Mountain Mama Market + Artistry’s grand opening set for Saturday, April 10

Beth Christian Broschart
April 9, 2021

BUCKHANNON – Looking for a gift, a new piece of jewelry or something special for your home?

Well, a new collaborative shop opening up Saturday in Buckhannon might just have the perfect piece – especially if you like shopping locally. Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC will host its grand opening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, April 10. Owner and photographer Shanda Hoover said the idea to open Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC beside Oinks BBQ on North Kanawha Street is something she has been working on since 2020.

“A year ago, I found this location on Facebook, but it was under different ownership,” Hoover said. “I have been looking for a place of my own and in the past year or two, I thought I would want to have my photography business and the other creative things I do in a storefront.”

During Saturday’s grand opening, the first 20 shoppers to make a purchase will receive one of Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC’s logo shopping bags. Hoover said there will be other fun giveaways offered during the grand opening.

“We looked at a few places on Main Street, and none of them worked out,” Hoover said. “We looked at the location at 14 N. Kanawha St. again, and it just felt right, but then COVID hit, and we decided to wait.”

Hoover said about a month ago, someone sent her the link to the location on North Kanawha Street again.

“It kept coming to my mind, and I shrugged it off, but then I thought maybe I should check into it again,” she said. “I have known the new owner since I was younger, and we looked at it and prayed hard about it. Then, doors started opening for us, and it was effortless. God is so good. I took my idea and people who wanted to sell their items started coming to us.”

Hoover said Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC will feature more than 25 different artists and artisans’ homemade and handcrafted wares.

“One of the best things is during 2020, not many crafters were able to get out to sell their items, and some people do not have an outlet to do a website to sell their items, so this helps others, too, which is my life motto,” Hoover said. “I am so glad to be able to help others along the way – I have my photography business, my creative business and I get to help others and support other small businesses in the area.”

A selection of just some of the handmade jewelry at Mountain Mama Market + Artistry.

Currently, Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC has between 25 and 30 vendors who specialize in an array of items, including jewelry, solid wood cabinets and items, metal-work items, beach resin signs, reborn baby dolls, wooden signs, cloth baby dolls, pillows, West Virginia T-shirts, dried flower art pictures, succulent plants, metal jewelry, owls and West Virginia cutouts, just to name a few.

Stop in to Mountain Mama Market + Artistry Saturday, April 10, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for their grand opening.

“We have a lady who is going to sell elderberry syrup,” Hoover said. “My dad keeps bees, and he is going to bring in local honey to sell. I love shopping from small businesses, and I love purchasing handmade and homemade items.”

Along with items from vendors, Hoover said she is going to have Christian books for folks to purchase.

“There is not a Christian bookstore that is close,” Hoover said, “so, this is all just really coming together, and it is wonderful. It will be amazing.”

Hoover said they are still looking for more vendors to sell their wares through Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC.

Artisans’ signs for sale at Mountain Mama Market + Artistry, which will host its grand opening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 10.

“We are hoping to get maybe 10 more vendors,” she said. “I feel like because we brought other vendors in it makes a complete circle – it helps other vendors and gets their names out there and it helps their families. When folks shop local and shop small businesses, they are helping support a family and that is what we are about. Having the vendors in here helps me and helps the community be able to shop small for handmade items, rather than ordering something online or shopping in a big chain store. In the end, it helps everybody, and it all feels so good.”

Mountain Mama Market + Artistry LLC has a Facebook page, and anyone with questions may call or text Hoover at 304-613-2154. The shop will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We hope folks will come out for our grand opening and will come and shop with us and support all of these vendors and their wonderful companies,” Hoover said.