Nov. 7, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

A new marketplace that’s adding food, a space for create-your-own art classes and a new local dining spot are among the reasons to pay a visit to Tea this fall.

Makers Exchange

Allow a little time to shop when you enter Makers Exchange, a brand-new marketplace featuring more than 70 locally owned, independent businesses.

It’s located at 102 E. Venture Place near Interstate 29.

“It’s a really beautiful space, and every vendor is unique,” said Jeremy Jansen, owner of McKutchen’s Crossing Decor & Gift.

“They did a phenomenal job of picking vendors that would complement each other really well without anybody being the same.”

His business offers unique products in the floral and home decor market.

“With this opening up, we thought it would be a great opportunity to get into the Tea and the Sioux Falls market, just given there’s a lot of people here and a lot more customer potential.”

Response has “just been amazing,” Jansen said. “We’ve moved a lot of merchandise for fall, and I’m really, really excited about the upcoming holiday season. I think Christmas is going to be big for us. We have a lot of beautiful items, and I’m just really excited about that.”

 Within Makers Exchange, you’ll find apparel, accessories, home decor, handmade work and plenty of gift ideas – for women and men.

“There’s so much that literally everyone can find something here,” Jansen said.

That includes food. Makers Exchange just opened a new area offering gourmet coffee and artisan waffles.

“There’s also going to be some really great food vendors over there that are going to be selling their produce and different food-related edible products.”

And watch for special events here too – including a European Christmas Market in December.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Char’s Crafts & Creations

Inspired to create a little something yourself? Tea has you covered there, too, with Char’s Crafts & Creations, located inside space shared with Tea Storm Chasers at 507 E. Brian St.

Owner Char DeVries started the business in 2018 out of her garage and offers mobile parties too.

Out of this new space, she offers make-and-take classes with no artistic experience required.

“I like to try anything and everything,” DeVries said. “So paint and wood are the main things. I’m dabbling in some ceramics and resin art. And I do the chunky blanket classes, rugs and door hangers and porch boards.”

The classes are held most Thursdays through Sundays, with an open paint on Wednesdays.

“That’s where you can come in and do a rug, a door hanger or porch board or if you want to come in and bring your own project,” DeVries said. “It doesn’t have to be anything that I do. You can bring in your cross-stitching, your paint-by-number and work on it. I’m here, so you might as well. I want everybody to just come hang out if you want and just be together and paint.”

While she’ll sell some of her own work, most is created by the customers – including lots of holiday-themed decor.

“Typically, I’m starting on Christmas stuff now already, and it’s more seasonal. And then after January, I do animals and kid classes, birthday parties,” she said. “We’ve had several birthday parties in here. They bring all their stuff, the gifts, the cake and food and everything.”

For current class information, click here.

Titans Tavern

And speaking of food, don’t miss the latest place to dine in Tea.

 Titans Tavern is located in the building that years ago was Tea Steak House.

“We still get people coming in here thinking it’s the Tea Steak House sometimes,” co-owner Seth North said.

But the hope for this new group of owners, who took over in June, is to create another kind of community gathering place. Here, you’ll find multiple bar areas and places to dine, including outdoors.

“I would say it is definitely a classic Midwest menu,” North said. “We have our sandwiches, our burgers, and we did bring in some gluten-free options as well. We have a bunch of appetizers, pastas, basically everything except for steak, and at some point hopefully, we’ll be bringing that in as well.”

Breakfast is offered from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.

“We have the classics — eggs Benedict, pancakes, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy,” North said.

There’s also a large event venue that can be subdivided and includes a stage.

“Just getting the word out more and more and being consistent with it,” North said. “It’s definitely been getting busier and busier.”

Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday.