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Bud Mackey always wanted to own and operate an old fashion drug store type soda fountain, and on Thursday, his dream came true. The Sugar Shack is now open at 36 Clarksville St in the space once occupied by Yogurt Worxx. Featuring an actual marble soda fountain that once had a home in Palace Drug #2, the Sugar Shack is sure to please the young and the old as well. Girls in poodle skirts and boys dressed as soda jerks, a pinball machine and a 45 record playing jukebox also add to the nostalgic feel. The real reason to go to The Sugar Shack? How ’bout malts, shakes, sodas, sundaes and cookies! Stop in today.
Energy and vitality are continuing to be a driving force in the thriving downtown area. Cheri Bedford, Paris Main Street Coordinator, reported that three bike racks have now been installed in the downtown area, one in front of Jaxx Burgers, one in front of Subway, and one in the center of the west side of the Plaza. The bike racks are the result of hard work by Matt Coyle and the Paris Main Street design committee, with half of the funds for the project being generously donated by Paris Lions Club.
Asbestos abatement continues on the Grand Theater. 911 Restoration, the contractor for the abatement job will be wrapping up exterior abatement this week in time for the fencing to come down for Pumpkin Festival. Work on the second floor will continue. While the exterior will eventually be covered back up, you can currently see the exterior of the building as it appeared in 1916.
Businesses continue to flock to downtown. Texas & Beyond is the newest business to join the downtown community. This boutique shop will carry 100% American made products and will represent several local artisans as well and will feature items as unique as handmade soap and jalepeno fudge. Look for the me to open two doors east of the Grand in early November.
Downtown will also host a Sidewalk Trick or Treat on Halloween (Monday, Oct. 31st) from 5pm to 8pm on the Plaza. Everyone is invited to come downtown to trick or treat from business to business in a safe environment. Participating businesses include: Paris Baby, Vital Beet, Girls and Cake, Paris Vineyards, Priest Emporium, Downtown Records, Lillian Kelley’s, Junk Divas, Two Rivers Antiques, The Chamber of Commerce, Creative Candy, Capital One, Touch of Glass, Green Boutique and many more.
This week, ten beautiful new plaques were installed around the downtown square denoting the original business to occupy each of these buildings that emerged from the 1916 fire. This is the result of hard work by a group of 5th grade Socrates students at Crockett Intermediate School under the leadership of teach Debb Fleming.
The project, dubbed “Project P.A.R.I.S.”, an acronym for “Preserving our Ancestry by Recognizing our Irreplaceable Structures”, was selected by the students as a Community Problem Solving project that resulted in winning the Texas State Future Problem Solving Bowl and representing our community in international competition in Wisconsin this past summer where they also took first place.
Through the project, the students identified historically significant buildings downtown, documented their history, and raised funds for the ten bronze plaques that were installed this week.
Way to go PROJECT PARIS. You made a difference!
Judd Payne, the Head of Production at Wind Dancer Films will be returning home to Paris this spring to screen his latest film “Bernie” starring Matthew McConaughey, Shirley Maclaine, and Jack Black and directed by Richard Linklater. The film is based on a true story that occurred in Carthage, Texas that once again shows that truth is stranger than fiction, especially in Texas.
The movie was based on a Texas Monthly article about a local mortician who starts a relationship with a very wealthy but despised widow (Shirley Maclaine). When the relationship soured, the guy Bernie (Jack Black) snaps and kills her. He then puts her body in the freezer and for the months Bernie goes to great lengths to continue the ruse that she is still. When the stock broker becomes suspicious, the cops discover that Bernie has murdered. The wrinkle comes when Matthew McConaughey’s character, the county prosecutor, realizes that the woman is so hated that not a juror in Panola County would ever find Bernie guilty.
The movie was recently previewed in Bastrop, Texas with over 800 people attending the event as a fundraiser. “They absolutely loved the movie,” said Payne. “I thought it would be neat to come home and show the film and talk about it when it opens in March.”
Payne, a native of Paris, is excited to screen the project here in his hometown where he will discuss the making of the film in early March as a fundraiser for the Paris Downtown Association (PDA) for its Facade Grant program and will include some surprises.
The new PDA program is established to provide funding for the improvements of downtown building exteriors similar to the façade grant offered by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Payne produced the broad comedy DEEP IN THE VALLEY (Scott Caan, Tracy Morgan) in 2009 and has produced or executive produced a number of other films including: PASSENGERS (Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson); SOUTHLAND TALES (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Justin Timberlake); REMEMBER THE DAZE, (Amber Heard, Chris Marquette); WALKER PAYNE (Jason Patric, Sam Shepard); THE SISTERS (Maria Bello, Elizabeth Banks, Chris O’Donnell); and the Sundance hits SEPTEMBER TAPES and FRESHMAN ORIENTATION (a.k.a. HOME OF PHOBIA).
To see Maclaine, Black and McConaughey talk about the upcoming movie click on the link below. Stay tuned to the eParis Extra! for announcements about the upcoming event.
Modern Autobody is bringing back the past. Owners David and Sara Norris are celebrating their 1year anniversary in their paint and body shop in what was the Ford dealership for many years at 222 Clarksville St in Downtown Paris. The building has a long history with the Ford Dealership. It has been owned by several local families, including the Howerton’s, the O’Neil’s, the Kosterman’s, and the Kennedy’s.
Prior to the couple buying the building, it was operating as Office World, a used furniture supply store, owned by Sue and Jack Murray. The front of the building required some remodeling to turn itback into what was the showroom of the Ford Dealership. Luckily, Mr. and Mrs. Murray had saved the structural material when they did their remodel.
David and Sarah Norris
With the help of many people David and Sara brought back the showroom, where they now display both vintage and modern cars. With the back of the building needing only just the installation of the modern, state-of-the-art paint booth and computerized frame alignment equipment, they then turned their attention to what was the Ford’s part’s department. They have now turned that into their drive-in estimating area. This allows customers to pull their vehicle into the shop where they can receive a free estimate. This also allows customers and employees to be off of the busy Clarksville St, as well keeping everyone out of any inclement weather and our Texas heat.
David and Sara state that one of the highlights in being in this Historic building is being able to hear the stories and experiences of those who frequented the Ford Dealership throughout the years. The couple is so glad that they will be able to continue the history of this building. Since opening October of last year, they have participated in many of the events in Downtown Paris. They invite everyone to come take a look at the shop and remember them for all their collision needs.
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