Artisan Craft Co-op members are tickled to be ‘in the hood’ alongside other downtown Trail gift shops.
The retailer of local hand crafted goods, recently packed up and moved to street level after 19 years in the basement of an Eldorado Street building.
Now located at 927 Spokane St., across from the former Liquidation World, the artisans are feeling a brand new vibe in a more visible and inviting space.
Sunshine, a storefront window and better accessibility have the 50 active contributors and 10 working members feeling the joy ahead of the upcoming holiday shopping season.
“We love being part of the gift shops,” says Donna Anderson, mentioning The Doorway, Unforgettables, Ye Olde Flower Shoppe, and the upcoming Winter Market on Spokane Street.
“I’ve had people say when they walk in that it feels like walking into somebody’s home. It’s warm and welcoming, and displayed nicely.”
Member Barbara O’Hearn describes the retail zone as a one-stop shopping corridor that will soon have a Christmas theme. “We complement each other,” she added. “And there is a uniqueness to browse through.”
Potter Fran Moll, an original Artisan member, has fond memories of the former locale. But she says being street level with no stairs means all shoppers can now enjoy the store’s improved accessibility.
The burden of stairs was apparent when it came time to move the shop’s expansive inventory.
“There was a lot to move, and three or four days of walking it down the alley,” she said. “We aren’t a bunch of youngsters, so doing the stairs a hundred times in one day wasn’t for everyone,” Moll added.
“But we had sons, daughters and other family members doing the heavy stuff, and husbands and partners doing all the little things like putting up the signage. And now there’s a renewed energy.”
