“Walking Dead” Actors to Help with Fundraiser in Commerce

Two Hollywood actors who appeared in the popular TV series, “The Walking Dead,” will be in Commerce later this month to help the town with a major fundraiser.

According to a report in the Athens-Banner Herald, Sonya Thompson and Larry Mainland will be in Commerce on April 15 to raise money for the restoration of the South Broad Street building.

Built by W.B. Hardman at the turn of the 20th century, the South Broad St. building originally housed the first Ford car dealership in Commerce.

Later, it was an Oldsmobile dealership in the 1940s.

It was then a warehouse for several decades until 1978, when an unknown arsonist set fire to the building, but it was saved.

The Commerce News moved into the building in 1982, and remained there until the newspaper was sold in 1987.

Commerce Printing and Office Supply took over the space until the business moved last year.

On April 15, new building owner Rena Cantrell will be holding a garage sale at the building from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cantrell purchased the structure earlier this year and renamed it South on Broad.

She said the garage sale will have a festival atmosphere with live music in addition to a wide array of merchandise.

Thompson and Mainland will attend to sign posters used to promote “The Walking Dead.”

Thompson and Mainland, a Duluth resident who acted as one of the ghouls in the movie “Goosebumps,” will sign posters that will be sold during the rummage sale.

Thompson, who is a native of Commerce, will attend from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and both she and Mainland will sign posters from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.