Report: Redneck Shop Empty After Judge Rules Church Owns Building

By: WSPA Staff | News Channel 7
Published: February 02, 2012
Updated: February 02, 2012 - 1:17 PM

Updated: February 1, 2012

One month after a judge ruled New Beginning Baptist Church is the rightful owner of the building that houses the Redneck Shop, the building is cleared out.

According to GoLaurens.com, the business sits nearly empty.

But Rev. David Kennedy says the legal battle is far from over. Read more here.

Posted: January 3, 2012

After a court battle that lasted nearly four years a store in Laurens, operated by Ku Klux Klan members, officially belongs to a predominantly African American Church.

A judge ruled New Beginning Baptist Church is the rightful owner of the building that houses the Redneck Shop.

The Red Neck Shop has been the center of controversy in Laurens for more than a decade.

To Reverend David Kennedy of New Beginning Baptist Church he says it's stood as a symbol of hatred.

"We fight against racism, hatred, and that kind of ignorance as long as God gives us breath," Reverend David Kennedy said.

And that fight ended with good news for Kennedy. A ruling from a judge that the building belongs to his church, and not the Ku Klux Klan members, who have been operating the store.

The store is known for selling KKK robes as well as confederate flags.

"It's sad that in 2011 we are still confronted with this kind of thing," Kennedy said.

Reverend Kennedy says the legal ruling means now he has the right to enter and inspect the building his church rightfully owns, something he says the store owner has banned him from doing.

"It's been a hard fight but a worthwhile fight," Kennedy said.

Kennedy says the news is about more than a building. He says it's a victory against hatred, something he says he and his congregation has endured for years.

"Confederate flags were placed on my door the way I enter," Kennedy said.

The Reverend is keeping his plans for the building a secret, but he says his plans don't include the Redneck Shop.

"No more Redneck Shop that day has come to an end," Kennedy said.

Kennedy says he hopes to inspect the building this week and move forward with their secret plans.

Reverend Kennedy says it's only a matter of time until the building portrays a new message, a message of unity and hope, instead of deep seated hatred.