
Sam and Anna Vanneman of Tiny Space (Photo by Jay Paul)
A popular block of small businesses in Church Hill has a new neighbor.
Tiny Space opened July 31 at 2708 E. Marshall St., across from Stroops Heroic Dogs and neighboring Gather Home and Garden. The owners, spouses Anna and Sam Vanneman, opened their handpicked- and handmade-focused shop here because of the sense of community and support they were receiving. “It was a natural fit because of those other small businesses,” Anna says.
The store lives up to its name, with just 450 square feet, but it’s packed with items including clothing, records, cookbooks, jewelry, games, housewares and art.
A passion project for the couple, the store’s selections are a reflection of their taste. Every nook houses a gathering of treasures without being overtly cluttered. Anna says she specifically seeks out those diamonds in the rough, items that would otherwise be overlooked from housewares to clothing, but still look fantastic paired with the right pieces or person.
Frequent visits are a must as new items are brought in daily. Utah and Moon, the couple’s two small Boston terriers, happily greet customers and make perusing the displays a bit more pleasant.
The Vannemans also showcase local artists and artisans. “We’re trying to create a place and a space for [artists] to come in and be represented and have an outlet [to showcase their work],” Sam says.
The store’s inventory includes pottery and paintings from Andy Harris, paintings by Connie Cardwell and home décor items crafted from reclaimed wood by Les Probst. You’ll also find all-purpose bags crafted by Paul Hansbarger from leather and waxed canvas. Zodiac flags created by local business Guard n Flags hang from the Tiny Space ceiling. The Vannemans love Guard n Flags pieces so much, they commissioned the team to create the Tiny Space logo. Look for ceramics by local artist Senta Achée beginning this month.
More is on the horizon for Tiny Space as the Vannemans venture into hosting workshops, art openings and other events. For more information, visit Tiny Space on Facebook or at tinyspace-rva.com.