By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Despite the building going on the market last winter, a familiar niche shop in Marion has reopened its doors.

Prairie Oak Alpaca Farm store reopened for business Thursday.

Owner Jeff Methvin said he and his wife, Laurie, decided to put the space to use instead of allowing it to sit empty.

The beloved ice cream machine is back in business, alpaca products are waiting for buyers, and gift items are on the shelves. More items will be added.

“We don’t have all of our stuff in yet,” Methvin said.

Hours will be noon to 5 p.m. until the school year ends, then expand to 6 p.m. during the summer.

The business will continue as a shop unless and until the building sells, Methvin said.

The Methvins had hoped to find more time to focus on doing some of those things the demands of full-time jobs, operating an alpaca farm, and operating a retail store prevented, such as travel more often.

The couple never planned to cease selling alpaca products, though. They’d planned instead to sell the products from the farm or at shows. The Methvins’ alpaca farm is a couple miles north of Peabody.

Located in a building just across the street from the Marion Historical Museum, the property has had other retail tenants and was once a doctor’s office.