There are two new venues in town for people who love to spend date nights or girls’ nights getting crafty. DIY craft venue “Tienda Studio” started operating in October but celebrated its grand opening on May 21 with fanfare and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.
A few miles away, The Melting Spot candle bar opened its doors on May 22. It offers guided experiences in making soy candles, diffusers and bath bombs.
Tienda Studio
Tienda Studio owner Tamara Roberts, 42, of Lakeland, said that since opening, many people have checked out events on the venue’s website.
“We’ve had a huge response from the community,” said Roberts, adding that members of BRIDGE Local have also been supportive.
What it is: The do-it-yourself craft studio at 2050 Edgewood Drive South offers classes on everything from candle making and cupcake decorating to creating holiday decor, mixing cocktails, arranging charcuterie boards and baking sourdough bread. Its website keeps a calendar with the different classes available.
“We are always looking for teachers, people wanting to share,” Roberts said. “We just keep adding to our schedule.”
Gatherings: Roberts said people looking to have gatherings with friends can book a private class as long as they have 10 people signed up. Homeschoolers are welcome. She also rents out the room hourly for events.
Inspiration: Roberts, a realtor by trade, said she and her founding partner, Natasha Sawyer, opened the venue in October 2023 because they felt it was something that was missing in Lakeland. Sawyer has since retired from the business to spend more time with family.
“If you want to do something like this, you have to drive to Tampa or Orlando. We thought it was a great opportunity for us here in our market,” Roberts said.
Roberts loves celebrating with friends and is known to be “extra” when it comes to her events.
What does the name mean? Sawyer was instrumental in designing the studio. Her mother’s family hails from Colombia, so she helped come up with the name. “Tienda,” which means store in Spanish, refers to the other side of the business, where Roberts hopes local artisans will create and sell their wares.
For local artists: Roberts said they have a separate maker space facility on site, equipped with machines to make T-shirts, tumblers, mugs and candles. They charge local artisans on a monthly or single-use basis to use the space.
“We want to have a retail space where local artists can have a space to market their items to the community,” Roberts said. “There’s so much talent that we don’t get to see because people are afraid to put themselves out there.”
The Melting Spot
Another new place to make soy-based candles is the tropical boho candle bar, “The Melting Spot.” Owner Kimberly Black said she opened the candle bar out of “a passion for handcrafted candles” and “a love for creating inviting spaces.”
What it is: Located at 4289 S. Florida Ave. near East Highland Drive and Staples, it offers guided candle-making classes, bath bomb classes for kids, DIY skincare classes, karaoke and a photo booth.
Inspiration: “My husband and I escape the kids for date night every week. Quite honestly, we were running out of things to experience without a long drive. By opening in Lakeland, The Melting Spot offers a convenient alternative to driving to Orlando or Tampa for a similar experience,” said Black.
What does the name mean? Black is Jamaican and moved to Lakeland four years ago from Charlotte, North Carolina. She said the name “Melting Spot” refers to the process of candle making, but also is a “metaphor for coming together. “
“Just like wax melts and blends to create a new form, people coming to The Melting Spot can connect and collaborate during the candle-making process,” Black explained.
Gatherings: The Melting Spot also provides space for private events, parties, team-building activities and girls’ nights out.
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