A Monument shop built around local artists and authors is preparing to open a second location less than a year after launching July 1, a move owner Elisia Smock said is driven by demand from both shoppers and vendors.

“We have a waitlist of roughly 200 artists seeking space; there’s a huge demand out there for the artists,” said Smock, who owns Hidden Gems at 1445 Cipriani Loop.

The shop, where vendors and artists sell their handcrafted goods and a “book nook” showcases Colorado authors, also sees repeat customers who return monthly, weekly and even daily, she said. The next step is expanding into a higher-traffic area to reach new shoppers who may not make the trip to Monument.

Hidden Gems’ planned second location is further south, near the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, a setting Smock said will bring in a different mix of customers, including students and out-of-state visitors.

“For me, it’s about being able to expand and have more people find us. I feel like the missing link is that walking traffic, (it) can make a huge difference for us to really soar,” she said.

The current store features 64 artists, with some booths set up as split, shared spaces to keep entry costs lower for new vendors, Smock said. The second location is expected to be about 200 square feet larger and is being designed to host up to about 80 artists.

A key part of Hidden Gems’ appeal is careful curation and constant rotation, Smock said, so customers see something new each visit. Vendor success has been a priority; Smock described it as a model where “we all succeed together,” noting that turnover so far has been limited.

She highlighted the popularity of distinctive work from local makers, including fused glass pieces by Monument area artist Martha Smith, which she said have performed especially well.

Smock plans to open the new location by Feb. 21. She also expects both locations to continue hosting community-focused activities, such as the shop’s book club and vendor pop-up events.

Both artists and customers alike can reach out to the store at HiddenGems.Colorado@gmail.com.