Huntertown hotspot: 4 local, artisan shops at 1 stop in Allen County
If you enjoy made-in-Fort Wayne art, pastries, canned goods and more, you might want to venture to Huntertown – a fast-growing community just north of the city in Allen County.
The Lima-Plank Mercantile at 14529 Lima Rd. offers a quaint and convenient shopping center with four local businesses all nestled within walking distance where you can find a treasure trove of handcrafted products year-round and (often) meet the makers themselves.
Here are four must-stop shops we visited:
1) The Process by Josh's Jungle
When we walked through the doors of this spacious one-room market, we were first greeted by the sweet briney smell of vinegar wafting from a pot behind the counter. Soon after, we met the man behind the pot: Owner Josh Cockram, of Josh’s Jungle, who started his growing plants and produce about 13 years ago and has been selling them ever since. He opened The Process about three years ago where he sells the fruits (and veggies) of his labor along with other locally made foods and goods, including house-made bread and bagels. The Process feels like a year-round farm stand with its rustic, working kitchen in back and wooden shelves up front, stacked high with pickled vegetables and sauces. On the perimeter, you'll find local refrigerated products, as well as body products, breads, pastries and sweets, like fudge. Cockram recommends his pickles and hot sauce – both of which we purchased and can attest are delicious. He’s also offering a series of "how to" classes (starting this month!) if you’d like to try your hand at canning and preparing other home staples.
2) Pelkaclayart
Potter and painter Joseph Pelka strokes a canvas with red paint in the backroom of his studio – having brushed up on his painting during the pandemic. Pelka has long been an artist in Fort Wayne, but says he hasn’t always had a presence in the local market, devoting much of his time to making work and then traveling the country to sell it. Now, as Huntertown grows, Pelka is finding more of a local art market for his pottery and painting close to home. He’s opening his shop, Pelkaclayart, to the public on Fridays, too, where you’ll find colorful displays of his signature vases and pots for purchase beneath abstract paintings. Pelka says his wife, Kathleen, who manages his business operations, makes his art possible, and so far, business has been good for them. “The art business is here now,” he says.
3) Well Grounded Cafe
This little locally owned coffee shop and cafe takes up two storefronts and was bustling with activity on the Friday morning we visited. Choosing from a dessert case at the checkout counter, we ordered a local version of a childhood favorite: A frosted cinnamon sugar Pop-Tart – which proved to be far more moist and delicious than its corporate namesake (plus gluten-free!). Well Grounded offers ample seating and a full menu of coffee drinks as well as lunch and brunch specials. Our two-year-old son loved pushing toy trucks around a small play area near the window outfitted with books and comfy seating. Many friendly guests also talked with us while we waited, speaking to the area's small-town community.
4) Well Made & More: Locally Handmade Goods
The name pretty much says it all. Well Made & More is a store filled with local vendors, selling everything from home goods and clothes to body products, decor, pottery, crafts, toys and trinkets of all kinds. We enjoyed wandering the vendor displays with our son, who found some locally made crayons for only 50 cents, available in many shapes and sizes. I found a knit sweater on sale for $12 (post-holiday pricing) from a vendor called Yellow Bird, and we got a small gift for a baby shower: an $8 crochet chicken by Gosh Yarn It (perfect for a family with a farm).
Overall
As a lifelong south side resident of Fort Wayne, I rarely venture north of Glenbrook in my spare time, but it’s safe to say I’ll be going back to the Lima-Plank Mercantile very soon. And next time, I won’t forget my reusable shopping bag!