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.
A crowd gathers before the ribbon cutting of The Soda Bar and Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Developers Scott Graby (left) and Sherry Dasilva (right) prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of The Soda Bar and Homegrown Marketplace’s in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Developer Scott Gibbons, surrounded by family and vendors, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of The Soda Bar and Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
A trendy welcome sign invites guests inside the newly opened Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Local homemade products are available for purchase at Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Decor is available for purchase at Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Homegrown Marketplace is a trendy gift store and boutique located in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Employees Carroll Hochstitler (left) and Zoe Brown (right) work the grand opening of Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Diplomats Jeff Carlton, Rondda Link and Cory Edmonds (left to right) of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce enjoy some hot cocoa at the grand opening of The Soda Bar in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
The wall is full different flavors of bottled soda at the grand opening of
The Soda Bar in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Chamber of Commerce Diplomat Chad Hill (left) and VP of Membership Development Kelli Beam (right) visit the grand opening of The Soda Bar and Homegrown Marketplace in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
The Soda Bar offers 16 flavors of ice cream to pair with sodas for floats at their grand opening in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
The Soda Bar employees Faith Lauer, Hunter Brady, Jazmyne Wade, Tia Chanhnourack and Karen Ford (left to right) work the shop’s grand opening in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Samples of hot cocoa are available on the indoor/outdoor bar during the grand opening of The Soda Bar in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
Cookie Dough truffles are available for tasting during the grand opening of The Soda Bar in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
The Soda Bar celebrates their grand opening and ribbon cutting in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 1, 2017. (Shade Narramore / MTSU Sidelines)
[…] Photos: The Soda Bar, Homegrown Marketplace celebrate joint grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremo… […]