Sales have slowed during the pandemic

Text by Jude Mead
Photo by Savage Frieze

The Artisan Guild of Norfolk is closing its doors. Vee Kausel and Kathy Williams, co-owners of the Guild, made the announcement in October. The last day of business will be December 11 unless someone steps up to take it over. “We would love to hand over the reins and have someone come forward to run it. It is time for us to step down,” said Kausel. The owners will keep the store stocked until then, however, and are hoping for a strong fall and holiday season.

The Artisans Guild has been a part of Norfolk since 1994 with only a three-year absence during that time. It opened in the old bank building for its first year but then moved in below the building next to Infinity Hall, where it remained for the next 12 years. The Guild then shut down for three years, opening only for two days in Decembers for the Christmas holiday. “We wanted to open for the holiday and held a successful craft show at the home of John and Eve Thew,” said Kausel.

Then in 2011, Joe Stannard of Stannard Antiques, and Robert Pallone, owner of the Royal Arcanum Building, contacted the Guild members and asked them if they wanted to rent the corner offices in the Arcanum building that had been recently vacated by Raynard & Pierce Realty. The members accepted the offer, but with some changes. It would no longer be run by board members. Instead Kausel proposed that she and Kathy Williams of Barkhamsted run it as co-owners. The board readily agreed, and the two women have run it ever since. It was the perfect spot, with plenty of parking and a centralized location. “It was a great place to open up the shop. There was plenty of space for the crafts and wall space for the art,“ said Kausel.

The new owners called the artisans in the community and told them about the plan to reopen. “They were thrilled. All but one came back,” said Kausel. The goal was to give friendly support to local artists. Kausel and Williams charged a minimal fee to rent space and asked for a small commission to help keep the place running. “This was not profit making, but we wanted to support the art and the artists,” said Kausel.

According to Kausel and Williams, the closing is sad, but business has been slow owing to Covid-19. “We have seen a drop in business and kept trying to make ends meet. Bob Pallone even generously dropped our rent because of the challenging times, and we thank him for that,” said Kausel. Although the Artisans Guild will close, it may not disappear entirely. The co-owners are talking about participating in Weekend in Norfolk next August. And Kausel and Williams are still hopeful that someone will step up to take over. “There are so many great artists in this area that need our support,” said Kausel.