For Plant City’s enthusiasts of art, gifts and collectibles, a new shop has come to town to offer something for nearly any taste.
Courtyard Bazaar opened this month on Reynolds Street in Historic Downtown in the former Brown’s Floral space. Unlike many of its neighbors that sell antiques, Courtyard Bazaar offers mostly contemporary items, though many of them have a vintage or retro style.
A chalkboard sign on the sidewalk invites guests to come in and browse the booths in search of that perfect item. “Over 5,000 treasures,” it promises. “Come find yours!” A painting of a jumping tarpon, a lamp adorned by a tiger pulling a covered wagon and a birdhouse made from a gourd are just a few of the unique pieces recently seen at Courtyard Bazaar.
Cyndi Conte and her daughter, Amanda Horn, opened the shop as partners. Conte had previously managed a temporary employment agency for 15 years, and this is her first business venture. They live in Lakeland, but Conte said Lakeland had plenty of similar shops, so they settled on Plant City instead.
“We found this beautiful building and thought this would be the perfect venue,” Conte said.
The shop contains booths of about 15 vendors. Many of them are local artists who Conte and Horn know personally.
“This is one of my passions … I don’t have a set style,” Conte said. “Very eclectic taste. So I wanted to bring people I know together. I see something new about every time I walk through a booth.”
One of the vendors is Margaret Conte, Cyndi’s mother-in-law. Cyndi said each of Margaret’s pieces tells a story and is full of color.
In addition to its cornucopia of one-of-a-kind pieces, Courtyard Bazaar also offers a line of branded Country Chic chalk and mineral paint. Though it is a relatively new brand, it has already become popular for refinishing furniture.
“We jumped in with them because there’s a big demand for it,” Conte said.
Horn works another job in Lakeland, and she has a baby at home.
“Balancing two full-time jobs and then going home to another full-time jobs has been challenging,” Horn said. “But worth it, that’s for sure.”
Conte and Horn have been employed together in the past, and Horn said they have always worked well together.
DETAILS
Courtyard Bazaar
ADDRESS: 106 E. Reynolds St.
PHONE: (813) 659-1730
EMAIL: CourtyardBazaar@outlook.com
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.
