Shop Most Likely Closing Soon

Hello folks,

It's been a wonderful experience overall, having a physical shop in our lovely town. I've met so many great folks, been saved from my natural tendency to be reclusive, had conversations with so many people, met other artists and more. However, after two years I've also learned some realities:

• I have absolutely no idea how to run a business, no idea how to learn, and my disability really prevents me from being able to keep up on everything that needs to be done to run a business as I'm cognitively impaired, unreliable and have serious trouble learning and remembering anything.

• There is no foot traffic in Moon Lake Village, and three years after our town's elementary school was turned into an art and shopping village with affordable rent for local artists and crafters, the town has shown no willingness to do anything about that. Signage is non-existant or unreadable where it does exist, and they won't allow us to put out our own signs(!) No one knows this place is here or what it is. Now, suddenly they're launching a "re-branding" effort that is really out of touch with what we actually need here and won't change much, if anything, but sounds like it will cost a lot! Essentially it feels as though the town is willing to take our rent money each month and say, "Good luck, you're on your own and by the way, we're going to actively prevent you from effectively advertising that you're back there."

• As if it weren't difficult enough for one disabled woman to figure out everything one needs to know in order to run a small business in this state, I just received a letter from the county revenue commissioner, Tyler Wilks, and get this...

They expect me to take inventory of every single thing in my shop, and pay them taxes for having it in here. That's right, from bookshelves to paintbrushes. This is not only abusive, not only absolutely prohibitive for a small one-person business that doesn't make a profit and is a passion project, but it is simply impossible for me to accomplish. This is an art studio! The sheer number of things that are in here that are not for sale is beyond my ability to count and catalog. Pencils, pens, markers, paintbrushes, three different types of paints, pads of paper, string, tape, solvents, necklace and earring hangers, easels, art supply caddies, shelving units, chairs, tables, artworks that are on display but not for sale... I cannot even list the wide variety of stuff that's in this shop, let alone inventory it and figure out what I paid for it and when. Some of this stuff, I've had for 25 years! It's simply too much of a project to ask me to do.

Reminder: I am one disabled woman. I opened this place because I needed a space to do my art and because I thought it was the type of place our town should have. A place where kids can come do some art and try out different art supplies, a community space where young artists including artists who are disabled, LGBTQIA+, just starting out, etc, can come to sell their work, a space for local artists and crafters to use to teach a small class, and such. The state of Alabama makes this infeasible and untenable for anyone who can't afford to hire a team of experienced people to do everything for them.

As I said, I've LOVED having this space and I've LOVED meeting all of you people. I don't want to close it, I want to build it and make it better. It really hurts my heart to have to close it, especially after all of the time, money, effort and love I've put into it, but I don't feel like I have a choice. I just don't know how to make it work.

Barring some type of miracle, or amazing information or resources falling into my lap that I've been totally unable to find so far, we will close in the end of August.

Most furniture and fixtures will be for sale, some very cheaply, so if you are looking for a deal on book shelves, little rustic tables, etc, come on by any time the front page of the website says we're open.