Cullman High School’s Lindsey Lowery won a free 2nd Fridays booth for her business “Pixie Fudge” in a competition sponsored by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy (YEA!). (W.C. Mann for The Tribune)
CULLMAN – On Friday evening, as the work week was winding down, the Warehouse District was cranking up for the third annual installment of “2nd Fridays.” The series is a collaborative effort between the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce (CoC) and Cullman Parks, Recreation, and Sports Tourism (CP&R), bringing together downtown merchants, the Festhalle Farmers’ Market, entertainers, car collectors and others on the second Friday of each month from June through September for a lively street party. Along First Avenue through the Warehouse District, businesses stay open late, a classic and custom car show draws the gearheads, farmers sell their produce at the Festhalle, and crafters and artists set up shop in “Artists’ Alley.” If folks get hungry, there are choices from eateries and food trucks/trailers up and down the street; performers play live music at various locations around the district.
The Tribune caught up with CP&R Executive Director Nathan Anderson at the kid zone behind the Festhalle, where children made chalk art and played on inflatables.
Anderson said, “Great crowd; I think that we just picked up right where we left off last year. It keeps growing every year. The chamber is great to work with at this event. And it’s a fun event, you know, featuring our downtown merchants, and restaurants and retail. And we come out here and have a great time, featuring local agriculture and farmers, as well. So, a lot of fun!”
Maybe the youngest business owner at this year’s event was Lindsey Lowery, a student (not a graduate, a student!) at Cullman High School who won a free booth at this year’s 2nd Fridays in a competition sponsored by the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy (YEA!). (See www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/04/06/cullman-area-students-step-shark-tank-kickstart-their-own-businesses. Her business, “Pixie Fudge,” is based on a family recipe and features unique fudge flavors like cotton candy and bubble gum, in addition to classics like chocolate and peanut butter.
Since the “Shark Tank” style competition, Lowery shared with The Tribune, “It’s been really good: like I’ve been updating the website and I’m going to almost get that up when school starts back.
And I’ve gotten out of debt; I’ve paid all my dues and I’m into a lot of profit now, and I’ve gotten shirts and a bag, and just getting a business started, really.”
About bringing Pixie Fudge into the public eye at her first 2nd Friday, Lowery said, “Well, it’s been good so far, getting out there and getting my product out there, and everybody showing how much they really love my fudge. Seeing kids’ faces is my favorite thing, because kids just coming up are like, ‘Mmm, that’s really good!’ and ‘Oh, that’s so yummy!’ That’s just my favorite part about it. It’s a really good experience.”
2nd Fridays will return to downtown Cullman on Friday, July 13, from 5-10 p.m.
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