Art Etc opens gallery in Sparta

By Laurie Gordon
SPARTA — Art Etc is a custom frame shop, art school, art and design studio, art gallery and supply store with locations in Newton and now a gallery in Sparta.
Owner Marshall Okin said, “We are currently building our inventory at our new location in Sparta, but we would be more than happy to order anything you need and offer free shipping for in-store pick ups. The Newton location offers a host of art classes while the Sparta location is more a show room catering to those who want to add some quality pieces to their home.”
Okin has been working in the design industry for 20 years beginning with working for his father's business. Right out of high school, he was hired by a design firm.
“I went on to run the largest frame shop in New Jersey that was part of the biggest art supply store in New Jersey out of West Orange,” he said.
Okin went on to run several different galleries in Essex County and New York City. He was doing great, making money for other people.
“It was time for me to stop making everyone else millions and make some for myself,” he said
As a kid, Okin had spent time in Sussex County and loved the area. He'd venture to the county on family vacations to go to Action Park and play gof with his dad. When his wife, Rose Mary, got a teaching job in Goshen, NY, the family decided to make Sussex County their permanent home, and it is here that they are raising their two daughters, four-year-old Lily and two-year-old Annabell.
Okin said, “Art Etc is a new business that was established in 2014.”
Their first location was in the Okin's hometown of Hamburg. He was considering a move and then an unexpected flood hit the store in February of 2015 and forced him to make the decision to move to Newton.
“It was very positive on all accounts and being in the County Seat was a great move. It was a move we planned to do, just the flood made it happen faster,” he said. “We've been in Newton for the past year and the art school, adult programs, gallery and custom framing studio and supply store plus 4000 square foot wood fabrication and fabrication workshop have been very successful.”
Success was such that Okin started considering opening a second location.
“Sparta is different from Newton and is the perfect location for a retail store where people can take advantage of our high quality products,” Okin said. “All the décor we offer to our corporate customers (largely high end New York City corporations) is available to local people for residential needs through the new Sparta showroom. We're also bringing in community artists and artisans including the best jewelers, painters, glass workers and photographers to show their work.”
Though Okin's stores are in Sussex County, the vast majority of his business is in the city doing custom art work and custom décor for real estate developers.
The Sparta showroom is already thriving and Okin said he largely has his manager, Lucy Sky, to thank for this. The store and classes continue to be a huge success at their Newton location.
Of the Sparta location Okin said, “We haven't had our grand opening yet, but we are open now seven days a week and feature high quality products for less money than big box stores-- they are so overpriced. Look for our grand opening soon.”
Art Etc is located at 25 Center Street in Sparta Township and their Newton location is at 145 Spring Street in Newton. Visit www.artetcnj.com for further information and class information or e-mail Mail@ArtEtcNJ.com. You can also find Art Etc on Facebook.