Owner Of Red Barn Mercantile Opens Penny Post

ALEXANDRIA, VA—About 10 years ago, Amy Rutherford opened Red Barn Mercantile as a newcomer to business. Now she's gotten down the essentials of reaching customers in Old Town and has opened a second shop called Penny Post.

Rutherford tells Patch Red Barn Mercantile moved to 1117 King Street five years ago, but the gift shop just didn't have enough space for her to fully realize the dream of selling paper products. So when a lease opened up at 1201 King Street, she jumped on the opportunity.

That's how Penny Post came about, and it's now open for business and is hosting a grand opening Oct. 20-22. (For more local Alexandria news, subscribe to a Patch News Alert and Newsletter and like Old Town Alexandria Patch on Facebook.)

"While Hallmark stores are closing, small independent stores are growing," she tells Patch. "Print isn't dead."

The store sells cards from makers around the U.S. and countries like Australia, Germany and Japan. There's also a variety of products like party supplies, candles and Meant to Be Calligraphy by Michele Fritz. Customers can order custom-made products such as wedding invitations, holiday cards and stationary.

Asked what she loves about opening up shop in Old Town Alexandria, she says local residents are kind and the business community is strong. "I love that we get a fair share of locals and a fair share of people from all over the country [and the world]," Rutherford tells Patch.

She's looking forward to the holiday season, when the store will hold a paper cutting workshop on Dec. 5, letting writing for Christmas, a Small Business Saturday event and other things in the works.

For now, customers can stop in for a weekend of fun during the grand opening. They can draw a random chip to receive a discount up to 30 percent. Anyone who comes in can participate in Meant to Be Calligraphy demonstrations, enter for raffle prizes from Sugar Paper and get 20 percent off holiday orders. Anyone who makes a purchase receives a special gift, and the first 150 to spend $100 or more get a tote bag.

Penny Post is part of the Old Town Boutique District, along with Red Barn Mercantile. Store hours are Monday to Thursday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. Visit Penny Post's Facebook page for more information and updates on future events.

Images by Rashmi Pappu, courtesy of Penny Post