2 weeks Ago By RACHEL MERGEN [email protected]
Two longtime friends are turning their love of crafting into a new gift shop in Winona. Brenda Jacobs and Katie LeGere opened the doors of their new store, located close to the train tracks on Franklin Street, to the public this month. Customers can find handmade creations by LeGere and Jacobs at Little House Crafts and Gifts, along with crafts from five other women.
Katie LeGere looks at a product at Little House Crafts and Gifts. The duo, who have no employees, have been working to open the store since November after the The Cottage Cupboard closed in that location. “It feels like things happened very quickly in a short amount of time, but the pieces have all fallen together pretty smoothly," LeGere said.
LeGere said she's always enjoyed the space since she was a child and would visit it when it was a bait shop. People are also reading..
. Brenda Jacobs shows one of the store's many handmade offerings. "We personally like the space because it has that cozy, quaint feel," she said.
"We wanted someplace that felt welcoming to other people, and had kind of that rustic charm.” LeGere said the friends want to continue the work of Cottage Cupboard's old owners, while also bringing their own twist to it. “I wanted to kind of pick up where Colleen and Carol left off and bring some new things to the table," she said.
Hours : 9 a.m. to 4 p.
m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m.
Sunday; closed some weekends Address : 570 Franklin St., Winona Information : l [email protected] The friends dreamed of opening a gift shop for many years.
“We both really like to do crafts, and we like making things for ourselves, but we also wanted to share it with other people," Jacobs said. They were aware of other crafters, too, so they wanted a chance to incorporate them into the store and showcase their products. The duo recognized there was a market for handmade goods and a love for craft sales in the city, LeGere said, and they wanted to create a space that allows for people to enjoy similar craft shopping opportunities year-round.
Little House Crafts and Gifts is located in the former home of The Cottage Cupboard, which is pictured in 2013. They hope to eventually grow the business. "I'm hoping to watch it grow, not only with us and what we bring, like craft-wise and stuff, but also help other people who are out there crafting," Jacobs said.
They want to have a space that the community can go to when they are looking for homemade goods to decorate with and use, as the friends plan to avoid more typical retail style products. "It's all going to be crafty, handmade -type stuff," Jacobs said. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
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