This new east-side shop features handmade art from more than 100 local vendors

North Dakota is a lot different than Arizona.

The Grand Canyon is replaced with Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Our sunny winters are replaced with snow and freezing temperatures.

But where North Dakota might reign superior is its 70-degree summers.

“That’s where my thrifting journey started because they have a lot of markets out there,” says Shannyn Wilson, a Sierra Vista native who lived in the northern state for four years while her husband Kenneth was stationed there.

The couple made their way back to Tucson in 2019, eagerly diving into our vibrant maker scene.

“I loved antiquing and thrifting and I really wanted to support small businesses, so I started going to markets,” Wilson says. “But it started to get really hot for us, and we have a toddler, too. It was hard to look around and complete (the whole market) because it was so hot outside.”

With that in mind, the Wilsons set off to create an indoor consignment space where local makers could showcase their handmade items. Just three months after thinking it through (and building a mockup store on The Sims 4 video game), Saguaro Square opened its doors on Aug. 25 at 50 S. Houghton Road, near Broadway.

“There wasn’t anything like this on the east side,” Wilson says. “I live on the east side and I personally don’t have enough time to go downtown or hit every market on the weekends.”

The shop is currently home to 125 local vendors — with space for even more. You can find everything from stickers of your favorite “Gilmore Girls” characters to sugar cookies, 3D-printed mystical creatures, earrings in the shape of smiling ghosts, crocheted plushies and lots more.

The shop is intentionally not curated — because everyone has their own style, Wilson says — and dedicates a shelf or two to every vendor. She chose to use shelves to organize the store as a way to keep prices affordable for artists — spaces cost as low as $20 per month, plus a 10% commission fee.

“The cool thing about having so many vendors is you’re always going to find something,” Wilson says. “There’s so much talent in Tucson and I want to showcase as much as we can.”

Word of mouth has made the biggest difference. Back in July, the Wilsons handed out Saguaro Square flyers to vendors at the last Tucson Trades market. Someone posted about the shop on Nextdoor and countless people have been walking in because of it.

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“We get a lot of people being like, ‘We can’t buy anything but I’ll spread the word,’ and that’s just as helpful,” Wilson says, adding that Saguaro Square has made more than 660 transactions since opening in August.

Saguaro Square is also a good space for shoppers and vendors alike who may share a bit of anxiety. Shoppers don’t have to feel guilty for walking away empty-handed in front of an artist. Vendors don’t have to stand at a market in front of strangers, pitching their artwork to hundreds of potential shoppers.

“It’s a great space for (vendors) to drop their items and go,” Wilson says. “It gives them a good opportunity to earn money passively. Sometimes just starting out can be really daunting, so we take that out and do that for them — marketing their items and selling their items.”

Staff will even take the time to learn small snippets about each of the vendors. They can tell shoppers about a tiny feature on the back of an art piece or what kind of material was used to make a certain item.

“My biggest goal is helping support other small businesses,” Wilson says. “When you come in here, you know you’re getting something from a small business. It’s a good feeling getting something from someone just getting started or a seasoned artist — they’re all gaining something.”

The idea for Saguaro Square was partially inspired by the Wilsons’ first business — Candy World, a candy shop in Rita Ranch that they purchased from Kenneth’s mom.

In addition to candy, the shop carried art — again lined up on shelves — made by eight to nine vendors.

“So many people were interested in consignment at Candy World and we were like, ‘Lets just make it bigger,’” Wilson says. “We started looking (for a space) and we just went all in.”

“I love Candy World, but it was always my dream to open up something like this,” she says of Saguaro Square. “During COVID was when I started diving into other people’s small businesses and I saw where people struggled and where there was a gap and how we could help.”

In the future, the Wilsons plan to host events for the community. The shop is right next to Galaxy Theatres, so they’re hoping to keep Saguaro Square open late on days when new movies premiere. They also would like to host markets in their adjacent courtyard for artists who might be on the Saguaro Square waitlist. Live music is also in the works.

“I think small businesses are pretty much the bread and butter of the economy,” Wilson says. “(Your money) is not going to an overall large company. It’s putting food on the table and paying for a birthday party.”