FARMVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – Many small town businesses struggle due to a lack of population and not enough tourism.

That’s not the case in many Eastern North Carolina towns. Middle Street in New Bern, Queen Street in Kinston and Farmville are places that are booming with business.

Farmville’s influx is happening right now.

At the corner of South Main Street sits a business geared towards women. It’s also helping the community thrive.

In two short months of being open, Jessica’s Gun Shop sold over 80 weapons. The New Jersey native said if her shop was in Greenville, it could be a different story.

“I like the small-town feel, because if you open a flower shop, a gun shop, whatever kind of shop it is in Greenville, you will not be the only one,” Jessica Pickerell, of Jessica’s Gun Shop, said.

The new store has even brought more community members to Farmville from surrounding towns.

“Snow Hill, Fountain, and Falkland don’t even have gun shops, so it’s closer for them to come to me than going all the way to Greenville,” she added.

Downtown has seen its struggles in the past, but it is now bouncing back. Just in the last six months, more than 10 businesses have opened in town.

“People support you, it’s what they want, it is what they like. They don’t have to go to big corporations or big business to get it. They can get it right in their hometown and it is a lot cheaper,” Sandy Mills, a business owner, said.

Rise and Grind Coffee Shop is also flourishing in Farmville. Mills has plenty of company.

“There has been a bakery that has come into town, a welding shop that has come, and a café that has opened up and they are still coming. There are plenty of people coming and opening up businesses,” Mills explained.

Both business owners said it’s very important to them that everyone shops local and supports businesses.