MUNCIE, Ind. — A business that opened its doors in February this year has made much progress, bringing sensation to the Muncie community. Providing jobs for youth, home-cooked meals, and a sense of belonging, P.O.P. Shop opened its second set of doors in the Village.
Paris Powell, owner of P.O.P Shop, got the idea from a breakfast meeting he attended earlier this year after receiving an award from Ball State’s Impact X class.
“I heard about the opportunity to fill this gap. And I thought about it and wondered how could the P-O-P brand have an impact over here at Ball State,” Powell said.
The Village is under construction due to the revitalization plan, and businesses are continuously in and out of the area. Powell explained that he wants to make sure his shop is there to stay, especially since it is close to campus.
“I thought that the P.O.P Shop would fit in great here in the Village, only because we’re so close in proximity to Ball State. It gives the students the opportunity to experience what my P.O.P Shop consumers over there experience, which is fair-valued pricing,” he explained.
After receiving the keys in May, Powell knew his next steps were finding student workers to cover shifts while he handled business at his first shop on Willard Street.
Hasina Shafeek, a junior at Ball State, came across the shop with her friends and decided to apply. Since then, she has found the shop beneficial to her career skills.
“It lets me just build them up also. I created a QR code to where people can scan and give us advice or tell us what they want us to bring in here so that they can purchase,” she said.
Between good tunes, home-cooked food truck meals, and location, Shafeek encourages students to use the shop to their advantage.
“Tell your friends, you guys should come in here and do homework with me, you guys can sit outside and do homework. I would hope they feel a sense of direction but also welcome.”
The shop is dedicated to bringing a homey/family feel to the Village and opens its doors to everyone around the city. Located next to Jack's Donuts, its hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday to Saturday.
Contact Kahmara Munn with comments at Kahmara.munn@bsu.edu.
