Greensburg's new Laurel Marketplace hosts collection of local vendors

Apr. 3—Shoppers who are used to going online or visiting seasonal outdoor markets for locally made products now have a storefront option for finding some of their favorites.

The Laurel Marketplace opened March 1 at 14 W. Second St. in downtown Greensburg, in the newly renovated space that previously housed the children's clothing store Descendants.

The Marketplace offers handcrafted wares, from food and beverage products to home decor and gift items, from a collection of area makers.

"They are all products that we personally use," said owner

Marsha Bauer of North Huntingdon, who sells soaps, lip balms, salves and essential oils in her line of Laurel Country Herbs. "It wasn't about just filling the space. We wanted to be extremely selective about the vendors we're bringing in here."

Bauer collaborated on the concept and creation of the shop with Christina Moore of Latrobe, who owns and operates Confections by Christina Elizabeth.

Moore said she and Bauer "gathered together a lot of like-minded people" in choosing the featured vendors.

"We have good relationships with those vendors," she said. "It was easy to pick them, because we have known them for several years and we like them and their products."

Bauer has been making her herbal products for about 20 years, selling at local outdoor markets and through social media and word-of-mouth.

Moore created her special-­order bakery and confections business a few years ago with her late husband, also selling at markets and online.

With a baking and pastry degree from Westmoreland County Community College, she has been baking professionally for about 12 years and was executive pastry chef at the Rolling Rock Club for about seven years.

The two women met through the local makers community and began talking about their shared dream of opening a retail shop. In recent months, they agreed it was time to make the dream a reality.

"As soon as we made up our minds and took this space, everything fell into place perfectly," Bauer said. "That's why I know it was right. We had a list of vendors lined up, and nobody hesitated when we asked."

Each vendor rents space, sets their own prices and keeps all of their profits, Bauer said.

She plans to bring in a couple more vendors, but wants to keep enough open space to be able to offer vendor talks and demonstrations. Preliminary plans are for Moore to hold a cake decorating class and for another vendor to offer a session on gut health.

There also is a corner space reserved for a monthly featured artist. Products from Alpaca Key Farm of Mt. Pleasant Township are being featured through Easter, including alpaca wool socks, stuffed animals, yarns, hummingbird nesting fibers and other items.

So far, response from shoppers has been positive, Bauer said.

The March 18 grand opening was "extremely busy. It was amazing," she said. "The community really reached out to us. Even (Greensburg Mayor Robb Bell) was here."

In addition to Bauer and Moore, the vendors include:

—Grace Pottery by Kathleen Sarsfield, stoneware pots for everyday use and special occasions.

—Keystone Cultures, kombucha and water kefir beverages.

—The Green Berry, an Irwin cafe offering organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, granola and other items.

—Ligonier Valley Hemp Co., hemp products and soy candles.

—The Line Boutique, an Irwin shop offering colorful fair-trade bags in various sizes made of recycled PVC plastic.

—LuLuLuxe Jewel Boutique, whimsical jewelry handmade of polymer clay.

—Sweet Home Vanilla, pure vanilla extract kits, Madagascar vanilla beans, hand-poured and clean-sourced scented coconut-beeswax candles and gifts.

Hours at The Laurel Marketplace are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. More information is available at 724-420-5743 or on the shop's Facebook page.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .