Hollister Artisans Mercantile faces closure

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Amid rumors circulating about its future, Hollister Artisans Mercantile owner Kristi Kern confirmed on Tuesday the store may soon face closure. 

Kern told BenitoLink that she’ll have an announcement in January on what the future holds for the small business. She attributed the uncertainty to economic conditions that have led her to seek a new business strategy. 

“The economy has been rough for businesses in general, and we are no exception,” Kern said. 

The Artisans Mercantile opened its doors two years ago in downtown Hollister, with the intention of being a “a haven for artists and crafters,” according to its website.

“With a passion for supporting local talent, we offer a diverse range of art supplies, craft tools, and materials that will ignite your imagination and fuel your artistic journey,” the website says.

Kern said part of the problem the store faces is that it’s still new to residents.“We are still trying to build up our clientele, but I guess we didn’t do it fast enough.” 

She said the main challenge is slow foot traffic in the downtown area.

“People don’t go downtown for just any reason,” she said.

Until January, Kern said she is open to ideas for keeping the space alive, such as subleasing the entire space or bringing on a partner to take over. 

“We have lots of plans for the future, but financially we are struggling,” she said.

She posted on Nextdoor that her space is home to 15 local artisans who sell “amazing and unique handmade works of art.”

She added that the store hosts arts and crafts classes and workshops and rents space for events.

Her social media posts have garnered comments of support from its followers.

Kern said that she wants to keep the mission of the Mercantile alive, but that it will have to look different. She said that she is currently looking at doing artist pop-ups for weekends and special events, plus offering arts and crafts classes on the go.

“We need a different business model,” she said.

Kern said the Mercantile is a unique space in the community.

“I feel like we definitely offer something to the community that we don’t currently have,” she said. “Some people are gravitated toward the arts, some people aren’t.”

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