ADRIAN — Wildflowers Emporium, located in the Gallery of Shops in downtown Adrian, opened on Oct. 3 during downtown Adrian’s First Friday event. Mother and daughter Beverly and Kim Swayman moved to Adrian from Arizona two years ago to be near family, and they opened the store as a way to connect with their new home.
“We wanted to feel like more a part of the community, so we thought that opening a little shop would be a good way to get to know our neighbors and friends,” Kim said.
Kim said her family has owned a small business most of her life. Wildflowers Emporium carries merchandise the Swaymans featured in their other stores or items they picked up during travels around the country, such as favorite restaurants and family farms.
“This shop is actually some favorite lines from our previous stores that we’ve had over the last 35 years,” she said.
“We provide a little culinary vacation for you,” Kim added. One example is a cactus rub from the Southwest that has real bits of cactus in it.
The character of the store is “an old-school emporium” with items such as handcrafted items made by the Swaymans themselves, gifts, games, puzzles, pet supplies and a mini baby boutique.
Other merchandise includes kitchen tools, including some that are designed for children; and pet items, such as shampoo, toys, travel items and “Buddy Budder” treats made from all natural ingredients. Kim chose baby items, such as clothes and toys, because they are “beautiful and unique at the same time.” Cloth diapers are also available.
Unique lines of products include lithophane porcelain night lights, made by a family business since the Victorian era, and a soy sauce that is made from a recipe that goes back hundreds of years.
“We have a lot of heritage brands where companies have been making the same thing for generations,” Kim said. “Our family, working together, we have a real sensitivity and appreciation for the heritage and passing on a legacy.”
Wildflowers Emporium also has craft kits, family games and puzzles from independent manufacturers, and a pet “paint-by-number” kit that includes materials needed to paint a portrait of a pet, using a photograph to create the picture.
Wildflowers Emporium also sells gift cards. Inventory from the store is for sale online with in-store pickup. Shipping is also available.
Wildflowers Emporium is located at 136 E. Maumee St., Suite 8, inside the Gallery of Shops in downtown Adrian.
Store hours are Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hours will be extended during downtown events. More information is available by calling 517-260-9432, online at WildflowersEmporium.com, or by email at [email protected].
