LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Across the capital city, the effects of Painted Tree Boutiques closing its doors are being felt.
But one local business is making sure no one gets left out in the cold.
“We have some extra spots open, thankfully,” said owner Melanie Rezac. “So I was able to accommodate nine of the Painted Tree vendors that had to evacuate yesterday, and I’m hoping to add a few more. We’re just doing all we can to make sure that people have a home and have a platform to sell their stuff still.”
SEE ALSO: Painted Tree Boutiques ceases operations at all locations, leaves Lincoln business owners in the dark
Creative Collabs Collective of Nebraska immediately stepped in after the announcement of the closure.
For Rezac, the decision to help came easily because this hits close to home.
“For some of the Painted Tree vendors, that was either their only source of income or a large part of their income,” she said. “That’s how they’re supporting their families. To be so unexpectedly and abruptly closed, this is a life-changing alteration for them. It’s heartbreaking to see so many small businesses in the community being uprooted and having no place to go.”
Creative Collabs has taken in nine vendors so far to fill some empty shelves.
Rezac isn’t stopping there; she’s planning to move some things around inside the store, in hopes of giving more vendors a new home.
“This just really magnifies small businesses and the importance to the community that they fill,” she said. “The small businesses are the ones donating to schools, giving back to your daughters’ cookie company, or anything like that. So I feel like small businesses really are the backbone of Lincoln, and I definitely think they have a good support system in the community behind them.”
Creative Collabs is hosting a free Local Love Vendor Market on Sunday, April 26, to help small businesses get back on their feet.
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