Local Business Hub: The Foundry Cooperative

By FresYes Guest Writer Emma Farris

There’s nothing quite like Old Town Clovis, is there? Its rich history, charming atmosphere, quaint architecture, not to mention the buzzing local-centric community. As a matter of fact, the focus on local businesses is probably my favorite thing about Old Town; and It seems as though I’m not the only one… A group of local artisans was so inspired by the Clovis community, they decided to create a place known as the Foundry Co-Operative. The “Co-Op” as it’s more commonly known, is a labor of love that houses the best craftsmen that the Central Valley has to offer. Art, home goods, jewelry, skincare products, and even food are on constant rotation in the store and it offers a space of maximum independence and creativity for local business owners.

What’s more, every first Saturday of the month, the Foundry hosts pop-up shops for artisans to get more exposure in their community. I grabbed a friend and took a trip to the Foundry building for their July pop-up last weekend, and we were quite impressed with not only the range of products available but the overall atmosphere. Set up like a mini farmer’s market, every open space is filled with locally-made goods all surrounding one huge community table. Just from walking around smelling the hand-made bath bombs and admiring the one-of-a-kind sea glass jewelry pieces, you can feel the kinship and pride radiating from each vendor.

This month’s pop-up vendors included Casa De Gato Designs, Katie’s Gluten-Free Delights, Letus Garden, and Make Pie Not War, all of which offer unique services like custom art prints, permanent bracelets, and (free!) starter plants for your very own garden. The talent among these vendors was unbelievable! Since these amazing craftsmen don’t have their own brick-and-mortar stores to sell their goods, the pop-up provides a convenient opportunity that we would be lying if we said we didn’t take advantage of.

Simply selling these goods is not all that the Co-Op does, however. The store also hosts frequent workshops where guests can learn one-on-one with the in-house vendors on how to make their favorite products. From painting and flower arranging to metal stamping and bible journaling, the Co-Op has a workshop for everyone. Their most recent ones include string-art, bath bomb-making, and designing table centerpieces. They all look so fun, based on their social media posts, and I have already signed up for one myself!

The Foundry Cooperative is located at 516 5th St. in Old Town Clovis and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5 if you would like to get a glimpse of this unique collective. We highly encourage you to also check out their workshop and pop-up schedules on their website. You can also follow The Foundry Cooperative on social media to stay up to date with how they are bringing the Clovis community closer together each day.

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FresYes Writing Team

We say “Yes and” to our community, which we love to work and live in. We always speak positively about our growing business, each other and the Fresno community. We are proud to support local businesses, engage in what’s happening in our community and lovingly participate in as many volunteer activities as we can as individuals and as a collective group. We are generous and we are proud to give back.

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