A new business in downtown Dublin is embracing the older days of a general store combined with environmental sustainability as Back Home General Store hosts its grand opening Saturday.
Located at 119 East Blackjack Street, Back Home General Store is owned and operated by young entrepreneur Paige Ferguson and is classified as a sustainable goods shop and refillery store.
After trying college several times and deciding it wasn’t for her, Ferguson, 22, decided to open the store with the support of her family.
“I’m big on taking care of what you’ve been given in life,” she said. “In Genesis it says God put Adam in the garden to tend to the garden and that’s why I believe I’m here is to tend what was given to me, which is the Earth.”
Ferguson’s family has encouraged her to do what her heart says she needs to do, but for now, she will keep her full-time job at a sign company in Stephenville while operating the store.
“They have huge faith in me,” Ferguson said about her family.
The store will feature a wide range of products meant to be environmentally conscious such as refi llable items such as laundry soaps, body butter, sugar scrubs and more.
For those unfamiliar with a refillery store, a customer can either purchase a glass container from Back Home or bring in their own clean, dry container to place products into, such as laundry soap.
The container is weighed, if it is one from outside the shop, prior to filling. Then it is filled with the product. The customer pays by the ounce for the product’s weight inside the jar.
“The amount of plastic that is used in the United States is astronomical,” Ferguson said. Several customers have praised Ferguson for bringing her concept, which is pretty common in Europe, to Texas.
The store will also be offering body wash and men’s bar soap as well as pasta and other dry good staples such as organic spices.
Ferguson will offer a propagation wall featuring herbs so if local gardeners want to come in and get a cutting to start their own herbs they will be able to do so. Fresh herbs just to purchase will be available.
Also as an animal lover, Ferguson thought it was important to carry something for pets, and offers homemade pet treats with 35% of all sales for the treats being given to the Erath County Humane Society. During her grand opening set from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 100% of all treat sales will go to the humane society.
Treats include healthy ingredients such as pumpkin and salmon.
Though Ferguson hopes to eventually operate the store full-time, upon opening the business will be open Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.