Sumter's newest vendor haven, Hand and Harvest Market

It's an experience so familiar yet so unique. The rooms inside Hand and Harvest Market feel like a stroll through a choose-your-own adventure version of a farmer's market, from walls adorned with paintings that double as merchandise and decor to shelves of baked goods and snack mixes to displays of wood-burned signs that still carry that faint, cozy scent of a rolling bonfire.

That wander and discover feeling is exactly what the ladies of Hand and Harvest hoped for when they opened the multi-vendor shop mid-December 2025, and it's why they're already talking expansion.

Who?

Hand and Harvest Market, at 1147 N. Guignard Drive, is operated by four local partners: Dana Osteen-Cadena, Mandi Castle, Deanna Ward and Debbie Hurd. Together, the four vendors-turned-business partners split staffing responsibilities during the week while vendors keep their booths stocked and refreshed.

The suite space in Chestnut Square Plaza serves not only as a home for two dozen vendors, but also for their own creations. Castle Creations features handmade wood-burned pieces; Ward's The Pink Flamingo Bakes offers baked goods and plant/wreath work that features curls, spirals and textures that add a touch of cozy to any space; Hurd's Debjo's Art includes repurposed jewelry and artwork built from broken or forgotten pieces; and Cadena's Custom Creations custom-made shirts and junkhats offers a bit of pizzazz to a plain outfit. As crafters themselves, they understood the importance of having a space to share one's work.

"A couple of us have been looking for a place to be permanent, and this one just fell on our lap," Cadena shared. "So, we went with it and said it's now or never."

The four women embarked on their vendor journey at different phases in their lives, all while balancing responsibilities that come with their given professions, families and their passions. When brainstorming the haven for homemade creations, it was vital to make the venture look and sound less like a retail experience and one that was, according to Cadena, "handmade" and "homemade," hence the name "Hand and Harvest Market."

What?

Hand and Harvest Market's brick-and-mortar location was once part of Destinations Spa. Its transformation from a place of relaxation to one of diverse creations includes wall-to-wall displays of local artisans, makers and small-business creatives with an intentional twist.

A total of 24 vendors are housed in the space. According to Cadena and Castle, the chosen dozens were to keep the vendor mix balanced so shoppers aren't met with aisle after aisle of the same product. They want the market to feel more collaborative and complementary, not competitive.

The two dozen fall within the following niches: hand wood-burned decor that includes inspirational designs; custom apparel and accessories, including koozies, bags and more that are heat-pressed on-site; handcrafted wreaths; repurposed jewelry and mixed-media art; baked goods; homemade jams and relishes; wood-worked birdhouses; custom embroidery; custom knit scarves, blankets, small purses and more; 3D-printed figurines; handmade bag charms and accessories; handmade African dolls; pre-assembled, gift-ready sets; hand-painted canvases, earrings and flower pots for gifting; resin art and decorative items; laser-cut decor and crafts; upcycled jewelry; sublimation cups and coasters; decorative craft and home accents; personalized journals; scented novelty candles; and homemade room sprays, car fresheners, laundry detergent and wax melts.

The layout of the store does not have a solid cohesiveness, but it works as the vendors complement each other in a way you'd never expect: You can browse for unique jewelry as you wait for your custom junk hat to come hot off the press, strike up a conversation about what pairs well with the homemade peach jam after you finished contemplating which baked good you'll nosh on for the ride home or peruse deliciously scented candles, gradient 3D figures and beautifully knit caps all in one leisurely stroll. It's different, and it works.

When? (and Where did they come from?)

The market opened Dec. 14, 2025, just passing the threshold of one month.

But before reaching such a milestone, the response was immediate. Folks were popping by on its first day open, relieved to have a fixed location for unique finds. Word has also traveled fast because the waiting list of vendors hoping to claim a spot inside has grown to 18.

But the story of when really starts earlier in the months after the turbulence surrounding American Legion Post 15 reshaped where local makers could gather and sell. For many artisans, the traditional farmers market circuit, one filled with regular customers and a steady income, was suddenly no longer reliable. Castle said many felt "lost," as if they "no longer had a home." And while pop-up markets can be helpful, they don't replace the consistency or the camaraderie that was built.

Why?

The way Cadena and Castle rattled off names of vendors with warmth, explained their niches with insight and passed around memories like prized mementos was enough to understand that the why behind the new storefront goes beyond that of a weekend hobby. It's a passion; it's part of each vendor's purpose.

"This is something we create, not just because it's something fun to do or a hobby. For many of us, it's our passion. For many of us, it's our reason to get up in the morning," Castle expressed. "It's wonderful that we have 24 vendors here that can showcase their art, their passion, their love and their emotions that they have inside that can spill out into these items. It's just - it's wonderful."

What's next?

With such great feedback and a growing waitlist, the four women are thinking of how they can broaden not only their storefront, but also better serve the local artisan community.

They've explored ways to expand, whether by opening an adjacent space or eventually building toward a larger vendor mall concept. Alongside additional artisan booths and displays, they have ideas on what could fill that expanded space, from classes and creative workshops to a place for craft nights and specialty pop-ups. It's their "pie-in-the-sky dream," one they look upon with high hopes and full hearts.

In the meantime, Hand and Harvest Market will continue doing what it set out to do: give Sumter makers a home and give shoppers a place to wander, gather and leave with a piece of someone's passion in a bag.

Hand and Harvest Market is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1147 N. Guignard Drive.