Browsery expands again on Main Street in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Downtown Browsery celebrated a grand opening on Saturday of its expanded space at 116 North Main St. This spot was used by Xpress Fitness. The Browsery also uses the next two storefronts to the north. Pictured from left include Jonathan Doherty, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, Browsery President Liz Groat, Donna John, Dakota Morasco, Julie Sanford, Village Trustee Stan Farone, Sharon Sinkora, Kim Remley and Erik Sinkora.
ALBION – The Downtown Browsery started 15 years ago with a few vendors at 14 East Bank St. Now the Browsery has 40 vendors and has expanded to three storefronts on North Main Street.
The Browsery celebrated a grand opening of the third Main Street storefront on Saturday. It moved into one of the storefronts used by Xpress Fitness.
With the move to that location, the Browsery moved out of the East Bank site to the bigger room where Xpress was located. This consolidates the Browsery in one location, making it easier to staff and also be more convenient for customers.
Kim Remley is one of the original vendors in the Browsery. Initially, the group was trying to fill a storefront in the downtown. That mission has been accomplishments, and then some, she said on Saturday during the grand opening of the expanded storefront.
“We started to try to get things going in downtown Albion,” she said. “We feel like we reached our goal. Now we want to exceed it.”
Liz Groat, president of the Browsery’s board of directors, is pictured with board members, Erik Sinkora and Dakota Morasco. They are pictured by comic books and tin signs that are sold by one of the vendors, Adam Mattle. He was able to expand his space with the move to a bigger storefront on Main Street.
Remley sells jewelry and vintage items at the Browsery. Linda Hollenbeck also is an original vendor, and Paula Brooks has been with the Browsery since soon after it opened.
Many new vendors have also joined the Browsery. Dakota Morasco of Albion has been a vendor for about two years, selling home décor items, especially with a nautical theme.
“We have so many styles within the shop,” she said about the 40 vendors. “It’s a one-stop shop. I tell people there is something for everyone.”
Michael Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler, left, are owners of the building that rents to the Browsery. They are chatting with Albion Town Supervisor Dick Remley, left, and Julie Sanford, one of the vendors.
Michael Bonafede, owner of the Pratt and Day buildings where the Browsery is located, praised the Browsery for being a positive addition to the downtown business district.
“They have such a variety of items, and they set a standard,” he said. “It’s not like a flea market. They have so many merchants that you could spend a day browsing around.”
