Loyal Pop Up Shoppe provides opportunity for local vendors to shine

By Valorie Brecht In a little town such as Loyal, small businesses have to support each other, and by teaming up to host periodic sales, the hope is these business owners will generate more interest than any of them could have gotten trying to run a storefront on their own.

The Loyal Pop Up Shoppe is a unique downtown vendor space to showcase local products and services. It is open the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jennifer Bender of Neillsville has owned the building at 238 N. Main St. for about 20 years. She had different people rent the building on and off over the years. Acouple of years ago, she decided to renovate. She and her husband completely redid the space, including painting the walls with a gray, metallic paint, updating the ceiling with warm lighting instead of fluorescent lighting, adding a fireplace, and putting in carpeting.

“I had wanted to rent it around Corn Fest time, but it wasn’t ready at that time,” said Bender.

Eventually they got it ready to go and rented it to a woman for Memories Made

Please see Pop Up Shoppe, page 7

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTOS Pop Up Shoppe,

from p. 6

Forever Photography from May 2023 to May 2024. The photographer decided not to continue renting, so the space sat vacant until Bender came up with another idea. She really didn’t want to turn the lower level into another apartment, because she felt it was important to preserve business space on Main Street.

“I thought, ‘There are so many women out there with side businesses besides their day job. What could I do to support them?’” said Bender.

She settled on a “pop-up shop,” open one Saturday a month. She knew that many local entrepreneurs hold down a regular job in addition to their side hustle, so she chose a weekend time when they would be available to sell their wares. She plans to amp up the hours if there is increased demand.

Vendors can rent a 6-foot-wide table space for a fee. The first pop-up shop on Feb. 1 featured vendors from Loyal, Neillsville, Owen, and Marshfield, and products such as L’BRI skin care and beauty products, homemade bread and dressing, homemade detergent, wall prints, Norwex cleaning supplies, books, custom tumblers, permanent jewelry, freeze-dried candy, Color Street nails, and more.

“It’s my first time doing something like this. I’ve always seen the potential of downtowns in small towns. I like storefronts to remain storefronts, if possible. It’s a neat way to expose Loyal to neat products and things right in our area,” said Bender.

The space is first come, first serve. People should text/call Bender at 715-937-1126 or message the “Loyal Pop Up Shoppe” Facebook page if interested in renting a spot at the next pop-up shop.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTOS

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTOS

Above, Pat Bell of Loyal sells homemade artesian crusty bread, parsley, sweet onion sauce, her GrassRoots laundry detergent, photo prints on canvas, and crocheted items such as scarves and “wearable art” like ponchos and sweaters.

Above, Melissa Rakestraw chats with one of the customers at the Pop Up Shoppe at 238 N. Main St., Loyal. There were eight vendors there on Feb. 1, but owner Jen Bender said she could fit as many as 12-14 vendors by utilizing the back room as well. Below, Rakestraw, from Marshfield, sells Color Street nail strips, as well as hand care, nail care, and makeup products.