Amy Mills was raised on smoke, sauce, and Magic Dust®. Owner of the renowned barbecue destination, 17th Street Barbecue, she’s the industry’s go-to girl for all things barbecue. As the recipient of the Barbecue Heroine prize and consistently named a leader in her industry, it’s Amy’s mission to spread the gospel of barbecue.
17th Street Barbecue is headquartered in Murphysboro, Illinois, with an outpost in the neighboring town of Marion. Influenced by her business, Murphysboro was proclaimed the “Barbecue Capital of Illinois” by the State Legislature in 2014.The Factory at 17th Street, their barbecue sauce co-packing facility launched in 2021. Faye, a coffee/café/gourmet provisions shop opened in 2022.
At 40° Below Joe®, we brew fresh coffee from the highest quality Arabica beans, and then we cryogenically freeze it (at -320° F) at its freshest point while keeping all of the original moisture content intact.
After experimenting and perfecting the marriage of liquid nitrogen and ice cream in his kitchen, Jones, his wife Kay, and their five-year-old daughter Tracey opened the first Dippin’ Dots®store in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 18, 1988. With the help of their extended families, hundreds of employees, franchisees and millions of consumers, the next 30 years were spent growing Dippin’ Dots®into a worldwide brand landing in malls, fairs, festivals and major theme and water parks around the U.S. — and eventually in 14 other countries.
All Things Maroon was created by Sadie Horan, a 2007 SIU graduate, independent consultant, and e-commerce fan with a background at Shopify. Sadie played a key role in launching Saluki Market, a platform dedicated to showcasing alumni businesses and providing a seamless shopping experience for SIU supporters.
Founded by TJ Cowan in 2017, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering at SIU, he focused primarily on efficiency and lean manufacturing. Growth of the company has compounded year over year and now includes Brick & Mortar locations, e-commerce, wholesale clients, private label customers and they are the official sponsor of Jordan Rainer (Country Music Sensation & finalist on The Voice). As CEO of Cold Blooded Coffee & Roastery, TJ is able to not only focus on teaching and implementing systems within his company but also on numerous other coffee shops and start-up companies in and around Southern Illinois. "Growth will continue into new and exciting areas for us, Caffeinate & Dominate!"
For over 40 years, Cristaudo’s has been a beloved part of the Carbondale community—and a gathering spot for SIU students, alumni, and faculty. Nestled in a historic downtown building—shared with our friends at Plaza Records—our café, bakery, catering co., and gift shop offer a welcoming space where food, art, and family come together.
As a proud graduate of Southern Illinois University (SIU) with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Marketing, Lauren Craig has spent the last 14 years cultivating my passion for fashion, design, and entrepreneurship. During her time at SIU, she turned her passion into action by launching a business where she designed, manufactured, and sold handmade handbags — a venture that gave her invaluable experience in both the creative and business sides of fashion. Her sorority sisters in Delta Zeta called her the Kate Spade of SIU!
Fired Up Jellies and Jams crafts small-batch jellies and jams that pack bold, unexpected flavor—some with a spicy twist, some with a sweet surprise. From fiery strawberry habanero to warm, spiced peach habanero, and our smooth, strawberry vanilla rhubarb, every jar is made with care and creativity. Proudly SIU alumni-owned and Illinois-made.
Hi! My name is Chloe Scroggins, and I am a student athlete at University of Illinois Springfield. I graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in agricultural systems technology management while on the softball team there. I have been into different creative activities and crafting my whole life but started my sewing journey three years ago. Since then, I have been creating all sorts of items as a creative outlet and to gift to others. Creating for others truly brings me so much joy.
I can create anything from custom accessories to fun, practical items and lots in between. My Instagram and Pinterest accounts show a collection of things I have created so far on this journey. I strive to provide the best possible quality and attention to detail with everything I create.
The Kinley Jewelry Shop includes a variety of Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces and Anklets, each made by hand using materials such as metals, natural gemstones, wire, glass, resin, beads, crystals and more. The inspiration for the brand comes from our natural world so themes like leaves, trees, moons, sun, animals and geometrical patterns are throughout. It's a boho/hippy vibe with a touch of sophistication.
Wayne and Michelle Sirles are fifth-generation family farmers at Rendleman Orchards. They are also the third generation of double Saluki alumni/sweethearts to own and operate their over 150-year-old multigenerational family business, located in Alto Pass in the heart of Southern Illinois.
At Tattered-N-Torn, we're passionate about reducing waste in the fashion industry. By upcycling and repurposing materials, we're not only creating distinctive products but also promoting a more sustainable approach to fashion.
By shopping with us, you're supporting sustainable fashion and helping reduce waste. We invite you to explore our collection, visit our shop, and experience the story behind Tattered-N-Torn.
The Association created Saluki Market with the mission of showcasing the Saluki entrepreneurial spirit, giving alumni, students and friends of the university a place to promote and sell their products, and offer the community a place to “Shop SIU First.”
At St. Nicholas Brewing Co., we provide our guests: fresh, local, and quality craft beers, food, and entertainment in a fun, historic setting while promoting cycling culture and lifestyle in Southern Illinois.