Celebrating 10 years of Mabel’s Market
Ten years ago, Sommer Steele took a leap of faith and opened Mabel's Market on Canal Street. Since then, Mabel's has become so much more than a shop - it's where vintage treasures find new homes, where Markets on Canal bring our community together, where furniture gets a second life, and where countless Lemont memories have been made. Read on for a conversation with Sommer about the anniversary of this Lemont institution!
Looking Back
It's been 10 years since you signed that lease and were "100% sure it was home for Mabel." What do you remember most vividly about those first few weeks after opening?
I remember 4 pm rolling around at 4 p.m. on our opening day and peeking outside to an empty street, thinking…”I guess no one is coming." The next thing we knew, the shop was bustling with friends, family, and people from town. It was surreal. In the beginning, you’re wearing rose-colored glasses because you’re just so happy to be there.
My dad, who started this venture/hobby with me and where the Mabel name came from, passed away a couple of weeks before I signed the lease. Mostly, I remember thinking what a kick he’d get out of this coming to life. I still think about that often.
You mentioned that Lemont felt like a ghost town on the first day you visited. How has watching downtown transform over this decade paralleled Mabel's own evolution?
Granted, the first time I revisited Lemont was on a Monday. Mondays are still the quietest day. But on every other day of the week, Lemont has surpassed my wildest dreams for this little town. I remember discussing what we could do about all the empty storefronts at a Downtown Merchants meeting many years ago. Now it's hard to find ANY empty space. I was interviewed by Lemont Unlocked a few months ago. Chris described me as the Mom of downtown Lemont. I retorted that I'm probably Lemont’s Grandma by now. It's growing faster than I am!
From vintage and refinished furniture to becoming a community hub - how has Mabel's identity shifted and grown beyond what you originally imagined?
The reality of being a small business owner is broad. It truly becomes part of your identity. We had a shirt that we sold early on that gave the definition of a Mabel. Part one was all about liking vintage stuff. Part two was the act of “working hard and being nice.” That is still true. The trends change, and we have too, but I still want people to be inspired here, feel the history and potential of what you put in your home, and I want our shoppers to feel appreciated and welcome. For the 30 minutes they are here, they are part of Mabel's Market. I'm glad to say that hasnt changed. There were aspects of the business I had to let go of, some by choice, some not. Each time, it's made room for something else.
What I didn't see coming is the complete honor it's been to be part of the fabric of a community. To watch couples marry, have children, and share the news here. To see people move in and out of Lemont. To hug someone who lost their parent or talk through their house being built. I've found friendships in customers and fellow business owners. That's been my personal experience, but I've also witnessed Mabel’s and our events become part of our customers' lives outside of me. It happened without us even knowing. And that's made it incredibly worthwhile.
Building Connections
You've said "I don't know how I'd have pulled it off in any town but Lemont." What makes Lemonters uniquely supportive of local businesses like yours?
There's this very pragmatic answer that touches on Lemont’s infrastructure…it’s a small walkable downtown and narrow streets, cramped buildings where you literally see your neighbors every day. But really, it's the heart of Lemont that's allowed Mabel’s to become what it is. A small town with a rich history that appreciates when people show up. A town that has been around since the mid-1800s has seen a lot of ups and downs, so I don’t think they take the ups for granted. When you take a chance on Lemont, they see you.
From Markets on Canal to Wine Walks to Princess & Hero Walks - how did hosting events become such a core part of Mabel's identity?
Yeah- that snuck up on me! If one of the main goals was bringing people together inside the shop, nearly all of our events are a version of that. I want you to come to Mabel’s Market, but I also want you to discover how special each of these businesses is as a whole. How incredible to be in a downtown where I not only love the small businesses growing here, but I also respect and admire the women behind them. What if we find a way for you to walk into each space but have fun doing it? It's the same for the Markets, what if we create a day that feels special in its own right, AND highlights this sweet town? I've been extremely fortunate to have the support that allows me to give it a try.
Can you share a moment when the community showed up for Mabel's in a way that still moves you?
Any business that was around before the pandemic and is still functioning now will never forget the support they received that made that possible. When I say we have been here 10 years, I see folks doing the math. The community saved this business in 2020. But the small moments also add up and mean so much. Last week, I opened two Thank You notes in one day. No one has to send a thank-you note these days. Those little gestures whisper “keep going” when you wonder what in the world youre doing. When you see people consciously shopping small, it means everything.
The Business of Being Real
After 10 years of refinishing furniture, hosting markets, and running retail - what's the biggest misconception people have about owning a small business?
No doubt there are many! Recently, I was closed during an event, and a customer said to a neighbor, “She must be wealthy or else she’d be open.” She must not have seen my 2012 Kia parked in the back! I think the biggest misconception is that small business owners don't analyze every decision they make. Between hours, events, products, staff, and prices, there is not much happening that doesn't have a lot of thought behind it. If you see a small business make a decision you don't understand, just ask, they’d probably love to explain.
You've mentioned wearing "all the hats." Which unexpected role have you grown to love, and which still challenges you?
I love writing about what we are doing. I love connecting with fellow business owners and customers. I love coming up with new ideas for events, furniture, and design. I just asked one of my employees, “What if my job was just to chat with people all day?!” She said I’d do very well for myself. But the boring part for someone in a creative field is still everything you’d expect: taxes, licenses, budgeting, buying toilet paper, cleaning paint brushes, and keeping the back room organized. All. Still. Challenges. And most of all….time management. Because I still want to do ALL the things, which thankfully include being a mom and a wife and a friend, but figuring out how to be everywhere you want to be is probably the biggest obstacle.
What would you tell Sommer from 2015 if you could go back to that week you signed the lease?
Well, I would tell her that you’d better make more than $800 a month, which was what I quoted the banker when I opened my business account. I would also remind her that it's not going to be perfect and that might work out even better.
The Next Chapter
With the new Christmas Market launching and Markets on Canal growing - what excites you most about year 11? What dreams for Mabel haven't you tackled yet?
I'm excited and nervous about our first two-day off-site Holiday market at the Legacy Ranch. My husband said it's good to be scared; it means I'm still taking risks. Growth might involve trying out new events or expanding what I offer inside Mabels. I recently started doing more custom and consultation work inside homes. 307 Canal Street isn't going to get any larger in square feet, so if I want to grow, I have to be more creative in how that looks.
How has Mabel’s Market touched your life? Drop your Mabel's memory below, whether it's a few words or a whole story. Your experiences show how Mabel's has become beautifully interwoven with Downtown Lemont.