For the Reporter
Makers’ Mercantile and RylieCakes Gluten-Free Bakery, a matched pair of Kent retailers, celebrate their first anniversary in business on March 1-2 at 18437 E. Valley Highway, Suite 102, Kent, owner Karin Skacel announced.
The craft shop offers lines of yarns, spinning fiber, fabric, buttons and bags. It has a crafter’s lounge, classrooms and meeting space for local groups, and offers its own classes, demonstrations, and guest appearances by noted crafters from around the world.
The gluten-free bakery sells made-from-scratch cakes, cookies, bars, breads, muffins and pastries, as well as a breakfast menu, coffee and beverages.
“For 20 years, I dreamed of the perfect shop,” Skacel said, “a community place where friends could sit and craft and chat and have a cup of Joe with a sweet treat in comfort.”
Makers’ Mercantile and RylieCakes Bakery have made a measurable impact on the retail market with customer traffic, classes, social outings, lively websites, blogging and social media activity.
The stores employ two full-time and nine part-time positions for residents of Yelm, Seattle, Burien, Kent, Renton, Covington, Tacoma, Enumclaw and Federal Way.
Rylie Haack, Skacel’s daughter, holds a finance degree and became a pastry chef at about the same time her mother planned to open the business.
“Seeing the smiles our treats bring to customers, especially the kids, makes it all worth it,” she said.
Sharon Zientara, the manager at Makers’ Mercantile and a former magazine editor in the Denver area, was recruited after a national social media job search.
“The moment I walked in the front door, I knew that if I could dream up the perfect craft shop, Makers’ would be it,” she said. “It was easy to say ‘yes’ to making this place my home.”
The anniversary celebration is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 1, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 2.
Highlights include live demonstrations, make-and-take projects, and raffle prizes offered by both businesses throughout the weekend. Breakfast will be served both mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rylie Cakes.
The celebration also marks expanded hours for both businesses. Starting March 3, Makers’ Mercantile and RylieCakes will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays.
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