A Beautiful Mess is an eclectic vendor market located in downtown Russellville at 200 North Arkansas Avenue. The 10,00 square feet building is rented out to vendors who sell one-of-a-kind wares in their individualized spaces. The business opened in the fall of last year and has grown to serve the community through a large diversity of antique offerings, hand-crafted items, and rare finds.
Owner Misty Barron says the name of the store refers to the hodgepodge of items you find in the store but ultimately was inspired by her children. “I have learned from them that some of the most beautiful moments in life are made amongst the biggest messes,” she says. “Life can be complicated and messy, but you have to remember to enjoy the simple beauty in all of it.”
Misty is an ATU graduate and has lived in the region off and on for several years. She and her family returned recently and call Russellville home. “I love being a part of the small business community,” she says. “I love the diversity of products and the diversity of customers we receive.”
Misty says her mother owned a similar kind of vendor shop in Little Rock. “Back before resale shops were cool,” she laughs. Her mother’s store served as an inspiration for her own business, and she and her mother worked together to get the Russellville business off the ground. “I love to see new life breathed into old things,” says Misty. “Instead of throwing something away, I like to look at how we can reuse it.” She says the store offers something for everyone. “One person’s tastes may be different than another person’s,” she says. And in a store with a wide array of items there is always something for everyone. “I love all the well-made antiques in the store,” she adds. “You can’t buy that kind of craftsmanship anymore.”
In recent months A Beautiful Mess has absorbed a few other local business wishing to decrease their overhead including B Street Books, a used book store, and Nanny’s Alterations who is in house Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Misty says anyone wishing to rent a space in the store can call and receive a tour of the location. Booths are rented by the square foot.
Misty strives to provide both customer and vendor satisfaction and serve the larger Russellville community. “Russellville is really great and there are fabulous people in it. I love getting to know the town and support the downtown,” she adds.
A Beautiful Mess is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. They can be contacted at 219-5128. You can visit them on facebook at A Beautiful Mess where you can find regularly updated photos of new items.
A Beautiful Mess
