New downtown pop-up store offers handmade gifts and decorations

With the deluge of mass produced electronics, movies, clothing and other items vying for consumer’s dollars during the holidays, it may be hard for some to find a unique gift for friends and loved ones.

That challenge just got a lot easier for shoppers visiting downtown Dowagiac this season.

Last week, a new pop-up store opened up next to Underwood Shoe Store on Front Street, named Peddler’s Market. The temporary holiday store offers Christmas gifts and decorations, all handcrafted by a group of local artisans.

“It’s just like a craft show, really,” said owner Andi Smallbone. “We called it Peddler’s Market, because we don’t have to go around peddling our creations all around town. We have a market now, for customers to come to us.”

Smallbone, who has been creating Christmas wreaths alongside her mother for the past three years, came up with the idea of a temporary storefront after seeing similar shops located in South Bend, she said. Renting the space from building owners Deb and Curt Rohdy, Smallbone enlisted the help of a few friends and fellow crafters to help her stock and run the shop: Janie and Deb Hagemann, who create custom vinyl items; Barb Bobik, who resells antiques and primitives; and LeAnn Toy, who creates home décor.

“We’re all Christmas enthusiasts, so this was right up our alley,” Smallbone said.

All five women have years of experience in their trade, many of them frequenting craft shows in cities like Elkhart, Smallbone said. In fact, the Hagemanns once sold over $16,000 worth of crafts during a show outside the city.

However, one of the things they are emphasizing with there is their local connection, with all five now offering their wares inside their hometown. The rustic, handcrafted goods are a natural fit for the downtown, given similar antique and craft stores that dot Front Street, Smallbone said.

“We wanted to make something personal, for our neighbors in Dowagiac,” she said. “We know this town, so hopefully we’ll know what they’ll want to buy as well.”

With many of the crafters previously running stores in the area, this project is sort of a homecoming of sorts for them, Smallbone said.

“It’s kind fun coming back to downtown,” she added. “We look forward to seeing everyone again.”

The store will be open through December, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. They will be offering expanded hours during the Christmas House, which runs today through Sunday.