click to enlarge The Frances Boutique near Central and Camelback. Lynn Trimble The popular Christmas Crafeteria tradition returns at Frances Boutique, but this year the event will be a little different due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus. Basically it will be Crafeteria, COVID-19 edition. “We wanted to have a big event this year, but decided to do a series of pop-ups instead,” says Jade Noble, who bought Frances Boutique from founder Georganne Bryant earlier this year. “We want our community to stay safe and healthy, so we believe this is the most prudent way to go.” Bryant started the crafeteria more than a decade ago and is a festive way for artisans and small creative businesses to sell their wares in a tented parking lot that drew large crowds. But she canceled the 2020 event, citing COVID concerns. Instead, she invited sellers to showcase small pop-ups to give them another way to share their wares. Related Stories I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times clear. click to enlarge A look back at a former crafeteria in Frances Boutique. Jim Louvau Usually the crafeteria takes place on the first Friday evening in December during the last art walk on the first Friday of the year. Sellers sell a variety of gifts such as handmade jewelry, candles, soaps, and home or office decorations. Noble hopes to feature an eclectic mix of vendors this year, which will be featured during a series of pop-ups set to begin on Small Business Saturday, November 27th. They will be held every Saturday afternoon until December 18th for the exact times. “We’ll be calling on artists towards the end of September,” says Noble. “We hope some new faces will apply, and depending on who applies, we may decide to work on different topics each week.” Noble expects to present three or four vendors with each pop-up. Most will be placed in the parking lot near the boutique entrance, but some can also be placed in the store, where a seating area with a comfy vintage couch was recently added. The boutique will not charge sellers for participation. The store is currently working on coordinating additional items with Stinkweeds, the record store next door owned by Local First Arizona founder Kimber Lanning. “We both want to involve local DJs to curate the music and create a fun atmosphere for the buyers,” says Noble. According to Noble, there is another element in the work: “We will also be doing mutual aid for communities in need for the whole month.” And Noble is already planning for 2022. “Hopefully we can do a huge, exciting crafeteria by next year.”
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