Meet the Tenants at theLOCAL
If you’ve ever dropped by the Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning, grabbed dinner at the Blacksmith, or walked Downtown to catch a glimpse of local murals, then you’ve probably seen the colorful units that make up theLOCAL. theLOCAL was created in Downtown Jackson in 2017 as an incubator for up-and-coming entrepreneurs who want to get a feel for operating in their own retail space. It is designed to provide these businesses with short-term spaces to test their business concept before ideally being able to move into a larger, long-term space. Located in the heart of Jackson, theLOCAL is a vibrant and engaging hub for community within Downtown and has been a definitive catalyst for growth.
There are currently three businesses operating at theLOCAL. Keep reading to learn more about Sprinkle Me Sugar, Burn Your Truth, and Grinning Soul Crochet.
Photo By: Dahlia Speaker PhotographyRaina Shults started her business in Middle Tennessee in 2018 with a focus on bringing others joy through baking. Baking had become a therapy for her and she wanted to share that. Raina had to close up shop during the pandemic, but after moving back to her hometown in West Tennessee earlier this year, decided to re-open Sprinkle Me Sugar with a focus on her specialty, French macarons.
Raina wanted to open a storefront in order to make French macarons more accessible in West Tennessee. She says, “I am super excited to be downtown because it is the heart of the city and is full of such a rich history.” Raina’s storefront allows people easy access to French macarons and also helps introduce them to people who have never heard of them. The most rewarding part of her business is seeing joy on people’s faces when they come into the shop and try her macarons. “It brings me an incredible amount of joy to see that Sprinkle Me Sugar is sprinkling joy into the lives of others,” Raina says.
In August, Sprinkle Me Sugar moved to a larger unit at theLOCAL to expand into a full macaron and tea parlor. Be sure to stop by and experience all the new flavors, decor, and menu items now available!
Sprinkle Me Sugar is open at theLOCAL on Thursday’s from 10am-6pm, Friday’s from 10am-6pm, and Saturday’s from 8am-4pm. You can follow Raina on Instagram @sprinkle.me.sugar.
Ariana Hargrove has a love for stories and art that has deeply inspired the “why” behind her business. “Believe it or not, I am extremely shy,” Ariana says. “For years, I struggled with communication skills — overwhelmed with fear of saying the wrong thing or not saying enough.” However, this became the key to her self-expression and encouragement to others through Burn Your Truth. Ariana continues, “When I don’t know how to put my thoughts into verbal words, I write it out. Through writing, I found a love for art as well. Making candles is a way for me to express myself and my emotions without having to speak verbally.”
While at theLOCAL, Ariana hopes to reach a wider audience to further get herself and her candle brand out there. As someone who spent a year making candles out of her home and only selling online, she had to trust that customers would like the scents she created. Now, she can open her doors at theLOCAL to many people that can smell and enjoy her scents in person. Ariana says, “It is my hope that through ‘burning your truth,’ you will realize that we all have things we may not want to or be ready to speak aloud, but memories last a lifetime and can be told in many other ways.”
Burn Your Truth is open at theLOCAL on Friday’s from 2-5pm, Saturday’s from 9am-5pm, and Sunday’s from 11am-3pm. You can follow Ariana on Instagram @burnyourtruth.
Laura Grisham’s crochet journey began with a crochet kit gifted to her by her mother many years ago. It started as a hobby and a way to create gifts for friends before evolving into taking custom orders and the opening an online store. Grinning Soul grew the most, however, when her family made the decision the relocate to Jackson in 2022.
“I started vending at local events and establishing a presence in a few small businesses in and around the Jackson area,” Laura says. “It confirmed that owning my own storefront was something I wanted to pursue.” She continues, “My visions go beyond a storefront, though. I want to create a space where individuals of all ages and skill levels can gather, connect, and learn from one another.”
theLOCAL has given Laura the opportunity to expand again. She says, “I am so excited that I can now showcase both my handcrafted goods and carry a curated selection of specialty yarn and fiber art kits. It is very important to me to collaborate with other local fiber artists to teach others new skills and help cultivate a love for fiber arts,” Laura continues. “I hope that these ideas resonate with the Jackson community and that Grinning Soul continues to flourish and evolve.”
Grinning Soul Crochet is open at theLOCAL Wednesday-Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday’s from 9am-3pm. You can follow Laura on Instagram @grinningsoulcrochet.
Downtown is better because of the businesses operating here at theLOCAL! Stop by during store hours to support our local businesses and get a taste of what they have to offer.