Artisan Soaps on Main Street

DAYTON – Azure Mountain made a subtle entrance to downtown Dayton retail this spring, opening a handcrafted, artisan soap shop next door to Manila Bay Café on East Main Street. No grand opening or "loud" signs or displays in the window have alerted visitors and locals to the new shop, which is just how Art and Brenda Hall want it.

"We want people to see our sign and be curious enough to come inside and see what we have to offer," Brenda said. And the couple both work full time, so the shop is only open during their days off: Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Customers can also call to request the shop be open by appointment.

The Halls make their cold-process soaps and other bath products by hand. They started making soap as a hobby in 2007, after Art learned how in a college chemistry class. They only recently began making soap as a business. Currently in stock in their new Dayton shop is an array of colorful, all-natural bars. Coming soon will be bath salts, lip balm, lotions, shampoos and liquid soap.

"From the beginning we have insisted on making small batches because that's how you maintain quality control," Art said. "A lot of people who sell soap make 70-100 in a batch; we do about 20, which is double what we used to do."

Each small batch is carefully prepared, often using herbs from their garden or other local sources, according to the Azure Mountain website. "Only the best quality essential oils and fine fragrance oils are included in their handcrafted artisan soap," the site explains.

Both Art and Brenda studied environmental science at Seattle's University of Washington. They moved to southeast Washington in 2008 and Dayton full time in 2010. Art currently holds a seat on the Dayton City Council and works as a property manager for the General Services Administration, managing the Richland Federal Building/U.S. Post Office/U.S. Courthouse as well as the William O. Douglas Federal Building in Yakima. Brenda is a nurse in the operating room at Kadlec Regional Medical Center.

Making soap was never meant to support the Halls. They played with various "recipes" at home, adding herbs such as lavender and rosemary, and using essential oils. And they gave the soap away to friends and family.

"Making soap is so much like cooking," Brenda said. "When we go out to eat, I'm always thinking, 'We need to do something like this with soap.'"

The Halls began making soap as a business a couple years ago when Mary Byrd, who managed the Dayton Historic Depot at the time, invited them to sell their soap in the marketplace during Christmas Kickoff.

"People liked it so much, they wanted more," Brenda said. So last year the Halls started selling their handcrafted soaps at Blue Mountain Station. "But I've had my eye on this space downtown for a long time," shi added

"It was just good timing, this time around," Art said. The shop at 309 E. Main Street has been vacant for just a short time, having most recently housed Don's Blue Mountain Hobbies. Prior to that, the space was occupied by Alexander's Chocolates and, several years ago, Home-Baked Goodness, owned by Carolyn Suffield (who opened her café in Suffield's Furniture across the street last year).

"It's always a scary thing, going into business in a small town," Brenda said. "But we really enjoy interacting with the community. That's why Art's on city council. And we think it's so important to keep our downtown stores filled with retail. It's so sad to see storefronts empty."

The Halls said they've developed a loyal customer base so far. People make special requests and give feedback, which they just love. "Because we always grow from it," Brenda said. They've made specialty bars for customers with allergies and special needs such as eczema.

Their website also provides them with steady business – they've sent soap bars as far as New York. But "shop local, sell local" is very important to them. They worked with Leroy Cunningham in Waitsburg on all the reclaimed wood tables and cabinetry in the shop. Hometown Carpets of Dayton did the flooring. And Yancy Yost did their sign using a design created by their daughter, who is a graphic designer and also created their website.

And as a final means of involving the community, they've invited local jewelry maker Anna Steinhoff to sell her wares in the shop, to add variety for customers as well as supporting a fellow local artist and business entrepreneur (see article below).