Dovetail Rivet & Stitch — an artist centric store, carrying art, pottery and jewelry as well as small batch goods made by independent artists — is closing its retail shop on South Seminary Street at the end of the month.
Rising costs, changes in shopping trends and the ongoing financial impact of the pandemic are just a few of the factors that led to owner Hilary Anderson making the difficult decision to not renew her lease at the 61 S. Seminary St. store.
But while the current retail store will close at the end of business Jan. 29, Anderson said it won’t mark the end of Dovetail Rivet & Stitch.
“After a lot of thought, I decided that leaving this location was best for me to refocus and rebuild,” said Anderson, who started her business eight years ago as Rivet Boutique on North Seminary. “Since owning Dovetail Rivet & Stitch, I’ve strayed from my initial reason for opening a store, and that was to have a workshop space and retail venue for my own art.
“While I loved curating a selection of work made by other artists, I wasn’t finding time to make things myself and it has been a financial struggle. It was a very hard decision because I have loved being there.”
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Anderson said despite some “ardent supporters,” fallout from the pandemic contributed to the demise of her South Seminary Street store.
“For brick-and-mortars, COVID exasperated the challenges we already had,” Anderson said. “People shop online even more and basic living costs are on the rise. Reasonably, many of our artist vendors have raised prices, retired, and/or stopped doing wholesale. More artists and manufacturers now sell directly to customers if they have their own audience.
“We have not been able to adapt and get enough customers to shop with us.”
Rivet Boutique became Dovetail Rivet & Stitch when Anderson purchased Dove Tail Arts from Bernice Hamilton in 2016.
“Between our efforts we have sustained the business selling fine craft in Galesburg for 16, going on 17 years,” Anderson said.
Anderson continued to bring in art and fine craft but sought to appeal to a broader audience by having a wider range of prices. Dovetail Rivet & Stitch expanded next door into 65 S. Seminary St. in 2019 to adopt a gallery-like space. However, COVID hit, sales dropped and the business went back to the one store at 61 S. Seminary St.
Dovetail Rivet & Stitch’s inventory has started to dwindle since the store announced it was closing. Anderson noted some retained lines will be available online, at pop up events, and likely eventually in a new location. Galesburg-themed items will be available online and in at least one other venue in town.
Anderson will maintain a studio in the former Ophiem Grace Lutheran Church. After necessary building updates, Anderson said she would like to host small events and have a retail space in the old church.
“I’m most looking forward to painting and making jewelry again and having a creative space with my kids,” she said. “I’m considering a few other locations for a physical shop, but for now I mostly want to return my focus to my own work and see what kind of classes I want to offer along the way.
“I will really miss the shop on Seminary but do look forward to re-centering myself and reorienting the business. I’d like to extend my gratitude to all the supportive customers, employees, family and friends.”
