🏪 A New Farmhouse Kitchen, Fresh Job Openings and a Book Sale Worth Circling: Your Main Street Roundup

Or: Who’s Cooking, Who’s Hiring and Where to Be This Month in Dunlap

Keeping up with Main Street is a lot like checking on the neighbors. You don’t need the whole story every day, just enough to know who’s doing well, who could use a hand and where the coffee’s on.

The Small Town America Festival packed Harris Park last weekend for its second year, and the Valley’s businesses haven’t slowed down since.

Here’s what’s in this week’s roundup: Rolling Oak Distillery has opened The Family Farmhouse Kitchen, Made New Cleaning is taking new clients again, Trekline Motorsports is hiring for two warehouse jobs in Dunlap, our Chamber director brought home ideas from the Governor’s economic development conference, the library and Udder Yum are teaming up for a new family storytime night, the Friends of the Library book sale is Oct. 21 to 24 and a handy calendar of free and family-friendly events.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Hungry? There’s a new place to eat in Dunlap. The Family Farmhouse Kitchen at Rolling Oak serves pizza, burgers and comfort food Friday through Monday.
• Need help at home? Made New Cleaning has opened up spots for deep cleans and regular service, booking into November.
• Looking for work? Trekline Motorsports has two shipping and warehouse openings, and free job help comes to the library on Nov. 2.
• Got kids or grandkids? Mark Monday, Oct. 19 for a free storytime night at Udder Yum.
• Love a bargain? The Friends of the Library book sale runs Oct. 21 to 24 at the Fair Building, with most books $1 to $2.

🍕 Pull Up a Chair: Rolling Oak Opens The Family Farmhouse Kitchen

Rolling Oak Distillery, the family-owned craft distillery at 324 Whiskey Lane in Dunlap, has added food to the menu. Dunlap.Today reported Oct. 4 that the new Family Farmhouse Kitchen is open Friday through Monday with a rotating weekly menu of pizza, burgers and comfort food. Rolling Oak is Sequatchie County’s first legal distillery, and it also runs an on-site general store with local honey, cast iron cookware, goat milk soap and gifts.

What it means for you: Think of a rotating menu like Sunday dinner at Grandma’s. You know it’ll be good, you just don’t always know what’s on the table until you get there. Check their Facebook page before you head out to see what’s cooking that week. Tastings and spirit purchases are for adults 21 and up with a photo ID, and if you sample, bring a designated driver.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Rolling Oak opens Family Farmhouse Kitchen) · Rolling Oak Distillery on Dunlap.Directory

🧹 A Fresh Start for Your House: Made New Cleaning Opens New Spots

Made New Cleaning, a locally owned home cleaning service in Dunlap, says it’s taking new clients after a stretch of being fully booked. According to its Oct. 5 update, the business is reopening spots for weekly, every-other-week and monthly service, along with deep cleans and “Fresh Start” packages, booking into November. Spots are first-come, first-served, and the business says texting 423-762-5539 gets the quickest reply.

What it means for you: If the holidays are coming and the house is looking more “lived-in” than “company’s coming,” this is your window. It’s also a nice reminder that hiring local keeps money circling right here in the Valley, like passing the biscuits back around the same table.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Made New Cleaning opens new spots) · Made New Cleaning on Dunlap.Directory

💼 Now Hiring: Warehouse Work in Dunlap, Plus Free Help Finding a Job

Trekline Motorsports is looking to fill two shipping and warehouse positions in Dunlap, Dunlap.Today reported Oct. 5. The company makes lift, leveling and lowering parts for trucks and SUVs and ships orders across the country from its warehouse at 30 Lincoln Lane.

If you’re job hunting or thinking about a change, help is coming to town. Staff from the American Job Center will hold free drop-in hours at the Sequatchie County Public Library on Monday, Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They can help with finding openings, writing a résumé, practicing for interviews and finding training for in-demand jobs. No appointment needed.

What it means for you: A job that’s 10 minutes down the road instead of an hour up the mountain is worth its weight in gas money. If you’ve been meaning to dust off that résumé, the job center visit is like having a coach in your corner for free.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today: Jobs & Employment) · About Trekline Motorsports · Library calendar and job center details

🤝 Big Ideas Come Home: Chamber Director Represents Sequatchie County at Governor’s Conference

Janis Adams Kyser, executive director of the Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce, represented the county at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Governor’s Conference, held Oct. 1 and 2 at the Chattanooga Convention Center, The Dunlap-Tribune reported. Kyser said what she learned will help the county’s work in Tennessee’s ThreeStar program, which helps rural communities plan for jobs, education, workforce training and quality of life, and can open the door to state grant money.

“Economic development is about more than recruiting new businesses,” Kyser told the Tribune. “It is also about strengthening the businesses we already have, preparing our workforce, improving our community and creating opportunities.”

In case you missed it, growth is already breaking ground: Heritage Park, a planned neighborhood of 60 single-family homes off Williams Road near the Dunlap Walmart, held its groundbreaking Sept. 3, according to the Tribune.

What it means for you: Most of this work happens quietly, like a farmer fixing fence before the cattle need it. If you own a business, the Chamber is a good first call when you need contacts, advice or a ribbon cutting.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: Kyser represents area at Governor’s conference) · About Tennessee’s ThreeStar program

🍦 Stories and Sprinkles: The Library and Udder Yum Team Up

The Sequatchie County Public Library is starting a new monthly family program called Scoops ‘n Stories in partnership with Udder Yum Ice Cream Shoppe on Rankin Avenue. The first one, “Wizards, Wands & Wafflecones,” is a Harry Potter-themed night on Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. It includes a picture book, a simple craft and family fun. Kids are invited to come dressed as their favorite character. The storytime and craft are free, and families can buy their own ice cream.

