BY SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE SOUTHERN
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 11:50 PM CDT
MURPHYSBORO - Even though it wasn't a scheduled activity for this year's 57th annual Murphysboro Apple Festival that began Wednesday, the opening of the Murphysboro General Store certainly fits the festival's theme this year - "Ripe With Possibilities."
The brainchild of Murphysboro schools Superintendent Chris Grode who had a vision of opening a school store managed and run by students as training for the real world, the retail business offers all kinds of school merchandise for sale.
High school students taking business classes manage and operate the school. Merchandise includes student-made items for sale such as stone pieces from art classes, baked products from home economic classes and wood work constructed in the school shop.
"This is a business that will help out all of our clubs," Grode said, noting the store offers a central location for fundraising activities of school booster clubs for example.
Grode was scheduled to join other civic and school officials in a ribbon cutting for the store at 10 N. 13th St. on Wednesday night.
The store opened its doors around 4:30 p.m. and was manned by high school students getting a hands-on experience in merchandising through their volunteer efforts.
"I can't do it now, but I would still like to open my own cosmetology thing in the future," said sales clerk Sharell Tyrone, a sophomore who is in Ryan Berry's marketing class.
Grode's vision came to fruition when he met small business owner Darryl Jones at a Murphysboro Economic Development Organization meeting.
Jones had recently purchased a storefront in the 1200 block of Walnut for his business, Splattered Ink. He was looking for tenants also.
Much of Jones' 9,000-square-front commercial, L-shaped property is for lease to small businesses like The Merchandise or professional service, such as accountants or insurance agents. There is also apartment space for rent.
Splattered Ink will host an open house after Saturday's Appletime Grand Parade, which begins at 11 a.m.
Today's Apple Festival activities include performances from the John A. Logan College Band at 6:30 p.m. at Smysor Plaza and the Robbins Barbershop Quartet at the Arts and Crafts area beginning at 7 p.m.
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