DIXON, CA (MPG) - The last fun Vendor Fair at Mothers House Plant Boutique is also a farewell to the store. Shar Alvateesiri has become a "real mother" and will be spending more time with her new baby.

"When I first opened the shop, I never planned on being an actual mother. It was named for the mother plant--the original one that propagates from," she said. "The universe has a funny way of working because within a year of being open, I ended up being a mother myself."

The charming houseplant boutique opened in the beginning of the pandemic and after Alvateesiri had experienced the loss of her father. She found the nurturing plants helped her feel consoled and she became somewhat of an expert at them. The store was a way for her to help bring peace and joy to others. She eventually added some clothing, jewelry, and specialty items and discovered hosting vendor fairs was a hit in the community.

Alvateesiri made the decision to close after an evaluation of several other businesses she owns.

"I re-prioritized and evaluated what I wanted to cultivate and nurture for the most for growth," she said. "The answer became clear."

"The shop has been an incredible experience. I am so humbled and grateful for the support we have received and the grit my team has displayed through some trying times," she said, adding that they, together, had created a safe and welcoming community within their walls.

"Strangers have become friends. Small business owners have had the opportunity to showcase their art and shine," she said. "Thinking about everything we have done in the few years we have been open brings me such joy and I hope that whatever comes next, the community will continue to embrace it and grow. Not everything that ends is over. It just gives way to new things like our plant babies have shown us, all we have to do is just keep growing."

The Vendor Fair will have a dozen artisans, foods, and crafters on Saturday, August 6. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 350 West A Street. Everything in the store will be on sale that weekend as well. The final day of the store will be Sunday, August 7.