The goal for reuse of an historic Connecticut factory building was to develop a space for what has been dubbed a community of like-minded creators in a positive environment.
To that end, an old manufacturing building on Lawton Street in Torrington has been transformed into a creative collective of gift makers, classes, business promotion and community.
When Market Street Creatives opened this summer, more than 100 vendors were already set up inside, using kiosks or stalls to display their work. The variety of goods is almost endless, but to name a few, includes: pottery, jewelry, paintings, artwork, clothing, children’s toys and pet accessories.
There also are collections of spices and flavorings for cooking, jars of preserves and pickled vegetables; seasonal décor and custom artwork; framed “paintings” made with vintage jewelry; and handmade novelty coasters in the shape of animals. Handmade ink pens, soaps, candles, fragrances and body care products fill other displays. And more stalls are filling up. In total, there are more than 180 vendors.
The maker market is a dream realized for owners Erick and Michelle Royer. They said they chose the Lawton Street location with help from Vance Taylor, a longtime Torrington Realtor.
The site was previously used for manufacture of different items over the past century, according to Preservation Connecticut.
Maker space
Inside now, Holly Epoxy, as her stall’s sign reads, was busy displaying a new collection of artwork. Using epoxy materials in hues of blue, lavender and white, the artist decorates pieces of glass and wood. Her pieces are suitable for gift-giving and decorating.
“I just got back from a trip, and I’m trying to get my booth ready for the weekend,” she said. “This is a beautiful space.”
Kathy Benedetto, a resident of Shelton, makes desk and wall clocks using old 8-track cassette tapes and other shapes, with original musicians’ record labels as the featured artwork.
The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” and other albums made attractive covers for the little desk clocks. Others were decorated with sports team logos.
“My business is called ‘The Odd Piece,’” Benedetto said. “I had a booth at Munger’s Market in Bridgeport, but they closed. I was glad to find this place.”
Lori Blanchette of Wallingford was setting up her own booth nearby, Busy Mom Designs, which featured personalized water bottles, mugs and other items.
“This is my first storefront,” she said with a smile. “It’s great here.”
“Each vendor has their own stall and they can decorate it the way they want, using their own marketing and displays,” Erick Royer said. “A lot of them work from home, and they sometimes can’t afford a retail space. This gives them that opportunity; they have a physical location now.”
Makers and artists pay a monthly rental fee, but no commission.
“We’re not making anything on what they’re selling, we’re just collecting the rent,” Royer said. “We have a few rules on what to sell: no antiques, and no tag sale items. If it’s repurposed vintage, that’s fine, but we don’t want to have a flea market.”
Each stall or kiosk has a custom sign; all merchandise is priced and bar-coded, making shopping easy.
Market Street Creatives is home to more than 180 vendors, “makers” of gifts, fine art, food, clothing, jewelry and care products. The owners are offering spaces for artists and
craftspeople to create their own work and sell it at 100 Lawton Street, Torrington. (Emily M. Olson)
“We wanted a certain vibe for what we wanted to do, to bring makers into this building and give people a chance to promote their business,” Erick Royer said. He is also the owner of Step Craft, a manufacturing business on Field Street that is eventually moving to a space on Lawton Street.
Building reuse
The lower level of the building, with displays and photographs from the Torrington Historical Society, leads to a wide staircase up to the main floor, where shoppers are welcomed into a lounge area, art gallery and the main checkout counter. A large seating area is near a coffee bar, where visitors can relax and talk, Royer said.
“We wanted to create a community of like-minded creators in a really positive environment,” Royer said. “I want help small businesses in the community grow.”
With his own marketing and manufacturing experience, and his wife’s experience as a graphic designer, marketing expert and children’s author, Royer said the retail section of Market Street Creatives is only part of his business.
Market Street Creatives is home to more than 180 vendors, “makers” of gifts, fine art, food, clothing, jewelry and care products. The owners are offering spaces for artists and
craftspeople to create their own work and sell it at 100 Lawton Street, Torrington. (Emily M. Olson)
Off the main retail area on the second floor, computers and work spaces are available to the vendors; they can print business cards and signs, work on graphic designs and 3-D printing projects, use laser cutting tools and learn photography. A YouTube studio and a photography classroom are in the works, where vendors and visitors can sign up to use cameras, computers, lights and other equipment.
The building, which is about 20,000 square feet, will also have party and performance rooms for vendor and public use.
“Those will be free to vendors, and can be rented by the public,” Royer said. “People are always saying they’re looking for event spaces, so we want to provide those.”
“The idea is to create a one-stop shop for people who want to promote and grow their small business, whatever it happens to be,” Royer said. “We’re going to help you do that, to run your business. We can provide some of the tools people need, all in one place.”
There are also spaces planned for woodworking, pottery and painting, he said. “Vendors can come in on a scheduled time and do their work, or work with others,” Royer said.
Getting Market Street Creatives up and running was a bit of a challenge in the beginning of the approval process, the Royers said.
Market Street Creatives is home to more than 180 vendors, “makers” of gifts, fine art, food, clothing, jewelry and care products. The owners are offering spaces for artists and
craftspeople to create their own work and sell it at 100 Lawton Street, Torrington. (Emily M. Olson)
“We ran into a few roadblocks at first, but City Planner Jeremy Leifert was very, very helpful, and wanted us to do this,” Erick Royer said. “We had to change the (zoning) of the building to include retail along with manufacturing, and that took a little bit of time. Jeremy helped us make that happen so we could get our permits.”
On a recent weekday, a number of customers were wandering the many booths, while vendors were bustling about, preparing for a busy week and weekend. The Royers were happy to see people inside, and to have a steady flow of shoppers checking out with their purchases.
“We’re excited,” Michelle Royer said. “I’m so busy, it’s been a little crazy. But things are going very well.”
“I think it’s going to be awesome, and there’s so much more we plan to do up here,” her husband added.
Learn more at www.marketstreetcreatives.com/. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 100 Lawton St., Torrington, off South Main Street.
