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There are places to host events, places to do arts and crafts, places for families to get together and places to donate for the greater good.
A new business in Dixon is bringing all of these activities under one roof, and it is doing so by getting a little creative.
The Creative Space opened in late March and has since provided everything from a venue to host weddings and small parties, create artwork or take part in special theme nights. The business was founded by Dixon native Sarah Johnson who works full-time in the world of finance but saw a need to provide another kind of business.
“It was an opportunity that presented itself at a time when I wasn’t looking,” she said. “I already had a passion for crafting, and that’s where it all started. The space became available, and my vision, at first, was to maybe open sort of a maker space where we can host workshops and classes.”
That idea evolved into a business that served as a rental space that also hosts workshops, classes, vendor fairs and other events.
Johnson was born and raised in Dixon and graduated from Dixon High School, but attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Francisco and later moved to Arizona. When showing her husband where she grew up, he fell in love with it and both ended up moving to Dixon where they have raised their three children.
Working in finance, Johnson decided to pursue another business as a hobby and ended up opening at 160 West A St., the home to a number of restaurants over the years including Uncle Li’s and West Garden.
Johnson secured the space at the end of February and planned to open April 1, but like the holiday that shares that date, things took a turn for the unexpected.
“Somebody had a last-minute wedding, and we were able to accommodate them and open up at the end of March,” she said.
Since then, The Creative Space has hosted numerous small weddings, private parties, communions, celebrations of life and other events that allow others to rent out space. The Creative Space has also hosted events of its own such as a Summer Vendor Fair, Easter craft fair and monthly Mom’s Nights which gives mothers from around the area a chance to meet up, get to know each other and hang out.
The Mom’s Nights have been such a success that Johnson even plans to start hosting Dad’s Nights as well. There is also a Mom Prom scheduled for July 29, where mothers can get together for a semi-formal night of games, music, dancing and dinner. Tickets can be purchased at Thecreativespacedixon.com/classesandworkshops.
The business has also hosted Zumba classes, Paint Nights, craft rainbow-making classes and also has a tamale-making workshop lined up for Aug. 13 and a sold-out Summer Craft Camp for kids scheduled for the first week of August.
At the end of the month, The Creative Space will host a Back to School event where families can pick up free backpacks filled with school supplies, snacks, toothbrush kits and maybe a gift card if they happen to choose the right backpack.
It is an event Johnson has hosted for the last six years, but she previously had to do it out of her home.
“Now, since I have this space, I can continue to do the fundraising and local giving that I started years ago but on a bigger scale now,” she said.
The event is also a partnership among several local businesses and organizations, such as The Barn & Pantry which donated snacks and juice boxes, and local dentist Dr. Kristina Wiley who donated toothbrushes. Additionally, Nino’s Cut and Shave as well as Sisters’ Salon & Boutique will be providing free back-to-school haircuts for kids on site, and Solano Baking Co. will provide doughnuts and other refreshments.
“Kids who need these supplies and backpacks can just come in and pick up their stuff, just to get them started for the year,” she said.
Johnson also plans to host Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and gift giveaways that she traditionally hosted out of her home.
“I’m really excited that the space has been more than what I envisioned,” she said.
Whether renting space for an event or creating art, Johnson likes that visitors can see their ideas come to life, such as “their ability to transform, pretty much, this empty space into their dream baby shower or their communion space for that party.”
She also loves the sense of community events such as the backpack drive bring.
“I love how the community is always there to help in any sort of way and the fact that I can provide things for kids or youth to do,” she said. “We’re a small town, we need more options and things for the kids to do.”
The backpack drive starts at 1 p.m. July 31 at The Creative Space, 160 West A St. For more information on the event and business, call 920-3496 or go to Thecreativespacedixon.com/.
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