Production and retail to be reunited under one roof
Davenport, Iowa –Isabel Bloom customers will soon be able to watch artisans make sculptures when they visit the iconic company’s flagship Davenport showroom. Just as in Isabel’s day, all operations – including retail and the entire handcrafted production - will be housed together.
Currently located in Davenport’s East Village, Isabel Bloom will move its retail showroom and mold-making one mile west to a more spacious location at 736 Federal Street (The Gordon-Van Tine Buildings formerly known as Harborview) in Davenport, where most of the company’s handcrafted process already takes place.
“We have searched for several years to find a way to combine our sales and production, so when the buildings at Harborview were purchased by Joe Erenberger and his partners, the possibility of bringing retail to our production site opened up,” Bill Barrett, Co-Owner or the company said.
Original retail-plus-operations model
Co-owner and sculptor Donna Young said the move returns the company to Isabel’s original model.
“Isabel originally had the entire handcrafted process and retail under one roof,” co-owner and sculptor Donna Young said. “We artisans worked alongside one another as we crafted molds and casted and finished sculptures. When the showroom floor got busy, we would clean off our hands and go help out. We are returning to that model by bringing our mold-makers - along with our retail space – back together. It will offer our customers a more intimate, dynamic and exciting Isabel Bloom shopping experience, much like when I first started working for Isabel Bloom over 30 years ago.”
Extensive renovations to the newly renamed Gordon-Van Tine building at 736 Federal Street will accommodate the new Bloom retail and production space. They are expected to be completed by early October.
Windows show artisans working
“The new showroom will give customers much more room to browse, shop and enjoy their experience than the East Village space does,” Young said.
“It will be lined with windows looking out onto our production area, so guests can watch the artisans work. Customers will also have the opportunity to take guided tours of the handcrafted process developed by Isabel Bloom herself. “
The tour experience will include a video highlighting the life and legendary career of Iowa artist, Isabel Bloom. There will be ample parking to accommodate both customers and tour guests. The new facility will also house a small meeting room allowing organizations and clubs to host meetings or small receptions prior to taking the tour.
The opportunity to move came courtesy of the recent sale of Harborview to local developer Joe Erenberger and partners Y & J Properties. The building currently houses Isabel Bloom offices and production. Erenberger is in the process of renovating it into an upscale, multi-use building with condominiums on the top floors and Isabel Bloom and other businesses on the lower floors.
“Joe approached us with the idea,” Young said. “His vision for the area includes beautiful street-scaping, plenty of parking, and renovations to many of the nearby buildings. It will be a beautiful destination when completed.”
Renovations have already begun, with Bloom offices being moved to the remodeled third floor. Mold-makers will move in August of 2016, and the East Village retail operation will follow as renovations are completed.
Bloom to continue support of East Village
Young said she feels nostalgic about leaving , and indicated that Isabel Bloom will continue to support the East Village in several ways, including the annual Village in Bloom Arts Festival in May.
“Even though we love being in the East Village, we are committed to our customers’ best experience. It’s a wonderful opportunity to give them plenty of curbside parking, let them view our handcrafted production, and provide a chance for interactions with our artisans,” says Young.
Isabel Bloom retail showrooms are also located on John Deere Commons in Moline, Northpark Mall in Davenport, Downtown LeClaire and Valley West Mall in West Des Moines. For more information, please call (800) 273-5436.
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