Pair of shops making a house at outlet mall; Insomnia Cookies coming to Williamsburg – Every day Press

At Premium Outlets, two local businesses — Williamsburg Bazaar and Williamsburg Bazaar Too — offer customers products from about 100 state and local vendors.

One of the stores opened amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other was a spin-off of a successful pop-up store venture from the minds and inspiration of owners Janey and Danny Sawyer.

“We initially came to the outlets at their request,” Janey Sawyer explained. “We were in a partnership in Norge and were operating Flipping Flea Too. The partnership didn’t work out and when they asked us to come here, we were ready.”

Williamsburg Bazaar opened in September 2019 with 52 vendors. Then came COVID and everything shut down. “We then turned to making masks — for hospitals, doctor’s offices anywhere they were needed,” she said. “Then we were asked by a business owner if we thought we could provide 300 boxes to go out to his employees. Later, we prepared personal care packages, including hands sanitizers and different health care products.”

By May 2020, the Bazaar was ready to reopen and they had 52 vendors, actually small businesses, within 3,500 square feet of space at the outlet mall, between the Book Warehouse and ASICS.

Then, as is now, the store’s items include everything from woodworks to nautical, from furniture to handmade lamps. Also there are stuffed products, items from the Amish country, goat farms, honey bee items that come in various flavors, jewelry, home décor and more.

“Most of the vendors who were with us when we reopened are still with us,” Janey Sawyer said.

Last fall, an employee suggested that the Sawyers consider a pop-up Christmas store. “We advertised for vendors and suddenly 65 applied, including 10 from the then-current store,” she explained. “All were featuring some form of Christmas items.

“We were so successful that we decided to go from the pop-up to Bazaar Too, which we now call a seasonal and gift shop.”

Located beside Timberland, Bazaar Too also features items from various small businesses but of a more seasonal nature.

“We’ve been extremely successful,” Janey Sawyer said, “and have been recognized with a number of awards, including two this year from Coastal Virginia magazine.” The Original Bazaar won a gold medal for the Best Home Interior Store and a bronze medal for the Best Home Décor Store.

“I don’t know how we did it, but awards are nice. Last year we won for Best Consignment Store and we’re really not a consignment store, but again recognition is valuable.”

Lisa Lee is the manager for Williamsburg Bazaar and Katlyn Montgomery is the manager of Bazaar Too.

The company also operates the Norge Bazaar and Ice Cream Shoppe at 7521 Richmond Road. Danny Sawyer is manager of that business and also handles all the accounting, payroll and financial operations for the three bazaars.

Insomnia Cookies, a college student-oriented cookie and treat store, will open July 12 in Midtown Row off Monticello Avenue in Williamsburg.

Started in 2003 by Seth Berkowitz in his dormitory room when he was a student at the University of Pennsylvania, Insomnia Cookies has more than 200 locations. It specializes in delivering warm cookies at late hours.

The stores were born, according to the company’s website “out of the dislike of heavy foods late at night and a sweet tooth,” marketing manager Catharine Gatlin said. “It’s a place where treats never sleep.”

Insomnia Cookies sells 17 types of classic cookies, including vegan options and other products including cookie cakes, brownies, milk and ice cream. There are locations in Norfolk and in Richmond.

The Williamsburg store will be at 100 College Row, Suite 2107, and is scheduled to be open Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday 12 p.m. to midnight.

Williamsburg Landing, a retirement community in James City County, has won the 2022 Workplace Excellence Award from LeadingAge Virginia.

The association of not-for-profit aging services providers in Virginia, LeadingAge Virginia recognizes a member community “that demonstrates investment in their staff and workplace environment for the delivery of quality care and services and demonstrates innovation in workforce development practices,” according to a new release.

This year’s award to Williamsburg Landing cited its “innovations in workforce development through the Williamsburg Landing Leadership Academy, which provides participants the opportunity to learn about leadership, emotional intelligence, change management, empathy and career development.

Vice President T. Michael Creasy and architect Peyton Bright of GuernseyTingle have earned their architectural licensures, passing the state and national certification requirements, including the Architect Registration Examination.

GuernseyTingle Vice President Kristin Baum has been elected to the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Christopher Devine and Sam Rapoport have been elected vice presidents in the S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co., which manages, develops and provides brokerage service for various types of properties in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.

• Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. renewed its lease of 12,000 square feet of office space at 351 McLaws Circle in James City County. Andy Dallas of Cushman & Wakefield | THALHIMER handled the lease negotiations on behalf of the tenant.

• Williamsburg Music Association leased 1,944 square feet of office space at 4805 Courthouse Street in James City County. Williamsburg, VA. Andy Dallas of Cushman & Wakefield | THALHIM handled the lease negotiations on behalf of the landlord.

Wilford Kale, kalehouse@aol.com