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Columbia City welcomes newest business: The Gallery

by CHELSIE DAVID

As more people thrive to expand their creativity and passion, Columbia City continues to grow into a stronger community with each new business opening.

Earlier this month, Tricia Neely was surrounded by her friends and family as they celebrated the Grand Opening of her new business, The Gallery, that was built solely with local artist and creators in mind.

Neely wanted to create a space that allowed different artists and creators an opportunity to display and sell their merchandise through one forum on a more permanent level.

Prior to Neely’s opening, the only forums to allow different types of local artists and creators a chance to display their products was through community events, such as the First Friday’s & the Whitley County Farmers Market, out of their store locations or on social media.

Operating out of the old First Baptist Church on Walnut Street, Neely and her husband, William Neely, soon began to transform the building into their dual businesses and living space back in 2014.

The House of Style, which is a salon & spa created by William Neely in 1995 and once located on Main Street, utilizes the ground level of the First Baptist Church after relocating in April 2016.

The Gallery is now displayed on the loft-style second floor, with their family’s permanent living space residing in the Northern portion of the church.

Neely soon began to discover all the possibilities of opening a business that could become a universal space for all local artist and creators.

Finding the perfect name that fit her clientele and their products soon became the biggest challenge. Neely said she wanted to find a name that didn’t become lost in translation from being to long, thus the formation of The Gallery.

“But when I think of The Gallery, I think gallery means photos, it means art, it means paintings and we want it to mean that, but we also have a lot of different other art to include. Lotions and candles and jewelry,” Neely said but she wanted to expand the name from the typical meaning. “What other word can we throw in there, how about ‘Artist & Creators’ because these are creators of art, too.”

In March, Neely began making arrangements to quit her full-time job and start a business. She began marketing on social media to promote the idea of her new business, while asking vendors to reach out if they were interested. Neely soon became baffled by the amount of positive feedback she was receiving.

Neely began consulting with different artists and creators to discuss commission rates and finalize details prior to their soft opening on May 8 and Grand Opening on June 5.

Neely has artists and creators that display everything from photos, paintings and woodwork to jewelry, lotions and snacks as well as everything in between. Many of different artists and creators stem from community events but now these local vendors have a more permanent place for members of the community to enjoy.

The Sassy Vegan, Old World Fudge, Rise Up Devotions, White Wave Studio Arts, The Thoughtful Muse, Little Red Hen Soap, Hawksglen Carvings and Vintage Mama are just a few of the many vendors available with products throughout The Gallery.

Neely and The Gallery is now a uniquely peaceful space that offers local artists and creators the opportunity to display their passions while becoming a part of history for the community.

For more information on the inventory at The Gallery, visit their Facebook Page @TheGalleryHouseofStyle or storefront location at 106 N. Walnut St in Columbia City.

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2021-06-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-15T07:00:00.0000000Z

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Alberta Newspaper Group