Closure of Stacy’s on Main in Saxonburg called ‘win-win’ for owner and another business
The tight-knit community of small businesses on Saxonburg’s Main Street has been hit by a rare closure. Stacy’s on Main, a clothing boutique located on West Main Street, has announced that it will hand over its retail space to the Saxonburg Tearoom on Main, located next door.
According to Sherry Rankin, the owner of the Tearoom, Stacy’s is not shutting its doors due to a lack of business. Rather, Stacy is stepping away from her business largely due to family and other job commitments, as she also works full-time for Butler Area Senior High School as a nurse.
“Stacy loves to create and loves Saxonburg, but life changes and she has found that due to time restrictions, stepping back to being a vendor instead of a store owner would suit her and her family well at this time,” Rankin said.
While this marks the end of Stacy’s on Main as an independent storefront, at least for now, owner Stacy Bell explained on her Facebook page that she will continue to sell goods and offer classes within the expanded tearoom space, as well as sell her goods at events in Saxonburg.
Rankin says that talks between Bell and herself only started recently, but she described the new arrangement as a “win-win” for both of them.
“She knew her kitchen and extra retail space would benefit us, and still having Stacy a part of the Saxonburg business community by being a vendor in my store was perfect for both of us,” Rankin said.
Bell added that she is not selling her space to the Tearoom, and that no money is changing hands between either party. Rather, the Tearoom’s owners — Sherry and Paul Rankin — will take over the remainder of the lease on the property.
“I do not own the space,” Bell said. “It’s rented, just as the tearoom is. The spaces are owned by the same people.”
According to Butler County property records, the owner of both buildings is listed as Andrew A. and John M. Allen of 1816 Properties.
“They are aware of my plans (and) give full approval,” Rankin said.
After the change, customers will be able to pass between both the old Stacy’s space and the current Tearoom space without having to step outside.
“My building and Stacy's building are connected inside by a doorway that is currently closed off, but we will be opening it so employees and guests can walk through both sides,” Rankin said. “All parts of our buildings will have an open flow with each other, though the tearoom will be kept closed off when we have a private event.”
In a separate post on their own Facebook page, the Tearoom also announced that they will use the new space to expand into selling candy, a venture which the Rankins are hoping to start in February.
“It has been a longtime dream of mine to bring a candy store to the Saxonburg community,” Rankin said. “It will fit right in with the historical and boutique style feel of Main Street, and also with our Tearoom, which is known for its delicious, specialty foods, scones and desserts.”
In addition, Rankin says that food preparation for the Tearoom will be moved into the Stacy’s building, which she says will offer more space.
Stacy’s on Main opened in the summer of 2022 in the space that used to belong to the Blue Jar Candle Co. Bell used to supply her handcrafted goods for Blue Jar before she purchased the business and occupied the space for her new venture.
In her post, Bell thanked customers for two and a half successful years at her old location, which helped to pay for college education for her children.
“As they are all graduated or graduating very soon, they are moving on with their adult lives and I am super excited for all of them,” Bell wrote. “One even got engaged over Christmas!”
The Tearoom itself is closed until Jan. 15 while the proprietors are on vacation and replenishing inventory.
This article was adjusted Jan. 6, 2025 to clarify the the transition happening on Saxonburg’s Main Street.
