General Information
The International Cultural Center will include a bookstore, a crafts and art commission shop, and a cafe that will all be located within the Appalachian Live Crafters’ and Artisans’ Mall. Get more information on the mall here.
They will all be open to the public, family friendly, and follow the hours of the Appalachian Live Crafters’ and Artisans’ Mall. Each store will have a small gift shop area for mementos and their own stand alone websites featuring a listing of any scheduled events and activities, general information, and a page about their special programs with a way to contribute.
Each store will have its own manager that reports directly to the Director of the Appalachian Live Crafters’ and Artisans’ Mall. Other store workers may be paid, volunteers, or part of a work/study program. They will all be owned and operated by the Institute for Natural Philosophy as separate doing business as registrations. See our Oversight and Hierarchy post for more information here.
Security will be provided by on-site security. Stores will have panic alarms that will directly notify the on-site security.
Bookstore
The 1,200 square feet bookstore will have books, magazines, periodicals, and newspapers available for purchase and will be focused on offering selections from history, art, science, and education with a special section for local and Tennessee state authors.
It will be able to order publications for customers on request. It will host displays and free public events by authors and publishing companies to promote books and authors as well as do readings for both children and adults. The events will take place in the store or one of the public display areas located in the middle of the main concourse of the Appalachian Live Crafters’ and Artisans’ Mall. It will have a special scholarship program, paid for from store sales, donations, and grants that will be utilized to benefit youth related to writing, including; individual classes, educational schooling, and competitions. The bookstore will also participate in the Appalachian Crafter’s Association by honoring coupons available to qualifying members.
Crafts and Art Shop
The 900 square feet crafts and art shop will contain a variety of handmade crafts and art.
It will be open to the public to have items that meet specific guidelines placed in it for sale for the small commission fee of fifteen percent. Additionally, it will also feature items from the Appalachian Crafters’ and Artisans’ Association members that do not currently occupy a space in the Appalachian Live Crafters’ and Artisans’ Mall who will be able to sell their items completely commission-free. It will have a special scholarship program, paid for from store sales, donations, and grants that will be utilized to benefit youth related to crafting and art, including; individual classes, educational schooling, and competitions. The crafts and art shop will also participate in the Appalachian Crafters’ and Artisans’ Association by offering free items and/or honoring coupons available to qualifying members at no expense of the represented crafters and artisans.
The Philosopher’s Cove Cafe
The Philosopher’s Cove Cafe will offer a complete hot and cold non-acholic drink menu with seasonal specials, a limited standard coffee shop-type food menu of pastries, treats, and sandwiches, including dietary restrictive foods and drinks.
It will have a 400 square feet retail store with an ordering station and a customer seating area in a 400 square feet courtyard-style setting open on two sides to the mall concourse. The seating area will have tables and chairs in the open area. It will also have benches located along the open sides to the mall concourse with raised displays holding plants to provide a more secluded atmosphere. It will also have public Wi-Fi and electronic charging stations for mobile devices, laptops, etc. It will have private staff-only 400 square feet prep and storage area with direct access to the Immersive Cultural Experience kitchen. It will have a special scholarship program, paid for from store sales, donations, and grants that will be utilized to benefit youth related to food services and cooking, including; individual classes, educational schooling, and competitions. The Philosopher’s Cove Cafe will also participate in the Appalachian Crafters’ and Artisans’ Association by honoring coupons available to qualifying members.
See the Appalachian Crafters’ and Artisans’ Association post for information and to become a member here.
