Cornelia's Home Market Breathes New Life Into West End Of Water Street
Brooke Hartman has learned to embrace, not fear, the ability to pivot; a gut-feeling led to grand opening of Eau Claire's newest home goods storefront
McKenna Scherer, photos by Andrea Paulseth
520 Water St. has traded its screen-printing equipment and aisles of ready-to-ship, custom-designed artist merchandise – courtesy of creatives at Eau Claire’s Ambient Inks – for the bright, breathable and bold wares of Cornelia’s Home Market.
The blossoming of Brooke Hartman’s brick-and-mortar business, made official with the snip of April 24’s ribbon-cutting event with the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, was not something she could have predicted two years ago.
After being laid off from her tech sales job of several years, Hartman took just days to decide her next step. Initially, she explored the idea of full-time interior styling (she now offers interior styling by appointment) – but had a gut feeling she could dive deeper, if she first took the leap.
I did a lot of daydreaming and drawing, envisioning things and how I wanted to display products in a functional way. I just want people to be comfortable here, to feel good about this place, whether or not they leave with something. –Brooke Hartman, owner of Cornelia's Home Market
“There was nothing short or easy about this,” Hartman shared in a recent interview. “But I’ve never had a moment of, ‘this isn’t for me’ or ‘this is a bad idea.’ ”
Seated across from one another in the sprawling 2,700-square-foot home goods shop, Hartman told me about her childhood, growing up in the Wisconsin Rapids area where she and her siblings often spent weekends with their father, a homebuilder.
“We saw Dad work hard,” she said. “We’d go help on most weekends, cleaning the shop and going to the houses. … At the time it was annoying, but we were doing this hard work and learning from him – from his work ethic.
“Also, how to be a great servant to your community; he modeled that to us. … I miss him a lot,” Hartman shared.
Framed blueprints are displayed behind the shop’s register. Among them are floor plans from her father's work and of Hartman’s current home, an early 1900s build in an Eau Claire neighborhood.
The business’s name, too, is an homage to Hartman’s family – her grandfather, Cornelius, inspired the naming of Cornelia’s Home Market.
Hartman’s entrepreneurial chapter in Eau Claire is also something of a homecoming, as she was first introduced to the city as an undergraduate student. After earning her first degree in 2007, she and her husband lived throughout Wisconsin before returning back to the Valley, now with children.
Already, the downtown area is quite different than the one she knew as a college student. Still, she hopes Water Street continues to welcome more people – patrons and businesses alike – and become a destination.
“I’ve wanted a store where I could buy these kinds of things, things I wanted, that wasn’t a big box store,” Hartman said.
Her own style – an eclectic mix of vintage and new wares – shines through in Cornelia’s Home Market, with bold patterned pieces that flow together.
“I just wanted something for everyone,” she said. “That demographic of apartment-living and young adults or college students is important to me, too.
“I’m trying to keep price points fair, which can be hard, but I feel like I’ve done a good job at pricing,” she continued. “For people that have the money to spend on quality items and for people that want nice pieces on a smaller budget.”
The shop is thoughtfully filled with plateware, sold in sets and individually, kitchen goods, art prints and rugs, larger furniture including bed frames and couches, bedding and lamps. A kid’s corner – featuring “Corny’s Little Library,” where littles can hang out while their parents shop – rounds out the offerings for all ages.
Pricing ranges from $10 pieces to investment pieces priced in the hundreds (typically reserved for larger furniture pieces). One 12-piece plates and bowls set, for example, was less than $50; Hartman emphasized people don’t have to purchase something in order to come by.
“I did a lot of daydreaming and drawing, envisioning things and how I wanted to display products in a functional way,” she said. “I just want people to be comfortable here, to feel good about this place, whether or not they leave with something.”
That energy could be felt over the last weekend of April, when Cornelia’s Home Market continued its grand opening festivities.
Musical ensembles Single Stem and Garden Party performed while patrons got their first glimpses of the Water Street storefront, snacking on free finger foods provided by friends of Hartman’s, tables adorned with arrangements from down-the-street business Avalon Floral.
Spring has settled along Water Street, welcoming new neighbors and familiar faces for another season. Find your new favorite coffee mug, quilt, tote bag – or simply spend some peaceful moments – at Cornelia’s Home Market, Eau Claire's new neighborhood homewares storefront.
Cornelia's Home Market (520 Water St., Eau Claire) is currently open from 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Thursday; 10am-6pm Friday-Saturday • Keep up with the new small business on social media and view some of its products at www.corneliashome.com
