One local business is taking an unusual direction with a new endeavor by venturing underground, so to speak. Local small business Mayme Jane’s Gifts and Accessories is hosting a new event down in the shop basement that will interest both deal hunters and art lovers in the community.
Mayme Jane’s will be the site of “Bargains in the Basement”, a new idea from Ringen to utilize the basement of her shop. Bargains in the Basement is an event that will run for one weekend, on Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29. The shop will be open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Friday and from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
During this event store guests, which Ringen prefers to refer to her customers as, will be able to explore the basement of Mayme Jane’s to find bargains and marked down prices on a variety of art and products. According to Ringen, items both from her artists and items from the store will be placed downstairs. Guests will be able to explore to their hearts content for bargains on handmade products.
“It’s going to be fun, I’ve never had anything before in the basement,” Ringen stated.
Named for Ringen’s grandmother, Mayme Jane’s was opened in May, 2013 as a way to fulfill a dream that was brewing over time. Ringen explained that, “Over the last years it was something I wanted to do and pursue; it was a time in my life that I had extra time to pursue a dream of mine.”
Mayme Jane’s is located at 313 North Main Street and can easily be spotted by its bright blue door, a reference to Ringen’s grandmother’s favorite color. The shop contains a variety of products, with an emphasis on handmade items from both local and artists from across the country. The type of products offered are quite diverse and colorful, including a variety of handmade jewelry, children’s items, food mixes, decor, and many other items.
“I wanted to be able to offer more unique, one of a kind items that you can’t find in the big box stores and also support cottage industry, whether it’s local or out of state,” stated Ringen.
In addition to the unique products, the shelving in the store is not the usual, standard box-store metal racks. Instead, Ringen has her products for display on a variety of upcycled, or repurposed, items to give a dash of warm personality to the shop.
Bargains in the Basement is just the foundation for Ringen’s new plans for this newly available downstairs space. “I want to do something unique and different, and as a kickoff with that venue now available, to do other things with the store,” she said.
This event serves as the launchpad for Ringen’s new plan where she hopes to conduct art classes. Ringen had hosted art classes in the past in the upper area of the shop in a converted kitchen turned a welcoming show floor for products, which ended up being too congested for both class patrons and store guests.
Ringen explained that, “By the time you had people around the table, it got so congested; so I’m hoping that I can do more things downstairs in that room. It’s got good lighting and it’s more conducive to classes down there.”
As for what kind of classes Ringen wants to host in the basement of Mayme Jane’s, she’s completely open for ideas.
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