New store, Iowa Handmade, gives local artisans a unique venue

GRUNDY CENTER – Hidden away in the former hardware store on Main Street is Grundy Center’s newest business. It was here that Jody Virgil, a resident of Gladbrook, spent long weeks planning what she calls her ‘brainchild’; a unique business that invites artisans from all over the state to sell their work in her storefront free of charge.
She calls her new store ‘Iowa Handmade.’  
An artist herself, Virgil dabbles in everything from leather work to crocheting to candle making and more. For a long time, she sold her work at various markets, but eventually she decided to look for a more permanent place to sell her art.
When she came across the storefront at 605 G Avenue, she signed the rental agreement on the spot.
“I knew right away that it was perfect,” Virgil said. “But, as I stood inside the huge, empty space, I knew I wouldn’t be able to fill it all by myself. So then I thought, there’s got to be others like me, right? And so I started reaching out to everyone I knew, and I found all these local artist, who I invited to sell at my store.”
Since she first opened her doors about three weeks ago, Virgil said she’s been surprised at how well she’s been received in the community.
“I have a lot of people who tell me how glad they are that we’re here, and how glad they are to see someone in this building,” she said. “Word of mouth travels fast, and I have more and more customers and artists coming in each day.”
For the full story, see this week's Grundy Register.