Artisans and vendors will soon have a new place to showcase their products when TJ’s Treasures and Custom Creations opens this spring.
Owner Tanya Grenkie started the business about 25 years ago by painting furniture, up-cycling, and refurbishing old goods to look new. The Hawkestone resident then transitioned her business to a travelling booth that also sold antiques at local farmers' markets and festivals.
“I eventually started doing workshops and the business just kept expanding into my own store,” Grenkie explained. “It has never stopped growing.”
The new 23 Booth St. shop will be located on Highway 11 between the 10th and 11th Line of Oro. Grenkie is now accepting applications for vendors and artisans. The shop will feature artisans, antiques, collectibles, records, home decor, DYI items, and the full line of Fusion Mineral Paint and Fusion Milk Paint.
“Before I would rent space at the town halls or local pubs,” she explained. “Now, we will actually have the space to do everything in-house, which I’m really excited about.”
Grenkie, 49, says the pandemic has spawned a lot of new local businesses and she has the passion to give them a place to shine.
"I've met so many incredible artisans and vendors over the past few years and for some this was a way to not go crazy during COVID shutdowns," she explained.
"They have turned a stressful time into businesses that puts their kids into sports, buys clothing, and gives everyone a little control over their lives when so much is out of their control. I think it's always been important to support small businesses but even more so in the past couple of years. This is my way of helping."
The pandemic does not stoke fear in Grenkie who has taken a leap of faith to open this new enterprise.
“I’m a licensed paralegal and was working in the field when COVID hit,” she explained. “My job disappeared because we weren’t busy enough. So, that’s how this became more of a full-time thing for me."
When Grenkie first planned to open her own shop, she was going to start small. However, the store is now set to be over 3,000 square feet.
“I’m hoping to do some pop-up markets in the summer and maybe even expand a little bit,” she said.
TJ’s Treasures and Custom Creations is on pace for a soft opening on May. 1. For more information, click here.
