelyn. Sitting a block south of the park, it just falls into Starland territory, where it’s been in business since 2016. In late 2024, they received a wine license and now offer a variety of options, including a bubbly that’s made mimosas a hit with the Saturday daytime crowd. The beer is still flowing with recurring events like Beer Geek Night on Thursdays and Drink-N-Draw every other Wednesday in collaboration with Neighborhood Comics (an activity those under 21 can join in — sans alcohol, of course). For foodies and beer lovers alike, keep watch for date announcements for White Whale’s Brunswick stew and chili cook-offs later this year.
Nixtate owners Seana and Ken Corona
Reid Henninger, chef and owner of Uncle June’s Sandwich Shop
It’s safe to say that the Starland District wouldn’t be complete without Starland Yard. Since 2019, the food truck park has been a welcomed third space for the whole family, fur babies included.
While various food trucks appear on rotating schedules, Uncle June’s and Nixtate are the space’s newest permanent fixtures, both celebrating their one-year residency in the yard in 2025. Nixtate has a menu with Mexican dishes such as flautas, while Uncle June’s is taking sandwiches to new and delicious heights.
Ken Corona, who owns Nixtate with his wife, Chef Seana, says they are “thrilled to be part of the vibrant Starland District and incredibly grateful for the warm reception.”
Reid Henninger, owner of Uncle June’s, echoes a similar sentiment. “I love that it’s always alive. There are so many small businesses that give it character and color.”
If the upward revival of the Starland District is any indication, expect more Savannah-based entrepreneurs to bring their talents to this already dynamic neighborhood. Despite its ever-changing landscape, one thing is for certain: Starland is the spot for locals to be when searching for their next favorite dish, a new hobby and kindred spirits along the way.
First Friday Sips
• Although owner Natasha Gaskill opened Sixby less than a year ago, the egg sandwiches already have quite a stellar reputation. But breakfast and lunch aren’t all that’s served. On Friday evenings, head outside for an oyster happy hour and live music from Lakin Crawford. Expect a special menu and wine selections for First Fridays, too.
• Don’t let the humble exterior fool you: Lone Wolf Lounge has been nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar in America in 2025. Owners Tom Worley and Andrew Ripley have also been working to remodel the patio just in time to host live bands and art exhibits in the spring.
“Whenever I spend time in the Starland District, I leave feeling energized and inspired. I love learning about its passionate business owners, marveling at their creativity, watching them thrive, and – of course – enjoying delicious food and drinks along the way.”
— Mary Cornetta, Savannah magazine associate editor
Find this story and more in the March/April issue of Savannah magazine.
