New artist’s market

The Bizzy Buzz Artisan Market, 409 S. Main Street, in downtown Rochester, is set to open in March in the former Heller’s Jewelry location. Pam and Ryan Walther are revamping the interior of the space for the first time in decades to offer customers locally-made artisan products, ranging from photography and jewelry to books and music. Artisans and designers can rent space in the store for displays or fill out an artist application to have their products featured at the market. Some of the featured artisans will include Detroit Shirt Co., Fiber Time, Flower Power, Healthy Body Investments, Link Wachler Jewelry, Nitty Gritty, NWSH Photography, Pink Parchment Soaps, Stoney Creek Glass, The Accidental Photographer, and Third Man Records. Pam Walther said the goal is to have a variety of artisans and creators with high quality offerings. “The artisans are basically using space to have their items displayed. They don’t have to be at the shop. We handle sales for them,” she said. “We’ve been going to a lot of arts and crafts festivals and finding artisans that way, and others from other markets. A lot like to be in different cities.” The new market is housed in the former Heller’s Jewelry, which closed at the end of 2017 after 55-years of service. George Heller, who had run the business started by his father, has retained ownership of the building and said previously that the space would undergo a full renovation in 2018. “We are exposing the walls from the 1900s,” Pam Walther said. “The last update was in the 1970s. It’s amazing. Everyone is excited.”

Business Matters for the Rochester area are reported by Kevin Elliott. Send items for consideration to KevinElliott@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.