DAYTON – A bright winter sun pours through the broad windows of the Village Shoppes on Main Street in Dayton, illuminating the varied and unique items that fill the interior. Proprietress Rori Budden is preparing to open for the day and moves with efficiency and thoughtfulness as she rearranges merchandise displays.

Budden has a wide-ranging work background, including experience in retail, and she is using that know-how to construct an inviting space where browsers can easily see all the eclectic goods that surround her. She has created a central work station where she can easily keep an eye on consignment and vendor spaces and make sure that they are looking tip-top and eye-catching. It is from there that she can greet incoming customers, chat with friends that pop in and develop plans for the future of the Shoppes.

Becoming the shopkeeper of an antique, crafts, and artisan store was a long time in the making. Budden first drove through Dayton while on a hunting/fishing trip in 2009. She was immediately struck by the quaint and inviting feel of the town and wanted to find a way to one day move here away from the hustle on the west side of the state. When life-changing events occurred, including a divorce, she used her experience working in parks departments to snag a job at Camp Wooten.

In 2016, she spent her first winter in the area living at Camp Wooten and eventually purchased a home in Dayton. When her father, Jan Budden, an antiques picker and seller, and his girlfriend, Laura Keith, came to visit in October of 2018, they too felt the attraction of this town.

Keith was looking for a good investment property and she and Jan popped into the Village Shoppes, which was for sale, to see if it would be a good fit. By November of 2018 the sale was closed, and they were the proud new owners.

Park work slows down in wintertime and Jan asked Budden if she wanted to manage the store for them for the rest of the winter. Budden figured it would keep her busy and she could help her dad out. It wasn't long before Jan and Keith realized they wanted to keep traveling and asked Budden if she could simply take over the business for them.

Since the sale of the Shoppes, there have been some noticeable changes inside. It is more streamlined with an open-concept feel. Many of the previous vendors have stuck around and Budden has added more consignment items to the shelves, nooks, and crannies. She hopes to develop new relationships with vendors, artists and craftspeople as well as foster the relationships with the long-time sellers that are a mainstay of the Shoppes.

Her goal, she says, is to "Bring in more fun treasures from fabulous vendors". And she can always count on her dad to procure interesting items like the bold, red 'FASHIONS' sign that sits in the front window.

Budden has many ideas for the Shoppes including featuring and selling locally made items that reflect Dayton, having active spaces for artist workshops and classes, and perhaps opening a small café or coffee shop in the back. She sees the building as a living thing and her job is to breathe new life into the space.

A quick tour around the Shoppes leads one to discover all kinds of fascinating items. Vintage hats, bobbles and jewelry, old dolls and puppets all sit alongside new works by local artists and crafts people.

It's a clever place run by a clever woman who cares about small town life. Budden is an avid gardener and artist. She grew up on and around farms which led to volunteering with 4-H and other youth groups. She said she hopes to be able to do that here in Dayton as well. Her patchwork past took her many places and to many different jobs but it is here that she feels at home. There are treasures to be found inside the Shoppes and Budden is one of them.

Vicki Zoller

Vintage hats like these are just a few of the many new, used, antique, and crafted goods available at Village Shoppes.

Winter hours for the Village Shoppes are Thursday through Saturday 10:30am to 5:30 and Sunday and Monday 11am to 4pm. She is also available to meet clients or potential vendors or consignment sellers by appointment and can be reach at (509) 382-9152.