The Kinship NC sets up shop in newly renovated historic Carlyle building

By Stephanie Meador, posted Oct 15, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

The Kinship NC is located on the first floor of the newly renovated Carlyle Building in downtown Lumberton. Photo provided by Owen Thomas.

Nearly a year ago, Lumberton Councilman Owen Thomas purchased the historic Carlyle Building in downtown Lumberton with hopes to persuade new businesses to come to the town. Now, the space is welcoming its first tenant: The Kinship NC.

The Kinship NC is owned by sisters and business partners Shereese Lynn-Cromartie and Evie McKay. Their vision sprang from a lifelong passion that began by bringing together family and friends to make joyful memories.

“We just love to entertain and see other people happy. It brings us joy to do that. So it was just a natural thing for us to do when we went into business as an event space and doing that for other people and bringing them joy as well,” remarked McKay.

The Kinship NC occupies the entire bottom floor which measures 3,100 square feet. Getting the space ready has been a collaborative process with their landlord, Owen Thomas. Together, they’ve created an inviting, customizable venue. After a successful soft opening, The Kinship NC is now preparing for its grand opening on Nov. 15.

“We’re loving the community at large that we’ve met,” remarked McKay. “They're very friendly. So we hope to bring some value to the town here, and [we’re] definitely loving the people and their generosity and that hospitality that they’re showing us”

Clients can choose between “do-it-yourself,” “do-it-with-you” and “do-it-for-you” packages, relying on the sisters’ planning and decorating expertise as little or as much as they wish.

The space offers amenities such as a fully-equipped kitchenette with a fridge, freezer and food warmer, two bathrooms with two stalls each, both ADA-compliant, a multi-purpose room and a main event hall. Capacity for the venue is 100 guests. Tables, chairs, Wi-Fi, security, a mobile bar and a chafing tray station are all included.

The Kinship NC is suited for everything from corporate meetings to weddings, birthday parties, networking events and even book clubs. Interested individuals can contact the sisters via phone: 910-317-0372, email: info@thekinshipnc.com or through their website which will be up and running in the coming days: thekinshipnc.com.

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