LEYDEN — Sugar Shack Galleries opened the doors to its new home this month, welcoming area artists and artisans, musicians and patrons to the artist co-op market, beer garden and entertainment venue.

Co-owners Stephanie Sousbies and Peter Wakelin said they had a two-and-a-half-year journey, in part extended by factors of the COVID-19 pandemic, as they searched for the right place to bring their business to life. They looked at multiple locations around Franklin County — including a few former sugar shacks that inspired the gallery name — before discovering the barn and old forge building at 850 Greenfield Road that neighbors Town Hall overlooking “the beautiful scenic valley.”

“The real beauty was the welcoming we got from the town,” Wakelin said.

Last weekend’s kick-off event was attended by roughly 100 people, including vendors, they said. Another live event is planned for Saturday, Oct. 2, with music duo Two Day Jeans performing from 3 to 6 p.m. The gallery will be open for patrons to check out local handcrafted art and gifts, and the Hattapon Thai food truck will be onsite. With a beer and wine pouring permit, patrons are welcome to “shop, relax and enjoy the view.”

“We wanted to create an intimate space with a real back-yard kind of feeling,” Wakelin said.

Music will be a big part of the venue, he said. They envision setting up a small stage for performances, and may expand to host book readings or small theatrical events.

As an artists and artisan co-op, the venue displays and sells the products or art pieces from a wide variety of exhibitors. Wakelin and Sousbies said the business is gradually seeing interest from more and more area creatives who want to display their work at Sugar Shack Galleries.

“It’s taken some time to get rolling, to get our permits and such, but now it’s starting to snowball,” Wakelin said. “The final part, signing up artisans, has really been happening over the last few weeks. … It’s been exciting.”

The shelves and display cases are beginning to fill with paintings, jewelry and glass-blown pieces created as close as Conway and Colrain, or as far as Connecticut. Wakelin and Sousbies said they are looking for local potters and vendors who sell provisions like honey and maple syrup to join their co-op location.

Sousbies, who also works as an accountant with CAIA Association in Amherst, said she wears multiple hats handling the gallery’s accounts and sales. Interested artists and artisans can sign up to rent space for a monthly rate of $25 or more, they can sign up for consignment sales through the gallery, or they can set up a booth during weekend events for a daily fee of about $40.

The pair is renting the location at 850 Greenfield Road, and they plan to stay open through Christmas, but may close for a couple months during the winter. The barn space is not heated, but they are also renting the old forge building that does have heat. In the future, Wakelin said, they may use the forge building as a studio space where they could hold various art classes.

“We’re trying to stimulate all the senses through art,” Sousbies said. “There’s music for your ears, art for your eyes, food and drinks for taste or smell, and there could be art lessons for touch.”

When asked what inspired them to create the artists’ co-op, Wakelin said he was driven by his own love for creating art. He said he has “dabbled in a few, and has an interest in many” art forms, including pottery and drawing.

“When I was younger I had artistic ambitions and wanted to go to art school, but life came along,” he said. “I’ve gotten to be creative through my remodeling work. Maybe, with more time, I’ll find other ways to express myself.”

Wakelin, who has been self-employed as a remodeling contractor for more than 25 years, worked since June to refurbish the barn gallery space. Structural work was completed, and the interior rafters, walls and floor were repainted for a cozy feel.

In addition to now being business partners, Wakelin and Sousbies said they are also romantic partners. Sousbies moved to the states from France about 23 years ago and fell in love with New England. Wakelin, who lived in Connecticut most of his life, moved to Western Massachusetts and the two “found each other in Goshen.” Now they’re looking forward to starting this new adventure together in Leyden.

Artists and craftspeople who are interested in joining the co-op or setting up a booth during events at Sugar Shack Galleries may find more information at sugarshackgalleries.com, or may email Wakelin or Sousbies at peter@sugarshackgalleries.com or stephanie@sugarshackgalleries.com, respectively.

Sugar Shack Galleries is open Thursdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.

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