COLUMBIA – A Columbia retail incubator with links to the past is finally open to the public. The Shops at Sharp End officially opened its doors on Wednesday to much fanfare and a roaring reception.
The Shops, which aims to jumpstart local entrepreneurs, features 19 small businesses of various backgrounds and origins who came up and about as a result of the support, experience and physical presence provided by the Shops at 500 East Walnut Street.
Within its dedication to these local entrepreneurs, the Shops are also keen in honoring the history of the original Sharp End that once stood there.
The Sharp End was once the epicenter of Columbia’s thriving Black Community district that fell to the wayside in the 1960’s due to gentrification, according to Executive Director of the Columbia District, Nickie Davis.
“This event is about celebrating the grand opening of the The Shops at Sharp End, celebrating our young entrepreneurs and also the history of the Sharp End, which is something we very much factor into what the Shops at Sharp End is,” said Davis.
Alongside the Columbia District, the Downtown Community Improvement District (CID), Regional Economic Development Inc (REDI), the Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) and federal funds were all responsible for the creation of The Shops at Sharp End.
One young entrepreneur, who’s been able to take their entrepreneurial spirit to newfound heights as a result of the Shops at Sharp End, is Faith Walk Academy Principal, Mya McClain.
McClain’s business, Mya’s Gourmet Popcorn, first began as an entrepreneurial project for the school’s students, specifically for their events.
“They were having trouble coming up with an idea they all could work on, and so they thought about my popcorn balls that I make for their school parties, and so they came up with the idea of putting them on a stick,” said McClain.
After first starting in the Columbia Mall, McClain said the Shops at Sharp End not only allowed her business to reach a new area of town, but also allowed her to gain insights into all that goes on in the business world.
“Being an entrepreneur was not something I knew about, and so being able to have something here in the Sharp End, where the community is, where young people and new business owners can be and see this is possible,” said McClain.
Alongside McClain’s business and others, the Shops at Sharp End hopes to expand beyond their 19 small businesses to more than 40 in the future.
The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
