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Tucked into a cozy 600-square-foot storefront at 76 Cottage St. in Easthampton, Valley Art Supplies has quietly become something more than an art store.
Part creative hub, part neighborhood gathering space and part cocktail bar, the business reflects the personalities of its owners, Juliette and Ed Mooers, who have spent more than two decades building a place where art feels approachable, affordable and deeply communal.
“We just knew that a lot of artists were in the area,” Juliette Mooers said. “We wanted to provide an art supply store that was affordable and local, especially being surrounded by all the artists in the mills.”
The couple opened the store in 2004, long before Easthampton’s arts scene became as widely recognized as it is today. At the time, the city’s mill buildings were already attracting artists, but supplies often required a trip elsewhere. The Mooerses saw an opportunity to create a local resource while fostering a welcoming environment for creative people of all skill levels.
Over the years, that vision evolved naturally.
Juliette, who studied human services and family relations in college, spent much of her early career in the service industry, bartending throughout school and beyond. Ed attended art school and brought a fine arts background to the business. Together, their experiences merged into an unusual but successful concept: an art supply store that also serves inventive cocktails and hosts low-cost craft events.
“It was always kind of a pipe dream to add a little bar to the art store,” Juliette Mooers said. “A space where people can get together in a different type of environment and make things.”
About three years ago, that dream became reality when the couple secured a liquor license and opened the bar portion of the business. Since then, the small space has developed a loyal following for its rotating seasonal cocktails, curated mocktails and creative atmosphere.
“We have complete creativity behind the bar, which is amazing,” Mooers added. “We’re foodies at heart, so this is just another way for us to express our creativity.”
That creativity has translated into more than 200 original cocktails over the years, many inspired by the seasons. One customer favorite, originally developed for Halloween, almost never made it onto the menu.
Mooers wanted to create a blood-red cocktail using rum and blackberry, but the drink kept turning out too sweet. After stepping away from the idea briefly, inspiration struck her.
“I thought, why don’t I try mezcal?” she recalled. “The smokiness balanced out the sweetness perfectly.”
The resulting drink, called “Vampire’s Kiss,” became so popular that customers refused to let it disappear after October. It now lives year-round under a different name: Eternal Spring.
The business has also become known for its craft nights, where customers can create affordable projects while socializing over drinks. Most events cost under $20, a price point Juliette intentionally maintains to keep creativity accessible.
“As a parent myself, it’s hard to set aside time to get creative,” she said. “When people sign up, it’s like they’re making a commitment to themselves.”
That philosophy became especially important during the pandemic, when Juliette began assembling inexpensive take-home art kits complete with supplies and instructions. The kits, often sold through sidewalk pickup and local deliveries, quickly gained popularity among families searching for activities during lockdowns.
“People were struggling and trying to figure out what to do at home,” she said. “The kits just took off.”
Today, those kits remain part of the business, along with larger off-site events such as holiday wreath-making workshops held at local venues including Northampton Brewery and Bright Ideas Brewing. Mooers also creates wreath-making kits for local senior centers at reduced prices.
Despite steady demand and frequent encouragement from customers to open additional locations, the Mooerses have no plans to expand.
“We’re good,” Mooers said with a laugh.
The compact size of the business is intentional. Without employees, aside from occasional guest bartenders, the couple manages the entire operation themselves while also raising two children, including a college-bound teenager who has recently expressed interest in learning the business.
“The fact that it works is because we can manage the size it is now,” Mooers said.
Even in its small footprint, the store continues to surprise visitors. Valley Art Supplies stocks traditional art materials throughout all operating hours, meaning customers can stop in late at night for a sketchbook or paint supplies. The bar menu includes family-friendly mocktails and a carefully curated beer selection emphasizing harder-to-find options from Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island and Belgium.
“People come in and say, ‘I’m surprised you have all of this in such a little space,’” Mooers said. “Honestly, me too.”
After more than 20 years in business, the Mooerses remain grateful simply to still be there.
“We’ve kind of ridden the wave for 20 years,” Mooers said. “And we’re still going.”
FOR REGULAR HOURS AND INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE VALLEY ART SUPPLIES FACEBOOK PAGE.
EMAIL THE STORE AT INFO@VALLEYARTSUPPLIES.COM, OR CALLTHE STORE AT 413-527-0763.
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