Last Saturday was the grand opening event for The Treehouse Market in Oconee County.
Although the store will sell an array of products, manager Courtney Spangler said it will also include products local to Athens and surrounding counties.
“We’re really a convenient store, and we really focus on the local products,” Spangler told The Red & Black.
Assistant Manager Taylor Peele said Treehouse Market will have local products but will focus on keeping prices low.
“We try to keep our prices as reasonable as possible, so the local community can just come in and grab something and not feel like we’re overpriced,” Peele said. “We want them to be able to come here every night, not just once in a while.”
The market offers handmade Cajun Philly cheese steaks and hot soup from their deli as well as homemade pepper jelly candied pecans made in Athens.
Having opened days before the grand opening, Spangler said the local products have already been some of the most popular among customers.
“Local products are more expensive, but they’re typically our best-selling products,” Spangler said. “At first, we were pretty even with products, but after we opened, our local products were just flying off the shelves so we brought in more, and they’re still flying.”
Owner Carlos Miranda said he believes creating more businesses like his in Oconee will allow for another community to grow.
“I think we’ll have more populations being satisfied on this end of the community, and more development towards this end,” Miranda said. “I’d like to see some luxury apartments, and I’d love to see some type of boutique hotel along with boutique shops out toward this area."
Miranda said this market is one component of his plan to build a bigger community in Oconee County, along with plans he has for a new restaurant, The Falls.
“We needed something for the local community, and something that could also enhance this whole area,” Miranda said. “So part of the plaza development along with the new restaurant that’s going in, The Falls, it’s all part of a long-term project to enhance this whole side of town.”
Miranda said he has “high expectations” for his restaurant, which will offer American-style food.
“I want it to be family oriented. I also want it to be an exciting, fun place to come to along with excellent quality food,” Miranda said. “We also want it to be different, with some new American cuisine, like beef and potatoes.”
Downtown developers asked Miranda to open up a Treehouse Market downtown, however he said he hasn’t decided whether or not he would like to have two markets.
Call Pachuta Insurance Today @ 706-769-2262