Artist co-op, gallery set for Maplewood

An artist co-op with a gallery in front is due to open in October at 7403 Manchester Road in Maplewood.

The business will lease half of what was once Aikido Martial Arts. The other half is set to be a vinyl record store and coffee shop.

Sherry Packer, owner of the art studio, said the concept is to be a space where eight to 10 artists will work — open to the public — in addition to being a retail store where the works can be purchased. She said they haven’t decided on a name yet.

“The exciting part of it, you can go watch people making pottery, or people making glass or jewelry or wood,” Packer said. “So, many different artisans will be there. It will be a fun way to spend a couple hours.”

Packer’s daughter, Kayla Alfonso, owner of Ghost Cat Studios, will manage the business and also do her own pottery.

“We are looking for artists in almost any media.” Alfonso said in an email. ” We don’t have a definitive opening date yet, but we are hard at work and it’s going pretty quickly!”

7405 Manchester, a former barber shop, is set to be a card and gift shop, possibly named My Happy Place, according to co-owner Mark Luedde. The buildout has begun for that business.

On the south side of the block, Gus’s Fried Chicken is preparing to open this summer at 7434 Manchester Road.