Small Businesses need help
Hello all. I am an antique vendor at Vendors Emporium and Curiosities, owned by Jessica Castleberry. Last night, I received an email stating that every vendor must be completely moved out by June 3rd at 6 PM, which is only 16 days away.
The email stated: “Due to a recent change in our lease, we are no longer permitted to sublet vendor spaces. Because of this, we unfortunately need to close out our current vendor booth model. This means all vendor spaces will need to be vacated by 6 PM June 3rd.”
We are expected to believe that after operating for over a year, this suddenly became an issue with only 16 days notice? This situation is devastating for dozens of local vendors who now have to remove all of their inventory and scramble to find new places to sell their products. These vendors include soap makers, candle makers, antique dealers, a comic book store, a bakery, a crystal shop, collectors, and many other small local businesses.
Vendors Emporium and Curiosities gave many people a stable place to sell their items without constantly traveling from event to event. It helped support local creators, collectors, and small businesses in our community. To shut it down this abruptly and leave vendors with almost no time to prepare is incredibly frustrating and disappointing.
Many people also remember the abrupt closure of Little Nest Preschool in December 2024, which was also owned by Jessica Lou Castleberry.
https://www.kotatv.com/2024/12/04/local-daycare-abruptly-closes-leaving-families-scrambling/
She also owns Coffee and the Cats.
At the very least, local vendors and customers deserve transparency and more notice than this. Right now, many small businesses are being left in a very difficult position.
Please share this so the community is aware of what is happening and so these displaced vendors may be able to find new places to set up and continue their businesses.
Also, if anyone knows of local businesses, markets, or open commercial spaces in the Rapid City area that may be willing to take in vendors, please comment below.