BUZZ
O L D S AVA N N A H
A Sweet Anniversary Fifty years later, Savannahians and visitors are still stuck on River Street Sweets Written by JESSICA LYNN CURTIS
IN THE EARLY 1970s, there weren’t many retailers, restaurants and hotels along Savannah’s historic River Street. But Stan and Pam Strickland believed there was something special about the riverfront area. In 1973, along with Pam’s mother, Georgia Nash, the Stricklands opened a gift store called The Cotton Bale at 13 E. River St., named for the cotton warehouses that had lined the street from the 1700s through the mid-1950s. If not for the Strickland children, Jennifer and Tim, the
Photography courtesy of RIVER STREET SWEETS
location might still be home to one of the many River Street gift shops today. But shortly after the shop’s opening, the hand of fate (or perhaps fate’s sweet tooth) intervened. The family was at the Atlanta Gift Market trade show, hoping to find some items for The Cotton Bale, when 11-year-old Tim spotted a fudge pot. He begged his parents to purchase it for the shop, and Stan and Pam gave in. St. Patrick’s Day was the following week, and 13-year-old
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