With hopes someone will purchase the business, Kiln Creations owner Shannon Loomis said she has her fingers crossed.
Loomis recently announced the closure of the store on the east side of the downtown square at 60 N. Ninth St., where the paint-your-own-pottery studio has operated since expanding in 2006 from its original Broad Ripple location.
“It’s not a business decision, it’s a personal decision,” Loomis said. “I’ve been doing it since 2001, almost 18 years. I’m just personally craving a change. That’s a long time to be doing something. I love it, and I’m not burned out, but I just need a change. It wasn’t something that just popped in my head. I’ve been giving it thought and struggling with it the whole year. We evolve as people. I’m ready for, personally, something new.”
January 6 is the last day to paint pre-made pottery pieces in the shop, which Loomis said will remain open a week or two afterward so customers can pick up items after they’ve been fired in the kiln.
“I love the downtown area, that goes without saying,” Loomis said. “At the time (of opening), Hamilton County was, and still is, a growing community. The space felt right, the city felt right and everything about it sort of fell into place.”
Before Kiln Creations, the spot was home to a Chinese restaurant. Loomis purchased the building and transformed the space into the studio it is today.
“To be honest, I don’t have any clear-cut plans,” she said. “Hopefully in January, new owners will take over. I’m committed to consulting with them for however long they feel comfortable. I want to help them get up and running. After that, I have a few things I want to do, but I haven’t gotten to that point yet.”
If the studio doesn’t sell, Loomis — who owns the property — plans to lease the storefront to a new retail business.
“I would probably have two months of cleaning out the space and getting it ready (for the next business,” Loomis said. “I plan on making some improvements either way. After that, I’d like to take a month off just to do things I’ve wanted to do.”
When it comes to a buyer for Kiln Creations, Loomis said she thinks it will just take the right person.
“I put a little thing on Facebook and got some inquiries about that,” she said. “Aside from putting up a for-sale sign in the window, it’s sort of word of mouth. I’ve had a decent amount of inquiries, but no takers so far.”
Loomis has lived in Noblesville since 2012 and has no plans to leave.
This summer, she bought the building and property just around the corner from Kiln Creations, where Texy Mexy is opening, at 818 Logan St. Texy Mexy has not set an official opening date but is scheduled to open this fall.
