Three Belleville businesses owned by women make some moves. Here’s what you should know

Jennifer Green
·6 min read

In February 2022, I wrote a column about some businesses shuffling locations in downtown Belleville.

At that time, Down the Hall Homebrew made the move from 122 E. Main St. to its current location – with Shoehorn Brewing – at 225 E. Main St.

From there, Weave & Wobble moved from the Shoppes at the Olde Towne Mall at 310 E. Main to Down the Hall’s former home.

Well, the Belleville shop shuffle is happening again, and the site at 122 E. Main St. is involved once more.

Weave & Wobble

Weave & Wobble recently left East Main Street.

Owner and artist Nicole Shanks moved her business to a new home across town at 1537 Donna Drive, near Ruler Foods off of 17th Street.

Weave & Wobble moved from its downtown Belleville location at 122 E. Main St. to 1537 Donna Drive, just off of 17th Street in Belleville.
Weave & Wobble moved from its downtown Belleville location at 122 E. Main St. to 1537 Donna Drive, just off of 17th Street in Belleville.

Shanks said she wanted a permanent place for Weave & Wobble and spent about eight years looking for it.

During that time, she continued to pay rent and even moved four times.

While she felt 122 E. Main St. was a great location, she was unable to buy the property outright.

So the search continued.

Shanks found the listing on Donna Drive on the Barber Murphy website.

Now Weave & Wobble has a permanent home.

Shanks is happy that the building’s space is separated into two main areas: the retail side that houses a variety of yarns, candles, puzzles and art, and the ceramics studio side, where Shanks makes art as well as teaches it.

Dust from clay getting all over the place – including on the yarns – is no longer an issue.

The studio’s work flow is better with a longer room than before, said Shanks.

Her pottery students have more room to work, and she has more room to move around them while teaching.

The best part is that Shanks can now run her business when and how she wants.

No more worrying that the building owner will sell the place, resulting in her having to move.

She no longer needs to plan her events around others taking place downtown, limiting parking near the shop and studio.

Weave & Wobble’s new premises has its own parking lot, which is also great for customers and artists who need to bring in products and materials.

Overall, having her own space is “scary and wonderful,” said Shanks.

“I’m grateful to be here.”

Weave & Wobble is located at 1537 Donna Drive in Belleville.

For up-to-date hours of operation, call 618-670-9625, visit weaveandwobble.com or check Google.

Weave & Wobble in Belleville sells a variety of yarns for knitting and crochet, as well as pottery made by owner Nicole Shanks.
Weave & Wobble in Belleville sells a variety of yarns for knitting and crochet, as well as pottery made by owner Nicole Shanks.

Local Lucy’s

The shop space at 122 E. Main St. is not sitting empty.

Local Lucy’s moved in, relocating from the Shoppes at the Olde Towne Mall, just like Weave & Wobble did last year.

Owners Nancy Schulte and Christy Vineyard said they moved from their location in the former Pie Pantry “on a whim.”

Vineyard said it was a “want to move” rather than a “have to move” situation, and they will miss the Olde Towne Mall.

And the move was a fast one. They moved in over the weekend of April 15 and reopened at 122 E. Main on Tuesday.

This latest location is their third and (hopefully) final one.

“I think this is our last time moving,” said Schulte.

My first impression was that the store now feels bigger.

But Schulte said the size of the space is similar, just a different shape.

Vineyard said it was the front windows at 122 E. Main that they really wanted. (It’s a good one too, probably the prettiest on Main Street.)

Local Lucy’s moved to a new location at 122 E. Main St. in downtown Belleville.
Local Lucy’s moved to a new location at 122 E. Main St. in downtown Belleville.

The space and its great front window area remind both women of their first location at 18 E. Main St. (currently Joe and Onie’s), which opened in 2012.

In 2016, the business moved to the Shoppes at the Olde Towne Mall, taking up the space of the former Pie Pantry, which closed the year before.

They are still unpacking their goods and organizing the store, but honestly, it looks great already with all of the adorable children’s clothing and toys.

And the olive oil.

Olive Oil Marketplace display at Local Lucy’s, 122 E. Main St. in Belleville
Olive Oil Marketplace display at Local Lucy’s, 122 E. Main St. in Belleville

Olive Oil Marketplace made the move as well, and the merch takes up a good amount of space along one wall.

Schulte said the folks from Olive Oil Marketplace are also happy with the move.

I asked Vineyard and Schulte if they plan to expand and carry more products.

“Not this week,” replied Schulte, adding that maybe at some point they will add more baby stuff.

Kids toys are a possibility now that Ben’s is closed.

Local Lucy’s is located at 122 E. Main St. in Belleville.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more info, call 618-277-5829 or visit facebook.com/LocalLucys.

Artisans Off Main

As for the vacated space at the Shoppes at the Olde Town Mall, that too will be occupied quickly.

Artisans Off Main, currently located at the back of the Olde Town Mall off East Washington Street, is moving into the space vacated by Local Lucy’s.

Artisans Off Main will move from its current space in Belleville’s Shoppes at the Olde Towne Mall to the area recently vacated by Local Lucy’s in the same building.
Artisans Off Main will move from its current space in Belleville’s Shoppes at the Olde Towne Mall to the area recently vacated by Local Lucy’s in the same building.

Owner and artist Gerry Dahm said the studio will move to the front area of the Olde Towne Mall this month.

“We started out as Metal Crafters Studio,” said Dahm of the artists co-operative.

The business opened in 2018 and was located in the space now occupied by Heart 2 Heart Coffee. It moved across the hall to its current space less than a year ago.

Dahm said that the new space will provide a larger classroom and more room for local artists to create.

Customers and folks who appreciate art will find pieces including paintings, jewelry, pottery, glasswork, woodwork and more.

And believe me, there are some truly beautiful pieces. In December I bought a copper ring with a green stone that I absolutely love.

Dahm said there are 18 artists in the co-op including:

  • Terri Cheatham, Trasiret Studio

  • Gerry Dahm, Treasures By Design

  • Heather Holland-Daly, Fripptic

  • Kim M. Judy, Roadrunner Designs

  • John Quirin, Handmade Jewelry

  • Susan Rogers, Susan Rogers Fine Art

  • Sarah Skiöld-Hanlin, Solkatt Creations

Dahm said Artisans Off Main will have a soft opening for the new location on Monday, May 1.

A grand opening will take place Saturday, May 20, to coincide with Art on the Square.

Artisans Off Main is located at 310 E. Main St. in Belleville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

For more information, call 618-416-5577 or visit facebook.com/ArtisansOffMain.