Students looking to grab a snack, get last minute school supplies or the latest in “Bulldog” fashion can do it quickly at the DECA Store.

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Five years ago, a small store opened up for students at Douglas High School called DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), which has become a favorite for students during school hours.

The store is available to students and staff, and is also open to the public who are interested in buying DHS apparel, such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, caps, cups, and other souvenirs.

The DECA “mini-mart” is especially popular because there is a wide variety of snacks and drinks available, such as pretzels with cheese, snacks, and vitamin water for those students who need an extra boost before their next class to help them concentrate and excel in their studies. DHS’s mini-mart is open from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and is closed in between periods and during lunch.

Lourdes Mora and Gilbert Rojas, who teach marketing, entrepreneurship, and retail at DHS, run the store.

Students do not get paid for working there, however, “They not only gain the experience of working at a business but it is also a way for them to interact, socialize, and meet new people. They also have the advantage of attaining pertinent experience useful to them for when they begin working in the real world,” Mora said.

Students use the cash register and manage money which gives them the privilege of learning business basics first-hand. Profits made from the store go towards paying for DECA’s club activities and the trips that they make across the country. DECA, the student club organization, is a club that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management at the Douglas High School and all around world. Club members gain valuable leadership and career development skills while at the same time they get a chance to travel to exciting cities such as Orlando, Fl.

Maria Figueroa is a staff member who oversees the student workers and helps Mora and Rojas run the mini-mart. She mentioned that it is a pleasure working with these young people because she loves to see the smiles on their faces when they walk in.

Miguel Pelayo, 17, is a clerk at the store and also an aspiring Mexican/Banda artist. Pelayo said, “The best thing about working here is that I get to meet new people and make new friends both from school and from Douglas.”

Bianca Gonzalez, 17 , is a DECA officer and works at the store. She enjoys working there because she gets to tell other students about the club and its benefits. “I like working with people,” she says with a smile as she gives a student his change after a purchase.