Poppy Lane Mercantile re-opens in downtown Palmer

PALMER — Poppy Lane Mercantile is back in a new location, but with the same concept of offering customers an eclectic collection of locally made products. Angela Hendrickson and Krystal Erickson took over Poppy Lane last summer and officially reopened the store in downtown Palmer March 16.

“It ended up transforming beyond anything we could ever dream of,” Erickson said.

Hendrickson and Erickson used to vendor home décor and furniture as Posh Home at the former Poppy Lane, previously located off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Erickson said that the previous owner said that it wasn’t working for her and asked them if they wanted to take it over. They did so and brought over some existing vendors and found many new ones along the way.

“There’s just something for everyone, I think, here,” Erickson said.

The store is essentially a co-op that features a variety of local products made by local artisans. They currently are working with 23 different vendors, helping them sell a variety of products from handmade jewelry and accessories to refurbished furniture and locally baked treats.

“It’s become really exciting to help these businesses start out and get them to where they want to be. That’s really the best part of it,” Erickson said.

Erickson said that this is her first time running a brick and mortar store. She said it attracts a spectrum of locals who make their own products, be it as a hobby or for those who are trying to get their business off the ground. Looking forward, Erickson sees a lot of possibilities for the store and their clientele.

“It’s got a lot of potential too,” Erickson said.

They are located off South Valley Way, near Humdinger’s Pizza Co., inside the building where the Yak youth facility used to operate from. The building has completely transformed and looks brand new with an entirely different color scheme and style now that 203 Kombucha and Poppy Lane moved in.

The building was built in the 1940s and the owner Jeff Johnson gave Erickson and Hendrickson the old Hartley Motor sign. Erickson said that it was very suiting to feature that vintage sign inside their store.

“It kind of goes with our business model too. I mean you see a lot of this stuff was just refurbished and vintage stuff. People have made it new and kind of the same thing with the building itself,” Erickson said.

Poppy Lane’s business model may have some healthy competition between similar vendors within their walls, but Erickson said that there is so much diversity and each person has their own style that sets them apart. She also affirmed that people in the community are very often supportive of each other’s endeavors.

“We can all offer each other something… I think it makes Palmer more of a destination,” Erickson said.

Joy Fournelle , a Poppy Lane volunteer and local crafter, sells handmade jewelry with her business, Joyful Raven Creations. She handcrafts Alaskan inspired items and handwrites a story on the back of the packaging, calling them “story strands.”

She said that it’s really nice to be able to set up inside a brick and mortar shop and it’s given her a substantial boost in business.

“I couldn’t possible own my own brick and mortar… I would never be able to all of this on my own,” Fournelle said as she gestured to the entire store. “So having a place where I can come and be a part of a co-op is awesome.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com