Upstate teen opens market while attending college

Nineteen-year-old Jackson Brooks opened Hometown Market in Clemson, South Carolina, while taking classes at Anderson University.

Brooks began his journey in high school when he landed his first job at a local food market.

“I just said this could be my first job. [I’ll] earn some money,” Brooks said. “I'll pay for meals to go eat with friends and go out.”

After graduating high school and starting college classes, he was looking for his next steps.

A chance meeting with the former owner of Hometown Market led to an opportunity,

“I just stopped there and asked him what they did in the store, and he kind of explained it to me,” Brooks said. “I told them where I was from, where I worked, and [I] I just thought if he ever wanted to sell it, he should let me know.

Hometown Market opened in March of this year and Brooks said business has been good since then.

“Customers tell us we do everything the right way and that kind of thing,” Brooks said. “The place is growing in every way, which is great to hear.”

Being 19 and running a business isn't easy, but Brooks says his business classes helped him and he learned along the way.

“The work itself is something I had done before, but the behind-the-scenes aspect was about finances and things like that, and I'm still learning,” Brooks said. “I have a family that supports me every step of the way and has helped me a lot.”

For Brooks, it's all about balance, but he doesn't mind staying busy.

“If it’s work or school, I’m going to stay busy,” Brooks said. “I enjoyed it. At a young age, I think I can handle it.”