BUCKHANNON – Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC may be closing its storefront, but the business will continue to offer art workshops and an online presence.
Shanda Hoover, founder and owner of Mountain Mama Market + Artistry, said the store will close its doors April 8.
“I want to do longer hours that day; I’m not sure exactly when right now, but we’ll post it on the Facebook page. I want to do something special and have refreshments,” Hoover said Wednesday.
Business at the storefront has been slow since the jump in food and gas prices about one year ago, Hoover explained.
“About a year ago when gas and food prices went up, that’s when we were hit the worst, and it’s just it’s been a slow year compared to the year before,” she said.
But while the store itself is closing, Hoover wanted to offer paint parties and other art workshops.
“I want to continue to do the paint parties because people are more comfortable being out now; everyone wants to get together, engage and have these paint parties,” she said. “It’s therapeutic, and it’s good for anxiety and depression, which a lot of people are feeling right now. We spoke with the Outpost and Event Center, and they gave me a good deal, so we’re going to start doing paint parties there. I think it’ll be a great place because it’s bigger, there’s better parking, and they have food and drinks.”
Other workshops will cover hand-lettering and photography.
“We’ll keep our website open, and it is mountainmamamarketwv.com, where we have an online marketplace tab and if you hover over the tab, we have different vendors, small businesses and any service offer here in the store,” Hoover said. “If you go to their profile and click on it, it’ll take you to their Etsy page or website. We want to continue offering that to support them even when we close the doors and people will also be able to purchase paint kits and other art on the website.”
Upcoming events and workshops may be found on the Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC Facebook page.
Hoover said her business hasn’t lacked community support.
“I’ve gotten nothing but great support from everybody; it’s just going be better from here, it’s not over,” Hoover said. “The community has been great, and it’s been a whirlwind over the past week since we announced the closure. People want to book the paint parties and order kits on the website or come into the store and buy kits, so I’ll throw one together quick for them, but the community has been awesome and really supported this business.”
