Glenn Merchant, the owner and operator of Moxie Art Supply on Vine Street in Murfreesboro, passed away on August 21. The 53-year-old artist touched many lives in the Murfreesboro art and business community.
Friends and customers decorated the sidewalk outside of Moxie in honor of Glenn.
“Thanks for coloring this world,” one tribute read.
“Glenn Merchant provided such a great place for the Murfreesboro art community to purchase their supplies and attend and host art shows. He even let me host a small art show at Moxie once,” said Paul Goddard. “Moxie was my go-to place for all my art supplies while I studied graphic design at MTSU. I remember going there even after I finished college, just to continue supporting such a great local art shop. Glenn was a very kind man and always held a conversation with me while I was in his shop. It was always hard to get out the door because we would keep on talking!”
The Moxie staff says they and Glenn’s wife, Angela, plan to continue running the store.
Area artist Jessica Rose Maraschiello called Glenn “a kind soul, a compassionate human, and a talented artist.”
“I feel fortunate to have known you and shown work in your store. I always enjoyed knowing I’d see your smiling face anytime I came into Moxie,” she posted soon after his death. “You are an amazing man and will be missed greatly by the Murfreesboro community.”
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Murfreesboro barber Michael Ray plans to open his shop Doin Hair at 447 N. Front St. in September.
“Don’t settle for a simple haircut,” says Ray. “Come meet an artist who will make you his personal canvas.”
Ray, who began cutting his friends’ hair while in high school, wants to go beyond just providing someone with a haircut. He specializes in precision cuts, military cuts, razor fades, old-school pompadour cuts and hair art. He also aims to make the haircut experience a relaxing one, but says he knows his customers have little time to waste, and values turning his customers into friends.
“You will leave feeling refreshed with a fantastic, unique look that is all your own,” he says.
Doin Hair will include karaoke, a theater, a jukebox, lots of antiques and complimentary beer and coffee.
For more information, visit doinhairbarberstyle.com or find Doin Hair Barber Style on Facebook.
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After numerous customers raised a ruckus in online forums over “rude” security personnel not allowing their children to play in the Stones River Mall play area due to excessive noise, limited hours and other reasons (upset moms even drew up initial plans to stage a “play-in” in protest), mall management responded to complaints with firings and an apology to families.
“We are making immediate and significant changes to the management team,” said Greg Moross, chief operating officer of Sterling Organization in a statement. “We will also be evaluating all staff and third-party contractors to ensure that the mall is a friendly and inviting place for all members of the community.”
The statement went on to say that the area would remain open during regular mall hours and that families will no longer be asked to leave the play area due to noise.
So now, all is well in the Stones River Mall play area, and young children may resume climbing up and jumping from the beloved possum and raccoon figures without fear of the man.
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Stones River Recycling Service plans to begin recycling pick-up service to apartment complexes in September, with residential services beginning in October. They will offer curbside and doorside recycling pick-up starting at $14 per month, with no sorting required of the customer. For more information, find Stones River Recycling Service on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or call (615) 516-3220.
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Kni Dewayne has leased the Church Street underneath radio station WGNS’s headquarters and will soon be opening Beast Mode Ink, a tattoo shop.
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The Station Theater, located on Front Street in downtown Smyrna, is undergoing a renovation and will soon reopen. The old movie theater was built in 1920 and is being restored to host new and old movies, live plays, concerts and private functions. A crew has recently been working on restoring the Purity logo painted on the brick building.
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Zaxby’s will break ground on a new location on Fortress Boulevard near I-24 this month. The chicken-themed chain serves chicken Fingerz, chicken wings, chicken sandwiches, chicken Nibblerz, salads with chicken . . . and fried cheese, fried pickles, fried mushrooms and milkshakes.
