Plenty in store for The Den

Whether you’re looking for an Abbeville High Christmas sweatshirt or simply something to snack on, the Den by DECA has you covered.
The school’s DECA Club, a club that focuses on various aspects of business, recently opened the doors to its new school store. While excited to take such a big step, Danielle Alleman, an AHS business teacher and DECA Club sponsor, said the store is still in its soft-opening phase.
“We’re trying to see how things are going to go,” Alleman said of ironing out all the details.
Right now, the store, which is located in a room in the hallway that leads to the gymnasium, is open on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at lunchtime. Alleman said plans are for the store to eventually open on more days. Proceeds from the store will go to help DECA students attend conferences and other related activities.
“I would like to maybe open every day but Wednesday,” Alleman said. “That would give us a day to regroup.”
Students in Alleman’s DECA class operate the store, which, in spirit, began a couple of years ago.
“We originally started by selling off a little cart,” senior Evan Touchet said of how far things have come.
Through grants and some funding from the Vermilion Parish School System, the DECA Club has purchased equipment to make Abbeville High merchandise, such as sweatshirts, T-shirts, cups and lanyards. Alleman said the Ag department constructed the counter and shelves for the store.
“Students are excited that they have a place to go and shop,” said Brandy Williams, another DECA student. “There weren’t a lot of ways to get merch, outside of the front office. Now they have another outlet to go and shop.”
Emma Tran said she has seen pride among her fellow students.
“A lot of people have come in and said they are happy that the store has opened,” Tran said. “They can experience something new.”
Williams said the store has given the DECA students a sense of pride. Touchet agreed, adding that his favorite aspect is the operation itself.
“It’s just cool to see something that we started working on a long time ago get to where it is now,” Touchet said.
Alleman said she’s proud of the dozens of DECA students who have worked extra hours to reach this point.
“I’m proud of this store,” Alleman said. “I’m proud of our DECA students.
“We’re just going to try to keep building it up.”