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Indonesian Imports collaboration 'pops up' on the square
A number of people were surprised last week to discover a unique new shop at the corner of Indiana and Washington streets in downtown Greencastle.
The pop-up store, Indonesian Imports, offers furniture, textiles, carvings, pottery and other handcrafted items imported from Indonesia and China.
Barbara South of Bainbridge is the proprietor and curator of the unique inventory.
"Each thing in the store is one-of-a-kind," explained South, "and many are quite old, like these hand-carved dowry boxes from Indonesia. And, we have items in every price range."
Indonesian Imports is collaboration with Indonesian Interiors of Roachdale.
Putnam natives Pam Jeffries and her mother Pat Allen started the Roachdale store in 1998 after Pam accompanied her husband Joe on assignment to Bali. While living in Bali, Pam fell in love with the local artisans and their work and began collecting and shipping items back to Roachdale.
Lee and Susan Stewart of Cloverdale are also collaborating with contributions of antique artifacts that they collected in rural China, including individually crafted boxes, baskets and bowls. Like the Indonesian inventory, the Chinese items are ones-of-a-kind, and supply is limited.
Backer and adviser Kit Newkirk explained that the shop is a temporary, seasonal enterprise that will continue as long as supplies and interest hold.
"We've been pleased with the strong interest shown by the community during the first few days of our quiet opening," she said. "I've also been amazed at how Barbara changes the shop from one day to the next as new items arrive and others disappear into local homes. I think it's a fun addition to the downtown scene."
Indonesian Imports, located at 2 W. Washington St. --- most recently home to the Downtown Cafe but once the site of Eli Lilly's historic first drugstore -- is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and by appointment at 720-1255.