COLUMBUS – Folks who want to give their friends and loved ones unique gifts but don’t want to travel far and wide in search of them will take pleasure in knowing a new arts and crafts pop-up store is now open on the weekends.

Located at 288 Mills Street and sponsored by Discover Columbus the Holiday Shoppe was started after a conversation between Polk County Cooperative Extension Agent Jimmi Buell and Robert Williamson, economic development director for Polk County, to house the artists in a temporary location this month.

The shop opened on Nov. 26 and will be open Fridays through Sundays until Dec. 23, according to Buell. Buell added cloth products like pot-holders, some woodcarvings, jewelry and pottery are featured pieces of work.

“There’s a group of artists and crafters right around the Columbus area and what we usually do is a Saturday holiday thing once a year at Stearns Gym,” Buell explained. “This year, Robert Williamson approached us and asked us if we would like to have a building. We have been trying to do this for over a year.”

Buell said the house is being rented temporarily to house the artists until the end of December. Buell added she and four other artists are currently set up in the shop.

“We decided it was a great opportunity for the artists and crafters in this area to set up a pop-up store,” Buell said. “We’re not really formalized but we usually put on the holiday show for one day but this year we got the opportunity to do it for the whole month of December.”

The Holiday Shoppe is open Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.