Plain and Simple now open on Mondays
Expanding business and staff is making it possible for Plain and Simple to have its doors open on Mondays. This means you can visit or call Plain and Simple six days a week (Monday through Saturday) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are grateful to be able to offer our customers this added convenience.
September 4 will be the Fourth Birthday of Plain and Simple
Reba Place Fellowship approved the proposal for Plain and Simple on July 31, 2004. The month of August went to a gut rehab of the entire space, hiring staff, acquiring equipment and inventory, and preparing toward an early fall opening.
Doors opened on September 4. At first it seemed that almost no one knew we were here. We handed out flyers at the local Metra station and door-to-door in the immediate neighborhood. By December there were respectable early-stage sales, but during the winter of 2005 it was hard to see how we could keep going. Large sales during the June Custer St. Fair month of 2005 kept us afloat until the holiday season. 2006 proved to be a turnaround year: sales rose month by month and eventually exceeded our projections. By early 2007 it was clear that Plain and Simple had survived the proverbial trial by fire during the first two years of a new business and would be an ongoing presence on Main Street.
We are grateful to all those who have visited and supported the store and the many Amish families who provide such excellent craftsmanship.
New Items Available at Plain and Simple
This summer Plain and Simple features a number of outstanding new items, many acquired from the Amish booths at the May 2008 Northern Indiana Woodcrafters Association expo in Goshen, Indiana. Among them:
- Our front window is showing a cozy kitchen breakfast nook set in quarter sawn oak. Developed by A&J Woodworking, it has already prompted orders from customers wanting to upgrade their kitchen.
- We have a new Queen Anne style jewelry armoire in cherry. Standing 46" tall, it features six small and two large drawers for storage, plus sides which open for necklace storage and display, along with an opening top complete with mirror.
- A new super-comfortable high back slat chair with deep cushions offers the chance to test out the feel of the love seat and sofa available in the same style. Matching cherry plant stands further expand the possibilities.
- We also have expanded our selection of wood rockers and gliders, with and without upholstery.
- All of these items are for sale off the floor; additionally, orders can be placed for any of them in varied woods and finishes.
- New pottery from local artist Barb Grimsley is now available in the
store. New planters, bird feeders, serving dishes and candle sticks,
all hand made, locally. - Local artist Chris Evans Smith has shared some of her new pieces with us: The
Tomato in a 16"x20" frame, and also a three piece collection "oasis" - Our Amish-made jelly and jams flavors include strawberry, rhubarb, blueberry, red raspberry, and apple butter.
- We have replaced the earlier star spin quilt with a new one, we also have several new appliqués for sale in the store.