Paint and Pen brings art and teacher supplies to Meridian

By Jennifer Jacob / staff writer

August 23, 2008 11:48 pm

— For years, artists and teachers in Meridian were forced to buy most of their supplies by mail order, over the internet, or by making trips out of town. In all of Lauderdale County, there was not one full art supply or teacher supply store.
But now, teachers and artists can buy their supplies right here in town, thanks to the opening of a new art supply, teacher supply, and book store in downtown Meridian.
The store, Paint and Pen, opened in late July and is located in the Rosenbaum building on 5th street. There, teachers can get everything from holiday decorations to educational games, artists can find items ranging from Xacto knives to origami paper, and while they're there, customers can pick up a copy of that novel they've been meaning to read.
"There are so many things that are kind of exciting about it," manager Amy Lewis said of the store. "It's an opportunity for Meridian."
Lewis, who grew up in Vicksburg and worked in Atlanta as a graphic designer for almost 10 years, said she is thrilled to be back in a small town atmosphere and working at the store, which is co-owned by her mother, Shelia Lewis, and Barbaree Heaster.
Lewis and Heaster own one other Paint and Pen store which is located in Oxford.
It's not only the availability of art and teacher supplies that makes Paint and Pen a valuable addition to Meridian, its downtown location is advantageous as well. For a long time, downtown Meridian has been ailing, but the opening of Paint and Pen is one of many recent signs that the area is beginning to bloom for business again.
"Your city is only as healthy as your downtown," Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith said last week at the Paint and Pen ribbon cutting. "You've picked an ideal location to invest in a small business in Meridian and we thank you for doing that."
The store carries a variety of items, but, Lewis said, if a customer wants something they don't have in-store, they'll be happy to special order it.
"We pride ourselves on customer service," she said. "We're not going to say ‘We can't get it,’ we're going to say, 'Let's see if we can get it.'"
WHAT THEY HAVE
Some of the items currently offered at Paint and Pen include:

For artists:
Instructional books, oil, acrylic, and watercolor paints, foam board, pencils, pastels, pens and markers, canvases, paint brushes and applicators, spray paint, adhesives, "Xacto" knives, sketch pads, calligraphy tools, pottery tools, origami supplies, and easels

For teachers:
Pocket charts, seasonal/holiday decorations, wall-hangings and posters, bulletin board accents, stickers, educational games, workbooks, flash cards, "Theme Pockets," "EZ Graders," and plastic coins.

Paint and Pen also houses a small bookstore and will special order books it doesn't have in-store.

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