New marketplace for makers planned near Tea exit
Oct. 11, 2023
As one business for local makers and other vendors prepares to close, another is beginning construction.
Makers Exchange will be near Interstate 29 and the Tea interchange, north of Casey’s General Store and not far from where Stacey’s Vintage-Art-Boutique will be displaced by construction of the extended Veterans Parkway.
Makers Exchange will offer a modern, 10,000-square-foot barn design combining rustic and elegant design, said Bobbi Thury, whose family is one of five partnering in an ownership group for the business.
“It will be an open concept but will have dedicated space to each vendor that they can personalize,” she said.
“Our slogan is ‘Local Goods Spreading Goodness.’ We are trying to create a gathering space where we create good connections, people have a good time, and the goods that are sold make a difference in not only the lives of the customers but also the small-business owners selling their unique and authentic creations and products.”
The hope is to include more than 50 independently owned businesses, she said.
Makers Exchange will oversee operation and maintenance of the building, customer service and vendor service, including a common checkout.
“The vendors that have committed already to coming to Makers Exchange have been wonderful in sharing their ideas, wants and needs,” Thury said. “It’s been very collaborative, so we appreciate the early input as we are designing the building and fine-tuning the concept.”
Grace Boyle, owner of Electric Home, plans to sell her upcycled furniture and home decor in the building.
“As a 24-year-old, I have huge dreams and goals for my business,” she said. “However, the thought of creating an independent shop can be quite daunting.”
Becoming part of Makers Exchange will allow her to sell her work while continuing to work full time as a nurse, she said.
“The location will allow the community to come together to shop local, all while experiencing the Sioux Falls area through artisans’ and makers’ products,” Boyle said.
Christine Burg, owner of Pasque Home & Boutique, plans to sell curated home and boutique products, including clothing and accessories.
“This place will be more than shopping,” she said. “It’s a venue that offers a welcoming place for people to gather and make memories.”
The owners chose the location for its convenience and interstate visibility, Thury said.
“If someone is just driving through South Dakota, it’s a location they can pull off the interstate and find something that is truly unique by a South Dakota maker,” she said. “For our local shoppers, it is an easy-to-get-to location, so even on a busy weekend it’s convenient to shop.”
The hope is to encourage discovery and interaction, she added. That includes featuring different makers, hosting workshops, adding holiday themes and hosting farmers markets, festivals and pop-up events.
“Makers Exchange also will focus heavily on the precision of getting the little things right, like good old-fashioned customer service,” Thury said. “If you are looking for something, our employees will know the products of the makers and vendors so that we will be able to provide personalized recommendations based on the customer’s preferences and needs.”
The goal is to have the building constructed by the end of the year and ready to open in February.
While phase one will focus on the vendor space, phase two plans to add an adjacent coffee shop connected through barn doors. There’s also a second acre on the property “to build on the synergy of a community concept,” Thury said.
Interested makers can send an email to [email protected].
