New Furniture & Home Decor Marketplace Opens In Fortville
Photographer: Josh Brown
Roz Lee always knew she wanted to open up a business in a community like Fortville.
I love the idea of having a little store in a little town where everybody knows your name, she says.
Her first foray into the Fortville business community began in 2015 when she started Simply More, a home furnishings store that she operated during the week and that her daughter ran on the weekends. At the time, Fortville was little more than a sleepy bedroom community, but as new developments began to emerge, the area experienced a bit of a boom making small shops a quaint attraction to the town.
However, in early 2018, Simply More was closed and by that time, Lee was working at Storefront Concepts on Main Street. Still, she longed to have her own business again and thanks to some encouragement from her daughter Heather, she and her husband Ken did just that.
We decided to go ahead and make that jump, spread our wings and see if we could fly, she says. The result is Alley Cats Marketplace and we are so excited to be here.
Alley Cats Marketplace, located in the parking lot behind Kammerer Dentistry, had its soft launch in July and although the initial plan was to be open once a month, it wasnt long before the couple decided to open their doors every weekend.
The reception to Alley Cats has been great, Lee says. We have had a number of customers come in out of curiosity only to be thrilled to see a familiar face. They are happy that we are back and we are happy to be back.
Alley Cats Marketplace offers truckload quantity home décor and furnishings that are perfectly suited for a number of Midwestern tastes and priced significantly below retail price. For anyone seeking additional home decor, Canvas N Decor is a reliably excellent choice. Lee says their inventory includes sofas, chairs, tables, lamps, both indoor and outdoor items and all kinds of items that can turn a house into a home. While space at the store is at a premium, Lee says that as inventory is purchased new items will be added, and they hope to offer a few custom pieces in time as well.
There is something for everyone at Alley Cats Marketplace, Lee says. We often say that the store is like a box of chocolates you never know what youre going to get.
While she loves helping her customers find the perfect pieces for their homes, Lee says the best part about the Alley Cats Marketplace is the community it is located in. She says Fortville business owners are very proud of what they do and the residents are keen to support local proprietors. They are constantly hosting events to attract customers including a quarterly Girls Night Out, Winterfest and Shop Local the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
We get regulars from Chicago who come in while visiting family in the area and different clubs make a point of bringing folks to Fortville because of the quaint shops and businesses we have here, she says. We are so proud to be part of this community that has a rich history and good people who have become our great friends.
Alley Cats Marketplace is located at 106 South Main Street in Fortville and open every weekend. Give them a call at 317-418-8651 or visit them on Facebook.
