<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">JENNINGS — After being closed for 15 years, one of Jennings’ favorite gift shops is reopening with a nostalgic feel. The Old Magnolia Gift Shoppe, next to the Tupper General Merchandise Museum, 311 N. Main St., will reopen its doors this week.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Budget cuts in 2002 forced the city to close the gift shop. It had been used as an exhibit space until the Jennings Festival Association decided to reopen it earlier this year, with volunteers running the store.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We are trying to get more foot traffic to the Tupper Museum next door,” said head volunteer manager Shane Crochet. City Project Coordinator Dusty Chaisson said many residents don’t know about the museum or the revitalization of the downtown district.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We want to bring the locals, as well as visitors, back to Main Street to see what is going on,” Chaisson said. “We want people to rediscover or discover what there is downtown.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Strand Theater Manager Lin Fake said many people are excited to see the gift shop return to Main Street.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“There are a lot of people who used to shop here all the time,” Fake said. “We are filling that need.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">To keep with the old-fashioned style of the Tupper Museum, the gift shop will offer retro candy, vintage toys, handmade gift items, Louisiana food products and souvenirs.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It’s an opportunity for us to bring back some of these things that people loved growing up and can now share with their grandchildren,” Chaisson said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Many of the items will be unique and hard-to-find items, Fake said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“The wax lips, cow tales, the paddle boards and tin toys, they all go back in time,” he said. “And some of the items would have been merchandise people would have found in the original Tupper store.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Tupper store operated from 1910 to 1949 in a rural area just north of Jennings.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In addition to the retro candy and vintage toys, the store</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">will feature handmade items from Louisiana artists, including dish towels, pepper jellies and seasonings, homemade soaps and children’s books. Future items will include local honey, rice and cookbooks.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It’s a very eclectic mix of inventory that I don’t think people will find anything else like it in town,” Chaisson said. “We are hoping people will be pleasantly surprised and will tell their friends about it.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Local artwork will be on display and for sale each month. This month’s show features local artists Ronnie Collins and friends.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">There will be a sitting area for people to enjoy ice cream, soft drinks or free coffee. A Winnie the Pooh room will be available for birthday parties.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Old Magnolia Gift Shoppe will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Holiday hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 23 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Christmas Eve.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Volunteers are needed to help operate the store. To volunteer or for more information, call 821-5532.</span><p>Volunteer manager Shane Crochet arranges retro candy on the shelves of the newly reopened Old Magnolia Gift Shoppe</p>