Meet the Owners: Marlon and Mary Jean Estenson

For Marlon and Mary Jean Estenson it’s hard to remember a time when they weren’t a team. Married in 1967, the two have quite a history together. Currently, this duo owns and operates the Shakopee Trading Post, a staple in the community for more than 20 years.

“We opened this shop decades ago as a way to showcase my husband’s jewelry making talent,” Mary Jean Estenson said. “As a silversmith, he has a real eye for detail.”

Marlon Estenson started “playing with metal” as his puts it, when he was training horses back in the 70s.

“I shoed horses and made bits,” he said. “After that I realized I could make just about anything with metal.”

The self-taught silversmith has honed his skill for more than 30 years and when he and his wife decided to get out the horse business, Shakopee Trading Post was born.

He’s created thousands of jewelry pieces over the years, most of which have rare stones as a centerpiece and detailed silver surrounding them.

“I don’t have any patterns, I just get an idea and I go with it,” he said. While Mary Jean leaves the creativity to her husband, they both run the store.

“We’ve always worked well together,” Mary Jean Estenson said.

“Well, she’s kind of the boss,” Marlon joked.

The two move through the store, which is crammed with jewelry and Native American pieces with a sense of familiarity. Their shop is a tribute to days past, when the world moved a little slower and handmade goods were preferred. 

“We have a lot of loyal customers,” Mary Jean Estenson said. “There really is a market for these kinds of goods and it’s hard to find them anywhere else.”

No two pieces of jewelry are alike in the store. From turquoise earrings and bracelets to necklaces made from dinosaur bone, options fill cases in the center of the store.

It’s not just Marlon who has an eye for jewelry. Marlon’s talent, while rare in today’s world, might be genetic. The Estensons daughter, Marla, also makes jewelry.

“Really this entire store has pieces that represent our entire family,” Mary Jean Estenson said. “Some of our daughter’s ideas are in here, some Native American crafts that I like are here, and, of course, my husband’s work is throughout the store.” 

The couple plans to stay the course over the next few years, hoping for continued success in a business they built together.