Plan to be Near Mound This Weekend? Stop and see 'Mama'

In June 2010, "Mama’s Happy" opened its doors in Mound for its first sale of unique, one-of-a-kind gifts and crafts. Amanda Ficek, the store’s owner and stay-at-home mother of three, said the founding of Mama’s Happy was a “perfect storm event.”

“Mama’s Happy has been a great outlet for local vendors,” said Ficek. “It’s been amazing for a lot of women’s self esteem for them to create something and have someone else appreciate it and even purchase it.”

After moving from Minneapolis to a hobby farm in Mound, Ficek fell in love with the community, its residents and its schools. However, she was amazed at how few retail stores were located in Mound. She began brainstorming about ways to showcase local creative talent and to provide women with a fun place to shop.

After visits to Buffalo, which has been successful in promoting its many occasional sales and stimulating the local economy, Ficek signed a rental lease on a building on Shoreline Boulevard in Mound. Soon after, she began renovating the space and finding vendors in anticipation of her first sale.

Sales are held from Thursday to Sunday during the second weekend of each month. At each four-day sale, Mama’s Happy features up to 14 vendors (referred to as shop owners) who sell handmade, upcycled, repurposed and vintage items in their own dedicated space in the store.

Mama’s Happy is a collaboration in which shop owners are responsible for merchandising their own items and working one shift during each sale. There’s even space in the lower level of the building for them to create items and store them in between sales.

When trying to choose a name for her store, Ficek’s husband asked her to sum up what the store would be about. Ficek knew she wanted the store to be a place where women would love to be. This included allowing creative women to be around other creative women and providing a fun place for women to shop while supporting local vendors.

She summed it up with one of her favorite sayings, “When Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” A light bulb went off, and the store was aptly named Mama’s Happy.

Mama’s Happy has an art studio in the back of the store called Studio 110 where workshops take place and parties can be held. Ficek has hosted children’s birthday parties and ladies night out events at the store. There’s even a kids’ playhouse in a nook above the main floor, so the kids are happy while mama shops.

Mama’s Happy has primarily relied on word of mouth for promotion of its sales. Ficek notices that customers are coming from places further away than nearby communities, which is also good for other Mound businesses.

Although the building is for sale, Ficek hopes that Mama’s Happy can remain in its existing spot for at least one more year. Plans are underway for a café in the lower level of Mama’s Happy where customers can buy coffee, cold drinks, baked goods and other items. Ficek hopes the café will be open in time for the July sale.

Mama’s Happy is located at 2271 Commerce Blvd. in Mound. For hours and more information, visit www.mamashappy.com.