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Local Treasures Abound at Carmel Valley Mercantile B Y R E N E E B R I N C K S T wo years ago, Pacific Grove native Emily Frew took over a rustic former farm- house in the Carmel Valley Farm Center and filled the interior with home goods, children's gifts, handmade jewelry and holiday items. She stocked creations by local artists, and tracked down vintage kitchen basics and quirky repur- posed finds. She sourced local honey, jam and granola, too, and outfitted an adjacent garden with flowers and metal sculptures. Now, with Carmel Valley Mercantile, Frew offers a distinct alternative to big-brand retail. "We all do Target and we all do online shopping—those things have become par t of our purchasing nature—but having something unique, convenient and local has really become a draw," she says. Her store has also earned a following as the only Monterey Peninsula distributor of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, a versatile product that cov- ers furniture without stripping, prepping or priming. Frew hosts workshops that introduce tricks and techniques for using the paints, and hopes to add additional art classes and com- munity events as her business grows. "In today's culture, with all our technology, it's about getting back to those basic human interac- tions and product interactions," she says. "Here, you can touch the products and learn about the vendors. People want that experience." For store details and workshop dates, visit www.carmelvalleymercantile.com. SHORTCUTS BUSINESS Emily Frew runs Carmel Valley Mercantile in the Farm Center, which stocks gifts, home goods, special paint, jewelry, local crafts, garden decorations and food items. 62 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 Photo: Kelli Uldall