DMLA debuts new digs, merch

MOSES LAKE — The Downtown Moses Lake Association has a new home, and it comes with sunshine.

“The old location was kind of dark, and it didn’t have any windows,” said DMLA Event Specialist Sarah Page. “And now we have six beautiful, big windows.”

This year, the DMLA has moved from the back hallway of the Desert Plaza Building at West Third Avenue and South Alder Street to its home at 205 S. Division St., the same location that housed the DMLA’s business incubator, the Obra Project. That incubator, which was designed to grow small businesses, proved successful enough to be retired, Page said.

“A lot of their businesses flourished and have been able to get their own spots,” Page said.

The new office is bright and cheerful, with simple wooden furnishings and an open floor plan. A mural painted by Hannah Fountain, whose art gallery The Drip got its start in the Obra Project, covers one wall.

The location is divided more or less into three parts. In front of the entrance is an information desk where Page, or whoever happens to be in the office that day, greets people. To the right is a conversation area with comfortable seating, where anyone who wants to can come in and sit down. A bank of photos of past DMLA events covers the wall.

That area of the office houses the biggest addition to the DMLA, Page said: the T-shirts and hoodies. There are some straightforward designs with the lake, the sun and a heron, and some whimsically lettered shirts proclaiming, “Lake Life.” The apparel is available from small to 2X, Page said; larger sizes will come in the next order.

Those were a labor of love for DMLA Executive Director Mallory Miller, Page said.

“She spent every moment of her time that she could working on this merch,” Page said. “People seem to really love it, and she’s really proud of it.”

There are also items commemorating the DMLA’s annual events: Brews & Tunes, Sip & Stroll and so forth.

“We’re also working on some new stuff, like stickers, tote bags, tumblers, coffee mugs,” Page said.

That merchandise practically flew off the shelves at the DMLOA’s open house Friday, Page said.

“We had so, so many people in,” she said. “All of our shelves were completely full, and we had back stock, and now we have to reorder all of our crew necks, tons of our T shirts.”

The remainder of the office is the members-only area, equipped with tables, chairs and desks, including a couple of standing desks, and office equipment that many small businesses wouldn’t necessarily have in-house. There’s also a mini-fridge, a coffee pot and some snacks arrayed on a counter.

“If you’re a member, you can come here and get a drink or a snack,” Page said. “You can print stuff. We have extra office supplies down here (a) big paper cutter, anything you could need that you might not have.”

The goal, Page said, is to make the DMLA kind of an entry point for visitors and newcomers to the downtown area.

“We want this space to be somewhere people can come in and ask for information about downtown,” she said. “They can know what’s going on — we throw lots of events throughout the year — and they can grab a T-shirt or a jacket and check out the town … We really want (to be) a guiding light.”

    The members-only section of the Downtown Moses Lake Association’s office includes tables, chairs and office supplies, as well as snacks and drinks. The mural was painted by Moses Lake artist Hannah Fountain, a DMLA member.
  

    The merchandise at the new Downtown Moses Lake Association office proved so popular at the organization’s open house last week that some categories sold out entirely.
  

    The Downtown Moses Lake Association’s new office is located at 206 S. Division St.