Posted: 4/24/07
Art gallery and bookstore opens in Caledonia
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Tim Pattrin, owner of Little Miami in Freeburg, said he saw a need for an art gallery in Caledonia. Space was available in the back portion of Pine Cone Place so heís opened a new business known as A Gallery of Artists and Bookstore.
"With my restaurant in Freeburg, I have the opportunity to meet a lot of artists," Pattrin explained. "Many of them mentioned there was a lack of art galleries in this area." With Houston County becoming more of a tourist destination, and so many artists moving into this area, Pattrin thought "why not?" He found a place with good customer traffic, reasonable rent, and worked out a deal with the folks at Pine Cone Place to look after his new gallery.
Pattrin started contacting area artists about his new gallery, and the results have been encouraging. Heís had a number of artists bring in their work for sale. He hopes to include paintings, photo exhibits, stain glass, jewelry, and sculptures.
"Iím going to stay away from the crafts," he pointed out, "and really want to concentrate on artists from within about 50 miles of Caledonia."
Before he even had enough art to display, Pattrin decided to expand on his fledgling business.
"Thereís really no place in Caledonia to buy new books, and I really feel there is a need. So I decided to include a new book section in the gallery." Hence the name A Gallery of Artists and Bookstore.
Pattrin plans to have various titles on hand, with the capability for customers to order new books within a few days.
Not one to have a lack of ideas, Pattrin has decided to add another aspect of the artistic world to his new store. He plans to convert a large office in the back portion of his shop into a photo studio.
"Thereís no photo studio in this entire area. So Iíve contacted someone who is quite an accomplished photographer and hope to have a photo studio open by summer." Pattrin feels a local photographer could stay busy with class pictures, proms, weddings, and other occasions, and would be a good fit in his rapidly-growing arts mall.
"The potential is there for Caledonia to become more of a tourist destination. Iím hoping this new business in town will help bring more people to Caledonia," he concluded.
The new art gallery and bookstore will be open Monday through Friday from 9 to 4:30 and Saturday from 9 to 2.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com