Joe Bass, Cookie Bass, Julie Coleman and Karen Bass of JAM Community Shops.
More than your run of the mill dollar store, the JAM Community Shop has been providing variety of goods to customers since opening in January.
Owned and operated by sisters Karen Bass and Julie Coleman and their parents, Joe and Cookie, the store offers balloons, novelties, party supplies, cosmetics and more. While the store was originally the idea of the elder Basses, it was their daughters who developed a plan to get the store up and running in Trenton’s Mill Hill neighborhood.
The broad range of products carried is aimed at serving as many needs of the area as possible.
“We have a little bit of everything,” said Coleman.
“And if we don’t have it, we will try to get something in that a customer asks for,” added Bass.
The sisters are serious about the “community” aspect of the store’s name. Bass, a Lawrence resident, said they try to work with groups and businesses in the area and offer discounts for bulk buying by local organizations.
While there are a couple of other convenience stores in the neighborhood, Bass does not see JAM Community as being a direct competitor. While the others may emphasize grocery and food items, JAM has party supplies, some clothing and other lines of products as well as some pantry staples like bacon, juice and milk.
Their most popular items so far have been their aluminum foil pans along with plastic and paper serving wares. One local pizza restaurant has become a regular purchaser of foil pans and paper products from JAM.
Another line that has brought steady business to the shop is the school and office supplies. Local churches and a nearby nonprofit have taken full advantage of the shop’s selection, good pricing and location to keep its office stocked.
The store is well set up and organized, filling a surprisingly large space with a broad selection of items that any household might need.
There is even space for local organizations to leave their flyers about events and activities.
“We want to partner with and serve the community because without them, we don’t have a business,” Coleman said.
JAM Community Shop is located at 364 S. Broad St. Phone: (609) 571-9287. The store takes cash, credit and debit cards. The store is open Mondays thru Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
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