A Touch of Glass on Main Street Waupaca
By Angie Landsverk
A Touch of Glass is one of the most recent additions to downtown Waupaca.
Its space at 112 N. Main St. includes a gallery and a working studio for glass artist Tammy Wolter.
“I love it. I love being open. I love having people come in,” she said. “I should have done it 20 years ago, but everything happens when it’s meant to. I’m really glad we did it.”
Opening a retail store was not something she previously entertained.
Wolter and her husband Rick were looking for space to rent for her studio when they found the building.
The building had been vacant for about a year.
“It was waiting for us,” she said.
They believe others were interested in it.
However, without a floor above the street-level space, there was no potential rental income for apartments.
The Wolter’s idea became to transform it into a live-work space, with residential on the first floor facing Cooper Street.
It resulted in a new zoning district being created in part of Waupaca’s downtown to allow first-story live-work styles.
Under the city’s previous ordinance, residential housing had to be on the second floor in the Central Business District.
Work begins
In May 2018, the common council approved the Wolter’s request for a special use permit.
The council also approved the rezoning of their property and 20 other downtown parcels.
The Wolter’s property was originally a two-story building.
Built in 1896, it was once the Fred Peterson Saloon.
There were two fires there through the years, with one fire taking out the second floor.
It was never rebuilt.
After they bought the building, Wolter had a pop-up store in the space.
Earlier this year, the crew they hired started gutting the building.
A brick wall was discovered behind a thick layer of plastic.
They also saw the different colors the space was at various times.
Until earlier this summer, Wolter’s studio was in the basement.
Now, she has her working studio, retail area and space for classes all within A Touch of Glass.
Her journey
Wolter started making jewelry in 2001.
About 15 years ago, she signed up for a bead making class at Milwaukee’s Bead and Button Show.
Wolter said she left that day “with a torch, a kiln and a bundle of glass. Making glass just grabbed me.”
She continued working with it and started her business about 10 years ago.
Her new space is where Glass by Tammy Rae is now located.
There is more than 6,000 square feet in the building.
The retail space comprises about 850 square feet of it.
Wolter said what makes the retail aspect work for her is the fact she can be creating new things, working on her website and filling orders when not busy with customers.
Those who visit her business find items Wolter made.
They may also choose beads and other elements and make something, or have Wolter create a piece for them.
She is also offering classes.
“Teaching is my thing. It’s where I started,” Wolter said. “It’s fun helping people make pretty things.”
Wolter taught music in the Milwaukee Public School System for about a dozen years.
When she is working in her new space, Wolter said she literally grabs pieces and parts to make her jewelry.
She also notes that because she buys in mass quantities, she is able to pass on those price points to her customers.
The summer hours at A Touch of Glass are noon to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
People may visit www.facebook.com/112NMain for information about events.
The Wolter’s future plans include creating their apartment, as well as a guest space.