After 30 Years, Poppy Still in Bloom
Columbia, MO – A place with personality.
That’s what Barbara McCormick and Mary Ebert set about creating in November 1981, exhibiting approximately 20 handcrafted art items out of a residential home. Three retail spaces and thousands of square feet and delighted customers later, the realization of their vision — which came to be known as Poppy — has a reputation as a leader on two fronts, as a pioneering small business in downtown Columbia and a destination for vibrant expressions of skill and spirit.
“What I find amazing today, looking back, is how small we started and how, in 30 years, I think we’ve really become a very important part of downtown,” McCormick said last week, reflecting on Poppy’s trajectory. “… It’s rewarding and flattering at the same time.”
