After almost 13 years on Chattanooga's Southside, local shop Merchants on Main has announced its plans to close in May.
Missy Steiner will be looking for the next chapter in her career as Maple Leaf Realco, her landlord for the past four years, is looking to raze the building and rent to a new tenant.
"The property is a lot more valuable for someone else," she said.
"Even when it was purchased a few years ago, we talked about the building not being in great shape and that he (the new owner) would likely develop the property," Steiner said. "I knew it was coming, and the building needs a lot of work, so it needs to be torn down."
Almost 14 years ago, Steiner and several of her co-workers at the Galleries at Southside chose to take the closing of that store as an opportunity to do something on their own.
Steiner opened Merchants on Main, and for the past 13 years she has offered booth space for people selling everything from new pottery to old pieces of furniture and pieces that have been updated with a new paint job or purpose.
Steiner, who rents booths to about 20 people, said she plans to take the items she has and rent booths of her own at shops similar to hers in the area and enjoy the free time she hopes to have as a renter instead of a rentee.
"I know I can buy things and make them look good," she said. "Being an independent business owner takes up a lot of time. You can't really take a vacation."
Lynda Russell sells vintage furniture that she paints and refurbishes, gifts, decor and various other items as part of her Two Pearls business. She's had booths are Merchants on Main since it opened and has several at other galleries in the area.
She said she plans to relocate, but that it's not easy for a variety of reasons.
"We'd like to find something similar to the Southside market, but it's hard for a couple of reasons," she said. "Missy has become like family. It's quite difficult to have it close, not just from a business standpoint, but a personal one."
Steiner's daughter, Madi, has worked with her on a part-time basis at the store and will continue to paint furniture as she has for years, Steiner said.
Steiner has seen and been a part of the renaissance on the city's Southside along Main Street and said being there to see it inspired her to write a book called, "You Have No Idea: Stories From the Southside."
"The book is about the fun quirky stories and the people that wondered into my store," she said.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.