Part workspace, part store and part gallery, an artists’ collective with a connection to a local “Gypsy” is soon to open its doors to Flossmoor.
Gypsy & Company is slated for a “soft open” on Friday, Nov. 27, at the northwest corner of Flossmoor Road and Sterling Avenue, inside the space formerly occupied by Coldwell Banker. According to one of the forces behind it, Jesi Gadomski, of Homewood, it is an incubator for creators but also a space to encourage those who are passionate about shopping local to create lasting relationships with creative sellers, she said.
“It’s in part the brainchild of Gypsy Fix,” Gadomski said. “It’s a way to leverage the talent that’s already in our community in one space. We also wanted to give the artists a space to showcase their work.”
Gadomski said the 5,000-square foot space is perfect because it has a “massive” basement and is already divided into 20 office spaces. That helps keep people apart in the age of COVID-19, and from a creative perspective it gives the artists autonomy over their own spaces, Gadomski said. It is also right down the road from Gypsy Fix, 1044 Sterling Ave.
“It was the perfect vessel,” Gadomski said.
The size is part of what kept Morgan Sullins, owner of Gypsy Fix, out of that space until now. She said the building’s owner, who she described as incredibly nice, had offered the opportunity to move her store into that corner space. But Gypsy Fix occupies only 800 square-feet, and Sullins did not know what she would do with the rest.
In fact, having opened her business in March, “literally four days before the world shut down the first time,” Sullins said it speaks volumes to how supportive the Flossmoor community is that Gypsy Fix has stayed afloat through the pandemic.
“On paper, there’s no reason I should still be open,” said Sullins, who has also called Flossmoor home for nearly two decades. “I shouldn’t be OK right now. … I’m so grateful to this area.”
But the corner of the building has been vacant since September of 2019, when flooding forced Coldwell Banker out of the space. And the owner approached Sullins again roughly a month ago with an idea to do something special there for the holidays. Sullins, knowing many in the artistic community have been hurting with summer festivals and markets canceled, saw it as an opportunity to give those creators a boost.
“I felt it opened the door to helping others,” Sullins said.
As a business owner, she also recognized that vacant space in the downtown strip is good for no one. While Gypsy & Company is designed as a holiday popup to start, Sullins is hoping it is the start of something that could have a lasting effect.
“If we could get something happening down there, it could help the other businesses, too,” she said.
Gadomski said the “soft open” is in part because the space is still “pretty raw,” and they wanted to make sure they are 100% compliant with state guidelines regarding the pandemic. The plan is to schedule some virtual tours and shopping opportunities people can do from home.
The collective is expected to include ceramics, herbalists, handmade soap, tarot, fine art, jewelry, home decor, clothing, hypnotists, massage, woodworking, furniture and lighting.
“We’re going to hopefully use the windows to showcase what we have,” Gadomski said.
Artists have taken a big interest. As of late last week, Gadomski said only four spaces remained inside the building.
“It’s filling up quickly,” she said.
Gypsy & Company also expects to do deliveries to Homewood and Flossmoor buyers.
For more information, visit instagram.com/gypsyandcompany or call (708) 968-7153.