Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Vicki’s Amish Traditions in Millbrook is hosting their annual Meet the Maker and Vendor Market Friday Nov. 10-11 from 10-5 p.m. both days, where the makers of traditional Amish furniture are showcasing their work and local vendors showcasing their products, as well as two food trucks on site this weekend.
The builders of the furniture in Vicki Stroup’s store are all from Indiana, where she lived for 18 years and where Stroup considers home. The store sources over 35 Amish builders based out of Indiana.
Stroup stated that this is a unique opportunity for the community, “You can go into a store and have someone tell you it’s Amish furniture, and it may not be the case,” Stroup said. “But this gives the customer a unique opportunity to meet the Amish, and who might have made their furniture, and see that they’re real people just like we are and super fun and super personable.”
William Troyer, a furniture builder of over 29 years and owner of Indian Trail Furniture traveled from Indiana over 13 hours to be here for the builders event. Troyer owns and operates his business with his three sons who are gearing up to take over their wholesale furniture business.
The furniture Troyer and his sons make use different brackets and joints to hold furniture together without using screws or tools and all his furniture is done by hand.
Troyer spoke with pride pointing to a bed set in Vicki’s store stating that it was from his shop back home.
“I have 17 employees and all my children have worked in the shop. Even my daughter’s husbands. One of my favorite things I am looking forward to is to see this grow and move on and seeing the effort and work we put in will continue,” Troyer said.
Vicki’s Amish Traditions just celebrated five years of business this past October, and this is the second year of the Meet the Maker and Vendor event.
The Meet the Maker and Vendor Market will go through Saturday with numerous local vendors on site and food trucks for the duration of the event, 10 a.m. -5 p.m. both days.
