State & Third Brings Retail Therapy Downtown

For nine-to-fivers itching for a quick office escape at lunchtime or a bit of retail therapy after work, Becky Brisker's corner store State & Third is a welcome addition to Capitol Square-a colorful and inviting space tucked inside the stoic Downtown office building adjacent to the Sheraton Columbus Hotel.

Her own lines of handmade bags and original T-shirts join those of more than 30 other crafters and artists, all but a few of whom are local. It didn't take her long to fill the place to the brim with items that are handmade, often with recycled or sustainable materials.

"We have so many talented people [in Columbus]," says Brisker, a CCAD grad who began making her slouchy shoulder bags and totes out of old burlap feed sacks and other recycled materials with her mother five years ago. The pair frequented craft shows and, after the success of a Downtown pop-up shop, Brisker set up permanently in the glass-walled space. She calls the boutique a gift and accessories shop, but artwork, clothing and other trinkets fill antique tables and chests, too. Baby clothes detailed with vintage handkerchiefs, abstract watercolor paintings and jewelry are but a sample of what can be found there-for you, or for someone else. "I think everyone loves to take something that's crafted home to their friends and family," Brisker says.