The Open House expands offerings as it celebrates anniversary

Heather Hines
·3 min read
Open House co-owners Tammy Seikel, left, and Emma Lehmann celebrate three years of operation in downtown Fremont.
Open House co-owners Tammy Seikel, left, and Emma Lehmann celebrate three years of operation in downtown Fremont.

FREMONT - The Open House, a small business and art gallery downtown, marked its third anniversary June 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 108 S. Front St. shop owners − Emma Lehmann, Tammy Seikel and Jennifer Lott − along with members of the Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce and many loyal customers helped celebrate the growth and expansion of the flourishing downtown storefront.

The Open House started with barely a handful of vendors and has grown into an incredible variety of multimedia art, crafts and gifts.

“Our variety has expanded greatly … we started from a small range, and now we have so many," Lehmann said. "It’s very exciting.”

As the business grows, its demand for unique items grows with it. The shop owners are currently searching for 3D art, needle felting, woodworking and masculine jewelry.

“There’s a lot of underappreciated talent in the immediate area. Which really should be a bigger deal,” Lehmann said.

Benefit of owning the shop is meeting amazing people

“The best part of opening The Open House is all the amazing people I’ve met," she said. "They’re incredible people who are all extremely talented. It just gives me so much joy to be able to have them working here."

A ribbon cutting was held for Open House to celebrate its third anniversary recently.
A ribbon cutting was held for Open House to celebrate its third anniversary recently.

Lehmann can explain every item in the shop — from the canvases on the walls to the organic facial serums. She credits The Open House’s success to her joy working with her vendors. “I’m just so glad that I have the space, and they continue to stay with us and showcase their pieces, and they’re always bringing in new things. It’s incredible, the talent that’s in and around Fremont.”

The Open House keeps active in downtown events

Lehmann added, “We love participating in downtown events and being open to meeting new people. With all the renovations and upcoming developments downtown and in the greater Fremont area, it will hopefully increase foot traffic which would help boost artists’ exposure. … We’re looking forward to the farmer’s markets coming up. We always extend our hours for the markets.”

The Open House is an art gallery and gift shop that helps connect artists and crafters with customers and customers with quality gifts.

“We are excited to have a place where artists are going to showcase their work in a professional setting year-round," Lehmann said. "You don’t have to wait for craft fairs, competitions, or anything else.”

And the best part is, The Open House welcomes custom orders. You can contact them at info@theopen.house, or they’re very responsive on Facebook Messenger.

When Open House shop opened three years ago, it included a handful of vendors offering unique items. That number has greatly expanded in years since at the Front Street store.
When Open House shop opened three years ago, it included a handful of vendors offering unique items. That number has greatly expanded in years since at the Front Street store.

When I asked what we could look forward to from The Open House this summer, Lehmann said, “We’d love to start running some classes. Personally, I’d love to run an outdoor painting class, maybe in the new amphitheater area or even at a local park.”

“We’d just like to thank our talented and lovely vendors and our incredible, loyal customers,” Lehmann said. “Don’t hesitate to walk down South Front Street and look around to see what’s new. Come get some food, browse the shops, and hopefully, we’ll see you soon.”

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: The Open House expands offerings as it celebrates anniversary