Shopping with Cricket

A Cricket in the House brings an eclectic mix of furnishings, locally made art and home accessories to downtown Springfield.

By Savannah Waszczuk

Photos by Kevin O’Riley

THE SHOP:
A Cricket in the House, 412 E. Walnut St., Springfield, 417-865-2758, open Tues.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

ATMOSPHERE:
An array of furniture, home décor items and accessories are on display at A Cricket in the House, a new store located in downtown Springfield. But these furnishings, décor items and accessories aren’t all one particular style.

“Really, it’s an eclectic mix of styles,” says Cricket Fries, who owns the store with her husband, Mark. The store sells furniture pieces that are from the ’20s, the ’70s and all decades in between, including a nice collection of mid-century modern furniture. These pieces are arranged in booth-like settings with décor from other eras, and they all blend together to create one-of-a-kind styles. “I like to show how to make pieces mix,” Fries says. And she likes to have music, which changes depending on her mood, playing in the store. The music and furnishings work together to create a shopping experience that’s anything but ordinary.

KEY PEOPLE:
When Fries opened A Cricket in the House last May, it was her first retail job. “I have a degree in PR,” Fries says. She had several jobs in newspaper, radio and television media, and she spent a few years working on public relations for Springfield’s First Friday Art Walk when it started. But for the last year or so, she was home without a job. “My husband said, ‘Don’t just take a job. Find something you’re passionate about,’” Fries says. “I love finding deals on furniture, and I love decorating.” After debating getting a flea market space, Fries decided on opening this store instead.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
It’s all about the thrill of the hunt at A Cricket in the House. With an inventory that changes almost daily, you never know what you’ll find. But chances are, you won’t find it anywhere else. “I don’t go and buy things at market,” Fries says. “I don’t want to buy and sell what everyone else has.”

On one visit, you may find an old fondue pot and a vase, and on the next you could find a contemporary leather chair. Fries picks up many furnishings and accessories at auctions and estate sales, and she works with some people on consignment. She also works with local artisans and sells their stained glass, cast concrete pieces, furniture, art work, note cards and even hand-dyed silk batik scarves. “I try to give up-and-coming artists a place to show their work,” she says. Although the furnishings always change, she searches for solid pieces of high quality. “I like things that are made with integrity,” she says.

417 VERDICT:
This store is a fun place to explore. There are a ton of fun, hard-to-find home accessories here, and there are some really cool furniture pieces. Oh, and it’s all very reasonably priced. We also love that you can find local artists’ work here, too. We’ll definitely be back.