RIPLEY, Miss. — Brown & Covington, the artisan marketplace Ripley Main Street has been building in downtown Ripley, now has a public address and a clearer picture of what visitors will find inside. In a video post shared Wednesday, Sept. 23, Ripley Main Street said the new space at 301 S. Commerce Street will be a place to shop local art, try gelato and gather for workshops.
“Something good is coming to downtown Ripley,” the organization wrote, adding that it can’t wait to show the community more. No opening date was given in the post.
What Brown & Covington in Ripley will offer
Wednesday’s announcement is the latest step in a project Ripley Main Street first rolled out in early August. At that time, the downtown group described Brown & Covington as a creative entrepreneurship center in a historic downtown building that had been empty for years. The plan combines three uses under one roof:
A curated marketplace where local artisans and makers can sell their work
Dedicated workspace where those makers can produce many of their products on site
Workshop space for classes, special events and pop-ups
The newest post adds gelato to that mix, giving shoppers another reason to stop in while visiting the square.
An artisan accelerator, not just a storefront
The heart of the project is the Brown & Covington Artisan Accelerator. Ripley Main Street opened applications this summer for four artisans to form the program’s first cohort, with a deadline of Aug. 31, 2026. According to the Visit Ripley announcement, participating makers are offered retail space, marketing and promotional support, business development workshops, mentorship and the chance to lead their own classes and events.
Organizers have described the accelerator as a launchpad, with the goal of helping each artisan leave the program with a stronger and more sustainable business than the one they started with. Ripley Main Street has not yet publicly named the makers selected for the first cohort.
Partners and heritage focus
Two partnerships are built into the plan:
AbilityWorks — the project is designed to create job opportunities for people with disabilities, who will work alongside the featured makers and build job skills.
Mississippi Hills — the space is planned to include a Native-inspired mural honoring the area’s Chickasaw heritage, along with heritage-based workshops such as basket weaving and pottery.
The project is also tied to The Cut-Off, the downtown gathering spot across the street, as part of Ripley Main Street’s wider push to bring more foot traffic, events and small businesses to the historic district.
Part of a busy season downtown
Brown & Covington joins a string of recent downtown activity in Ripley, including new business openings and fall events planned around the square. Ripley Main Street, based at 111 E. Spring St., works to renovate, revitalize and restore the city’s historic downtown district.
Residents who want updates on an opening date, the artisans chosen for the first cohort or upcoming workshops can follow Ripley Main Street on Facebook or call the office at (662) 512-0226.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
