EUREKA, CA— 4th St. just got a brand new storefront that holds more than 7000 square feet worth of artwork, antiques, clothing items, and more–all made by artists around Humboldt County.
Owner and founder of 4th St. Mercantile, Crystal Woodberry Haynes, explained what the store is all about and how it came to be.
“We realized that the community of people who wanted to gather together to sell items could be more than just one shop owner,” Haynes said. “Then when we moved back up here, I’m originally from here, we decided that a lot of stores had closed and we didn’t have options here that we some people have in other locations shopping options, furniture options, clothing options.”
This store is also to help those that may have lost their businesses during the pandemic.
“A lot of people just couldn’t afford the rising costs, a lot of people can’t afford staffing issues […] so if you put all those things together on one small person, they can’t hold that weight,” Haynes said. “But if a group of small people come together with good coordination, they can carry that.”
Vendor spaces at the Mercantile require a three month commitment, which can be extended.
“We do that because we feel like some people who might want to get in this business, they may come in and they’ll come in a month that’s slow and they’ll give up […] we don’t want them to give up that easily,” Haynes said. “With retail, there’s always going to be very high volume months and very low volume months and we want them to realize that if you’re here and you do good and you love it and you want to take out of here and go open your own space, we want them to realize that there’s going to be slow months and there’s going to be high volume months, so stick it out.”
The Mercantile will even host classes for people to sign up where local artists can teach community members. And they also have a dedicated space for BIPOC and Indigenous artists.
“This is going to be a dedicated space for underserved members of the community, we’re looking at BIPOC, Indigenous, veterans […] anyone that feels that they couldn’t afford a traditional space but wants one,” Amanda Sanchez, local artist and daughter of Haynes said. “They just tell us who they are, what they need and what supplies they would need in order to create their vision like a small shelf or hanging supplies and we will provide all of that.”
Vendors interested in a space can contact 4th St. Mercantile to get on a waiting list.
https://www.facebook.com/4thStreetMercantile