What it means for you: It’s a cheap, easy night out, and it’s two local favorites working together, which is just good Main Street manners. The library says it’ll happen once a month for the rest of the year.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Public Library) · Udder Yum Ice Cream Shoppe on Dunlap.Directory

📚 Thousands of Books, a Silent Auction and Fill-a-Bag Saturday

The Sequatchie County Friends of the Library fall book sale and silent auction is Oct. 21 to 24 at the Sequatchie Fair Building, 103 Heard Street in Dunlap. Here’s how the week works:

• Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Friends members only. You can join at the door for $5.
• Thursday and Friday, Oct. 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Open to everyone.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Fill-a-Bag Day. The silent auction closes at noon.

Book sale chair R.J. Toering told The Dunlap-Tribune there are “thousands of books, puzzles, and other items.” The Friends have also started selling books online, and every dollar goes back to the library.

What it means for you: Most books run $1 to $2, so a whole winter’s worth of reading costs less than a tank of gas. Got books gathering dust? Drop them in the donation box outside the Fair Building.

👉 Read more (The Dunlap-Tribune: Books offered online or at Friends’ sale) · Friends of the Library · Sequatchie County Public Library on Dunlap.Directory

🗓️ Your Main Street Calendar: Free and Family-Friendly Dates

• Wed., Oct. 7, 10 a.m.: Smokey Bear visits the library to talk fire safety. All ages welcome.
• Fri., Oct. 9, 10 a.m.: Safety Fair at the library, with local firefighters and a real fire truck.
• Fri., Oct. 9, 2:30 p.m., or Tue., Oct. 13, 10 a.m.: Free Wills & Living Trusts class at the library. No sign-up needed.
• Sat., Oct. 10: Farm 58 Fall 5K fundraiser, a family-friendly trail run at Renew @ Farm 58, 8217 Highway 8. Entry is $58 and includes pumpkin picking and a chili and cornbread lunch.
• Mon., Oct. 12: The library is closed for Columbus Day.
• Fri., Oct. 16, 9 a.m.: Homecoming Parade.
• Fri., Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Library Fall Festival for all ages.
• All month: Sequatchie County Memorial VFW Post 5772’s Veteran Support Drive is collecting new hoodies, T-shirts, jackets, leisure pants and shoes (size 9 and up) for veterans at the Murfreesboro VA hospital. Drop-offs are at Veterans Hall or the library through the end of October.

What it means for you: There’s something nearly every week, and most of it is free. Stick this list on the fridge like a church bulletin.

👉 Read more (Sequatchie County Public Library calendar) · Farm 58 Fall 5K registration

✅ Your Main Street Checklist

• ✅ Try somewhere new to eat this weekend, and check the menu online before you go.
• ✅ Need a cleaning before the holidays? Text Made New Cleaning soon, since spots go first-come, first-served.
• ✅ Job hunting? Look over the Dunlap.Today jobs page and mark Nov. 2 for free job center help at the library.
• ✅ Put Oct. 19 (Scoops ‘n Stories) and Oct. 21 to 24 (book sale) on the calendar.
• ✅ Clean out a closet and donate new clothes or shoes to the VFW Veteran Support Drive.
• ✅ Look up local businesses on Dunlap.Directory before driving to town for something.
• ✅ Leave a kind review for a local business you love. It costs nothing and helps a lot.

Practical rule: Shop close, show up and tell a neighbor. That’s how a Main Street stays open.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Main Street Glossary

• Chamber of Commerce: A local group that helps businesses connect, grow and promote the community.
• Ribbon cutting: A small ceremony the Chamber holds to welcome a new business or project.
• Economic development: Work that brings in jobs and investment and helps existing businesses grow.
• ThreeStar program: A Tennessee program that helps counties make a plan for jobs, schools, health and quality of life, and can lead to state grants.
• Groundbreaking: The ceremony marking the start of construction on a new project.
• Rotating menu: A menu that changes from week to week.
• Recurring service: A service, like cleaning, that comes on a regular schedule such as weekly or monthly.
• American Job Center: A free, government-funded career office that helps people find work and training.
• Silent auction: An auction where you write your bid on a sheet instead of calling it out loud.
• Friends of the Library: A volunteer group that raises money for the public library.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When is The Family Farmhouse Kitchen open?

Friday through Monday, with a menu that changes weekly. Check Rolling Oak’s Facebook page or call 423-582-0917 before you go.

How do I apply for the Trekline Motorsports jobs?

See the Dunlap.Today jobs page for the posting details, or contact Trekline at 423-280-4496 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.

Do I need an appointment for the American Job Center visit?

No. Just stop by the library at 227 Cherry Street between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2.

Can anyone shop the book sale on Wednesday?

Wednesday is for Friends of the Library members, but you can join at the sale for $5. It’s open to everyone Thursday through Saturday.

Is Scoops ‘n Stories really free?

Yes. The story and craft are free. Ice cream is optional and paid for separately.

How do I get my business listed or featured?

Look for your business on Dunlap.Directory, and send news about openings, hiring or events to Dunlap.Today so we can share it in a future roundup.

🔗 Other Resources

• Dunlap.Directory: Local business listings
• Dunlap.Today: Jobs & Employment
• Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce
• Sequatchie County Public Library
• Friends of the Library Book Sale & Silent Auction
• Tennessee ECD: ThreeStar program
• The Dunlap-Tribune

🌻 A Strong Main Street Starts With Neighbors Like You

Every new menu, every “now hiring” sign and every packed book sale is a good sign for the Valley. You don’t have to do everything on this list. Pick one thing, whether that’s a new meal, a résumé tune-up or a bag of $1 books, and you’ve done your part to keep Main Street humming.

We’ll be back with more openings, jobs and events you can use. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.