Students, parents and local business owners came together at Mehlville High School Friday night for the first Lemay/Mehlville Showcase, put on by the school district and Lemay Chamber of Commerce.

The event, organized by Angela Lorenz and Barb Hehmeyer of the chamber, featured 32 vendors ranging from U.S. Cellular to the South County Police Precinct to local restaurants. 

"We're very active in the chamber and just wanted to get out in the community and listen to what customers want," said Roger Swartzendruber from U.S. Cellular, the event's main sponsor. 

Food from eight local restaurants supplied fare from Kenrick's mini-burgers to McArthur's Bakery sweets.

Student volunteers from schools around the district entertained the crowd and marked vouchers for the vendors while kids from the Special School District served beverages. 

"It's different to come out and see all the companies in the area that we didn't know we had," James Duppas said. Duppas heard about the showcase from co-workers and said the food was his favorite part.

The showcase followed in the footsteps of the chamber's Fall Festival, held at Hancock High School in November. 

People from Mehlville came to the Fall Festival and then asked the chamber for something similar at Mehlville High School, Hehmeyer said.