In the northern Indiana town of Shipshewana, Riegsecker Marketplace offers myriad activities and a charming escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Born out of the Amish traditions of the Riegsecker family, the cluster of shops, restaurant and theater transport guests to a simpler time.
Traditional Beginnings
“I grew up in an Amish family and my dad was a harness maker,” Mel Riegsecker says. “He taught me everything he knew, but I didn’t want to go into the harness business. However, one day, I decided to make a miniature model of a horse-drawn carriage. It took me two years to finish, and once I did, my dad put it in the showcase of the harness shop.
“Only two weeks later, someone came in and asked how much for the miniature model. My dad gave a price he thought the customer wouldn’t pay because he knew how long I’d worked, but the customer did. It was a very fair price.”
Soon, a hobby developed into something more for Mel, and he quit his job in 1980 to begin making miniatures full time. He started gaining attention from larger stores, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. Mel and his wife spent days working on the miniatures to have them ready in time for the holidays. Eventually, Mel decided to convert an old factory building in Shipshewana to sell his craft directly.
“I bought the building and figured if I could make it attractive enough, people might want to stop, and if I could make it interesting enough on the inside, they’d want to stay,” Mel says. “And if they stayed, maybe I could sell them something.”
He called it the Shipshewana Craft Barn, and a business was born.
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Growing the Business
As Mel experienced success, he expanded Riegsecker Marketplace – now called Blue Gate Hospitality – to serve other needs. It’s now a group of four retail stores, the Blue Gate Restaurant, a bakery, furniture stores, an inn and a theater. The Shipshewana Furniture Co. shows off the Amish and Mennonite traditions of the area, offering local, exceptional quality furniture built by hand.
Mel’s children have also joined the family business. His son, Ryan, is the company president, while his daughter Kathy’s husband, Phil, is CFO.
“We grew up here, and along the way, we did a lot of different things and tried different little businesses,” Ryan says. “Everyone who came was always looking for something else to do, so we were part of that solution. Fast-forward a decade and here we are with six different divisions that all feed off each other.”
Ryan says that the restaurant is the mainstay of Riegsecker Marketplace, but all aspects are unique in their own way. The theater is growing and features impressive, nationally known acts.
“Our theater is a big draw for people. Then while they’re here, they’ll eat and spend the night at the inn,” Ryan says. “The whole town of Shipshewana is a unique place to visit and a tight-knit community, so we help each other. When one business succeeds, we all benefit.”
Christmas at the Marketplace
Ryan and Mel both add that the holidays are a great time to visit Riegsecker Marketplace, with fun activities for the whole family.
“We spend months decorating for Christmas, and there’s a tremendous amount of lights throughout the whole complex,” Ryan says. “We hold a lighting ceremony and light parade and also host a Christmas light drive-thru, where people can drive about a mile and a half to see the lights. That runs every day from November through the first part of January.”
In addition, the marketplace is a great resource for unique gifts, featuring high-quality furniture, handmade gifts and delicious food. Guests also can enjoy holiday shows and concerts at the Blue Gate Theatre, as well as horse-drawn carriage rides around the complex.
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More Room to Grow
As far as the future is concerned, Mel and Ryan say they’re always open to new opportunities.
“We’ve had an amazing amount of growth in the past and even though there’s nothing on the immediate horizon, we’re always looking at the existing business and seeing if we can improve the experience for our guests,” Ryan says. “Our town and number of visitors keep growing, so if it’s something that works with what our hospitality business can do well, we’re open to it.”
If You Go
All the businesses at Riegsecker Marketplace operate on different hours. For a complete listing of hours, as well as directions, visit thebluegate.com/shipshewana/riegsecker/hours.
The drive-thru Christmas light experience runs from 6-9 p.m. on select nights starting Nov. 5. Then Nov. 26 through Jan. 1, it runs Tuesdays through Sundays. It costs $20 per vehicle. For more dates and details, visit shipshewanalightsofjoy.com.
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