Novice crafters and do-it-yourself enthusiasts alike can create high-end custom home and office décor and personalized gifts at AR Workshop Hollywood, a new boutique DIY shop in Downtown Hollywood that offers a unique, fun experience for all ages and skill levels through instructor-led workshops.
Workshop participants can create custom wood plank signs, framed signs, canvas pillows, round signs, Lazy Susans, centerpiece boxes, canvas tote bags, and more utilizing raw materials, a variety of non-toxic stain and paint colors, and stencils. The 1,300-square foot space at 2029 Harrison St. includes a retail store featuring samples of completed projects as well as bath products, kitchen items and fashion jewelry.
Hollywood residents Wendy and Don Weimer decided to open AR Workshop Hollywood after Wendy attended an AR Workshop class as a team-building exercise for work last May. The couple, seasoned do-it-yourselfers with decades of corporate management experience, recognized the tremendous business opportunity through AR Workshop that has rapidly grown in the two years since the company was founded.
Designers Maureen Anders and Adria Ruff, who created Anders Ruff Custom Designs in 2010 as a small, mixed-media boutique and blog, launched AR Workshop in Pineville, NC, in 2016.
More than 95 franchise locations have since opened nationally. The closest AR Workshop to the Hollywood location is in Port St. Lucie.
“We love the downtown community,” Wendy Weimer said. “It’s a unique place with a quaint, progressive yet retro feel.”
She said Hollywood’s central location and the “growing artisan vibe” of its historic downtown arts, music and entertainment district make it the ideal fit for their new business.
“We’re very excited to be offering something like this to our community and meeting new people, and helping them to de-stress too,” she said.
Weimer, who will be leading the hands-on classes with her husband Don and AR Workshop Hollywood staff, said they provide a “fun and relaxing” experience for anyone – women, men, children, avid crafters and novices alike – “looking for something creative, interactive and new to do.”
Project designs can be personalized with names, quotes and graphics, as well as the color scheme, to create beautiful one-of-a-kind artworks. The average time to complete a project is two and a half hours. Participants can bring their own snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages.
Adult projects start at $29.95, including all materials and instruction. Children’s projects start at $19.95. Groups of five or more people can reserve a private table, and groups of 12 can book a private event for $100 plus project costs.
AR Workshop had its soft opening Aug. 25, with two classes to follow on Sept. 2 for social media friends who like the Facebook page and register there for the event.
A grand opening launch party from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 will feature live music, a candy bar and hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, giveaways, raffles and discounts on future bookings. Space is limited. Interested guests can visit the event on Facebook to register, and like the “AR Workshop Hollywood FL” page on Facebook or follow the Instagram page to receive notifications of upcoming specials.
In addition to open workshops and private events, summer camps for children will be offered next year. For more information on AR Workshop Hollywood, call 954-282-5060 or visit http://www.arworkshop.com/hollywoodfl
