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 four businesses operating at theLOCAL. Keep reading to learn about what you can find at the Nine Oh Six, Earth Borne Goods, Sprinkle Me Sugar, and Seb’s Shaved Ice!
Seb’s Shaved Ice
Ronny Cox started Seb’s Shaved Ice four summers ago and business has only grown since then. As a teacher, Ronny had several extra months off of school due to the pandemic and used that time to make his business dreams a reality. This year, Ronny expressed an interest in opening up a Downtown location and moved into theLOCAL. He wanted to be a part of the growing Downtown scene and it’s shift to small businesses.
Seb’s Shaved Ice can be distinguished by it’s smooth texture and creative flavors. “We take pride in our shaved ice, make it consistent, and make it good,” Ronny says, “We are always innovating, always trying to create a new flavor and make something nobody’s had before.” Ronny’s favorite flavor that he recommends to everyone is strawberry cheesecake - make sure you stop by Seb’s Downtown and try it!
Seb’s downtown location at theLOCAL is open from 10am-8pm on Friday and Saturday. You can follow them on Instagram @sebshavedice.
The Nine Oh Six
Lakyn Bowman began re-selling thrifted items prior to the pandemic and experienced quick success through a Facebook group that grew to thousands of members. She also has a background and career in ceramics, and The Nine Oh Six location at theLOCAL functions as both a vintage shop and pottery studio.
Lakyn opened The Nine Oh Six to promote a more sustainable, environmentally conscious way to decorate spaces and share her love for vintage pieces with others. Recently, she also began an interior design service in order to help people design a home that is decorated and styled with creative intent.
“One of my favorite aspects of thrifting is how personal of an experience it is,” Lakyn says. She is always thinking about the story that belongs with each piece she finds: it had a life before she found it, then she gives it a new life before it finds a new home.
The Nine Oh Six is open at theLOCAL from 11am-6pm Wednesday-Friday and from 9:06am-3pm on Saturday. You can follow Lakyn on Instagram and find information on all her services @thenineohsix and on her website lakynthrifts.com.
Earth Borne Goods
Bryce Miller has been developing his talent for woodworking and product design for over thirty years. His goal is to create pieces with high visual appeal as well as practicality for everyday use.
Bryce turned his woodworking hobby into a business after quitting a corporate job in late 2021 and has continued growing his work and portfolio since then. If you stop by to visit him, you'll find a variety of pieces from charcuterie boards to globes to furniture. Each piece is unique and hand-crafted to showcase the natural beauty of the wood while making it a functional piece.
Earth Borne Goods is open at theLOCAL on Fridays from 10am-6pm and Saturdays from 8am-4pm. You can follow Bryce on Instagram @earthbornegoods.
Sprinkle Me Sugar
Raina 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.
Sprinkle Me Sugar is open at theLOCAL on Fridays from 10am-6pm and Saturdays from 8am-4pm. You can follow Raina on Instagram @sprinkle.me.sugar.
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.