Photos: The Soda Bar, Homegrown Marketplace celebrate joint grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremony

Photos and story by Shade Narramore / Contributing Writer

There’s no denying that Murfreesboro is developing rapidly, and two of the city’s newest additions, The Soda Bar and Homegrown Marketplace, celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony in conjunction with their grand opening Wednesday.

Developer Scott Grady cut the ribbon with the help of his family. And just like that the two completely different stories contained within the same four walls are open to the public.

“We wanted a place where Mom could go shopping while Dad and the kids hung out and had a treat,” said Sherri Dasilva, daughter of Grady.

A trendy “Welcome” sign invites customers inside Homegrown Marketplace, a shop intended to save Murfreesboro locals a trip out of town with a wide selection of fashionable decor, as well as gifts and stationery needs.

Homegrown is full of products from 18 local vendors scattered across the state. Items include paintings, goat milk products, candles, handmade woodwork and cosmetic needs.

“It gives people the opportunity to not just sell stuff online but actually have it in a store and sometimes even see the people buying it,” said employee Zoe Brown.

On the other side of the store behind the shiplap wall lies The Soda Bar. Here customers can lose themselves in 16 different flavors of ice cream, 12 craft sodas on tap, cookie dough truffles and a full wall loaded with bottled sodas. There’s also an indoor-outdoor bar for passing customers to make a quick stop for a sweet treat.

“It’s a place to just enjoying being out and about where you can just drop in and get what you need,” said Kelli Beam, Vice President of Membership Development.

See a full gallery below.