By Mark Waite

The concept of housing several businesses in one storefront mini-mall is catching on.

Mike Johnson and DiAnna Roach branched out from the Pahrump Marketplace to open Pahrump’s Select Mini-Mall in a 2,000-square-foot store that formerly housed Starlite Video at 1190 E. Highway 372.

The Pahrump Marketplace is around the corner in a former furniture store at Pahrump Valley Boulevard near Highway 372 after being evicted from the Skate Zone on Calvada Boulevard.

In a short period of time, every bit of booth space at the Pahrump Select Mini-Mall has been rented with 10 vendors, except for a space in front of the window.

Merchants pay an average of $200 per month to lease booth space, an extra $75 if they want glass shelving.

“It’s a mini-mall. We knew we had to do something and we said well we have to be where we can see some traffic so we rented a building and offered the opportunity to other small businesses who can’t afford a storefront,” Roach said.

She first noticed the idea 20 years ago at an antique mall in Kingsburg, Calif. It differs from places like the Fantasy Swap Meet in Las Vegas in that the products are new, it’s not a flea market.

Johnson and Roach market their Shaklee products in the rear of the store. They also sell Czech crystal, Italian porcelain and Russian colored glass figurines.

Beverly Duckett moved her Grandma B’s Soaps and More to the Pahrump Select Mini-Mall where she rents a 7 1/2 by 10-foot space.

Some vendors sell products normally sold at home parties, like Shaklee, there’s also an Avon representative with booth space. Two vendors on the list of businesses, Miche Bags and Scentsy Candles, mention customers can book a party.

“I started in Oklahoma. My husband moved me back there so he could fish and I started the soap in Oklahoma. I covered six states doing a craft show every weekend,” she said.

Vendors share a cash register in the middle of the store and a table to sit with customers instead of using up booth space.

There’s another advantage: If someone isn’t able to tend their booth, others fill in for them.

“Not everybody can be in here to take care of their booth. So there’s a few of us that are in here all the time. We know about everybody’s products so we can sell it for them so they don’t have to be here,” Duckett said.

That was the case with L & B Sweet and Spicy where the co-owner had car trouble in Las Vegas Tuesday morning and couldn’t make it out to sell the jams, jellies and beef jerky.

Vendors set up once, instead of having to tear down and set up. Duckett said she still sells at a craft show twice each year in Shoshone and the annual Pahrump Festival.

There will be a grand opening barbecue this Saturday to benefit Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Service volunteers. Johnson and Roach will cook up 60 pounds of beef brisket, 55 pounds of pulled pork and 150 hot dogs free for children 12 years and under. A $5 donation is requested for the barbecue. The benefit starts at 11 a.m. and runs until the food is gone. Door prize drawings are scheduled at 4 p.m.

The Pahrump Select Mini-Mall is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. But some people like to stroll in late. The flexibility is appealing to local vendors. Shirley Righter walked in about 11 a.m. Tuesday to talk about setting up Hidden Stitch Fabrics at a booth near the back.

“About time you got here,” Johnson joked.