ITHACA, N.Y. –– Representatives from the City of Ithaca, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) and the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce came together Wednesday morning to celebrate Sunshine’s Creative Designs –– a rock and mineral shop that for a long time has operated solely through trunk shows and at vendor tables at local events.
Prior to opening its downtown brick-and-mortar location, Sunshine’s Creative Designs was a craft vendor at Ithaca Festival and Apple Harvest Festival and, according to representatives from the DIA, came downtown as part of the organizations “Pop Up Program” started in the Fall of last year. The program sought to bring vendors who traditionally did business outside, in; and to aid businesses struggling as a part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We joined the pop-up program because it was fun in the past being a part of downtown’s craft fairs during the festivals. Having a spot in the Dewitt Mall is a good way to reach local customers,” Jim Marcy, owner of Sunshine Creative Designs told the DIA last December. “We provide natural and unique gifts from around the world at a reasonable price. We carry products for everyone — kids to serious collectors.”
Deciding that the spot was a good fit for a more long-term location, Sunshine’s Creative Designs looks like it is here to stay. Its inventory for curious shoppers includes includes “rocks, minerals and many specialty tumbled stones.” Also “many crystal and stones from around the world.”
They are located at 215 N. Cayuga St. in the Dewitt Mall with hours from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They are closed Sunday and Monday.