Joy Petrich and Jennifer Wentzel made a dream come true with the recent opening of their new antique and craft outlet at Fairlane Village mall near Pottsville.
The mother-and-daughter duo celebrated the grand opening of The Market on Oct. 7, capping off a successful first week for the business that started with a soft opening at the beginning of the month.
With more than a dozen vendors set up in the shop, The Market holds a diverse collection of antiques, crafts and collectibles from local small-business owners.
“We have vendors who rent spaces, and they display and price their own products,” Wentzel said.
Wentzel and her mother, Petrich, who are nurses by trade, said operating such a business had always been a dream they wanted to pursue after their nursing careers.
A few years ago, they began participating in craft fairs and flea markets, using some of Wentzel’s homemade crafts.
“I really liked that, and I didn’t want to choose which one I wanted to do,” Wentzel said. “I figured this is the best of both worlds. … Anybody can come here and find something they like.”
The Market, at the former Schuylkill Valley Sports store, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wentzel said the mall’s management has been supportive in their efforts to establish the store, including helping out with advertising.
“I really don’t want to see this mall go away,” she said. “This is where I grew up — I grew up playing in these hallways.”
Vendors at the store include Schach’s Sweets, a Tremont-based candymaker; Toby’s Treasure Hunt, geared toward toy enthusiasts and collectors; Handmade Primitives, featuring crafts; and a local advertisement and memorabilia stand from Frank Fetterolf of Pottsville.
Wentzel hopes the store will bring more foot traffic and help boost business at the mall.
“You just have to bring people into the mall, and everybody wants something,” she said. “By putting us here, maybe other small businesses will see it’s not a complete lost cause.”
Roseann and Anita Steencken, New Ringgold, visited the store on its official opening day and purchased a pair of glasses.
“It’s nice,” Roseann Steencken said. “It has a little bit of everything.”
She said she likes the store’s rotating selection of products, and plans to make another trip soon.
“It’s usually not the same,” the customer said. “When you go to farmers markets, sometimes it’s always the same stuff, so it’s nice to see something different.”
Wentzel said the store has “room to expand” and is accepting new vendors.
Anyone interested in renting a vendor space can email joy@jjcraftsandcookies.com or call Wentzel at 570-573-9355.
Source: Berkshire mont