Rehabbing Historic Building for Move
Eight years ago, Laci Todd took her love for pottery to the ultimate level … she opened The Crafty Coop on North Lafayette Street in Macomb. And now, she's upping her game yet again thanks to a Main Street America $20,000 grant, funded through American Express, and lots of determination.
Todd recently purchased the former Enchanted Florist building at 212 N. Lafayette St., a few doors down from her current spot, and with the Main Street grant is rehabbing the new space for an anticipated move by the middle to end of July.
According to Todd, the new business spot will allow her to further expand her offerings, including adding a new glaze to the line-up. Fun fact: The Jungle Gems glaze contains tiny crystals that 'explode' when in the kiln to create unique patterns.
'I had applied for this grant a few times before and didn't get it, so I was floored to finally receive this,' Todd exclaimed. 'When I originally applied, I was just going to spruce up this place as I hadn't bought the other building, and that wasn't really even in my plan. But then I decided to buy my own place and I found out I got the grant just before I closed on the building next door. I contacted Main Street America and made sure even though I was moving, I could still use that grant to update and renovate our new space.' Besides the new glaze line, pottery – and cat – friendly flooring will be installed, walls will be refreshed and painted, energy efficient lighting put in and landscaping touches will be added, she noted. The space will be bigger to accommodate more people, and she'll have a kitty cat lounge, a separate space for the resident foster cats and kittens that call the business home to hang out in when a customer is allergic to the felines. Todd is also on the hunt for picnic tables that she plans to paint turquoise (her favorite color), which symbolizes hospitality, community and bringing people together, and place in the outdoor area for special events and give people the option to paint outdoors when the weather permits.
'We're almost ready to go,' she added. 'Having my own space is important to my mission of bringing creativity to the community and fostering cats and kittens and finding them good homes {Todd has had 60 successful adoptions in the four years she's been fostering}. I want my place to continue to be a destination for people. Plus, investing in my community and the downtown is very important to me.'
Main Street America awarded $10 million in funding to over 500 small businesses across the country.
The Crafty Coop and Annie's Frozen Custard in Nauvoo were the only two west-central Illinois small businesses to receive the grant. Each recipient has received a $20,000 grant to help them grow, innovate and support their local communities.
About The Crafty Coop (or How it Hatched) The Crafty Coop opened Oct. 20, 2018 after Todd entered the Macomb Chamber of Commerce's 'Shark Tank' competition earlier that year. Even though she was working two jobs and had two children under the age of 10 at home at the time (a one-year-old and a nine-year-old), she figured the competition would give her some good business experience. She ended up placing third overall, and with that top three finish, a friend encouraged her to move forward. By October, she was in business and has been sharing her love of pottery with area residents and visitors since.
Before opening, Todd shadowed at another studio out of town to learn more about the business. In her words, it was just meant to be.
'It all just fell into place,' Todd added.
Since that opening nearly eight years ago, Todd has also collaborated with several Macomb-area businesses for unique events and programs, including the former Forgottonia Brewing, The Wine Sellers, Bloom Macomb, Bold Brew House and Smut Wagon. She also brings in 'special guests' in the form of baby animals – chicks and goats – into the shop for something a little different for her customers. If all that's not enough to keep her hopping (in addition to her three kids, now 17, nine and four), and her hobby farm, which includes chickens, geese, ducks, dogs and cats) she also fosters cats and kittens in her shop, which will continue at the new place.
The Crafty Coop's hours are 4:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday- Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturdays and noon-5 p.m.
Sundays. The studio fee for adults is $8 per person and $5 per person for children under 18 and college students, which includes paint and brushes, as well as the clear glaze and firing. The pottery pieces are priced individually based on the design and size. Reservations are appreciated, but not required, with walk-ins accommodated as space allows, she noted. The Coop is also available for private parties, and Todd offers a variety of 'take-and-make' kits, which she calls PYOP (paint-your-own-pottery) kit, as well as special holiday kits like Boo Buckets and Merry Mystery Ornament Boxes.
People can paint their artistic creations in-house for Todd to clear glaze and fire in one of her two kilns (the big kiln is called Beverley after her grandmother, with the little kiln named Gertie after her great-grandmother, Beverley's mom), or take their wares home to paint and bring back for firing. She offers a variety of pottery, from dogs and cats and other animals, including make-believe like unicorns and dragons to seasonal favorites like holiday gnomes and pumpkins to mugs and much more. If she doesn't have something on the shelf, Todd will try to track it down.
Follow The Crafty Coop on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram at thecrafty-coopmacomb. To make a reservation or talk to Todd about a private party or event, contact her at (309) 331-0965, thecraftycoop-macomb@ gmail.com or via Facebook.
