Ground Floor: A new home for artisans at NewBo City Market

CEDAR RAPIDS — The first time Cheryl Kardell walked into NewBo City Market, she turned to her husband and said, 'I think I'm home.'

That was on St. Patrick's Day three years ago. Kardell and her friend and business partner, Karen Sedlacek, have since made NewBo City Market the home of their business, the Artisan's Emporium.

Kardell and Sedlacek first met as vendors at NewBo City Market's indoor guest merchant markets. Kardell sold hand-crocheted items made from natural fibers, while Sedlacek offered handmade children's clothing, costumes, and toys.

One Saturday, the two women were assigned adjacent vendor spaces and started talking.

'Our friendship grew from there,' Sedlacek said.

In late 2014, NewBo City Market announced that it was discontinuing the indoor guest merchant markets. With that announcement, Kardell and Sedlacek decided to seek a permanent home at the market.

'We looked at each other and said we can do this,' Kardell recalled. 'But it took us a year to get in.'

In that year, the women's business model changed a couple of times. Their first idea was a shop offering items for babies made from natural, eco-friendly materials, but they couldn't sell the idea to market management.

'So we stepped back and let NewBo do their thing,' Kardell said.

Eventually, new management took over, and Sedlacek, who often helped a couple of the market's permanent vendors, met the new director. She started talking to him about the idea, and the original business model evolved from a shop for babies to a gift shop showcasing the work of former guest vendors.

To kick things off, Kardell and Sedlacek hosted their own guest merchant market over Valentine's Day weekend.

'We leased the space in NewBo for the weekend, and Cheryl and I put it on,' Sedlacek said.

That market did well, the women said, with approximately 3,500 people coming through over the course of the weekend. It was such a success that Kardell and Sedlacek abandoned their plan to open the Artisan's Emporium on a three-month trial basis and went ahead to sign a yearlong lease.

'We jumped in with both feet,' Kardell said. 'We proved we belong here.'

They opened the Artisan's Emporium just a few weeks later, on March 3.

The Artisan's Emporium currently features the handcrafted work of Kardell, Sedlacek, and six other local artisans. Merchandise includes crocheted items made with Iowa-spun wool, children's clothing, doll clothes, jewelry, home decor, and gift items.

'Everything is handmade,' Sedlacek said.

Kardell and Sedlacek aren't making a home for just their own business at NewBo City Market; they also are bringing back guest vendors. They said the Artisan's Emporium will host guest merchant markets on the second and fourth weekends of the month from May through September.

At a Glance

Owners: Karen Sedlacek and Cheryl Kardell

Business: The Artisan's Emporium

Address: 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids

Phone: (319) 849-5707

Email: theartisansemporium@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TAEatnewbo

Know a company or manager who has been in business for less than a year that would be ideal for 'Ground Floor'? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com