Auburn brings new businesses to town

By next month, there will be three fewer empty storefronts in town. Despite the COVID-19 restrictions and hardships small businesses face in this day and age, three new businesses have decided to move into spaces in Auburn. At the start of August, Old Town Auburn welcomed Typewriter + Moss on Sacramento Street. The shop, which is reminiscent of Rose Apothecary from the television show Schitt's Creek, is a space for handmade goods from locally based artisans. "I make polymer clay jewelry and candles and wanted to open up my space as a collective for local makers and artists," said business owner Cleo Balderas. "The shop features a curation of products I love and use and that are toxin free and good for the environment." Balderas, who lives in Roseville, was attracted to Old Town Auburn for its great shopping and restaurants. She operated her business online before opening in Auburn. The shop features jewelry, soaps, candles, tote bags, beard oil, handmade cards and more. Balderas, who carries other small businesses' products in her store, said she is open to adding more local artists to her storefront. "My goal is to share my passions and share my artwork and other people's artwork," she said. "I am community driven, and I want to share that with everyone." Another new business headed to Downtown Auburn is Little Bird Mercantile, which will open in the old Auburn Drug Company building on Lincoln Way at the end of the month. Little Bird Mercantile co-owners Jeanne Oslund and Shannon Wines met while working at Wrecklamation Rustic Savage, an antique store in Auburn. Oslund and Wines wanted to start their own business, where they could feature their own upcycled furniture and antiques, and things began to fall into place. "It's been a dream of mine to open up this store," Wines said. "This is something I want to retire into." Wines, who is from Meadow Vista, and Oslund, of Auburn, said they were looking for the perfect space in Auburn to feature their vintage furniture and décor. "We both wanted to do this so badly, and is there ever a good time?" Oslund said. "There is no good perfect time, and we are just going for it because we believe that what we are doing is worth it." Wines said things began to fall into place for the two and their business, and when the Auburn Drug Company space became available, they couldn't pass it up. "We couldn't say no," Oslund said. "It's just such a wonderful opportunity to be in this beautiful historic building." And the pair are keeping the fountain up, although it won't be operational. "Everyone can come in and see what the pharmacy was and still pay homage to that but then shop for vintage goods," Wines said. Little Bird Mercantile is scheduled to open Aug. 28. Also coming to town is the Truckee Mountain Rug Company, owned by Auburn resident and local architect Michael Kent Murphy. He brings his business to a building he helped revitalize 20 years ago as an architect. The Truckee Mountain Rug Company, which currently operates out of High Hand Nursery in Loomis, is scheduled to move to the old JCPenney building on Lincoln Way in Downtown Auburn on Sept. 1. The shop will feature handwoven and imported rugs from the Middle East, specializing in Gabbeh, Chobi and Kazak styles. The business has limited hours and will be available by appointment as well, Murphy said. "This move is going to get everything I do so close to town I can walk," he said.