Between the three of them, these folks have you covered at The ClayGround! Pictured from left are, Itzel Cruz, Owners Bridget and Ron Ellis. Photo by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – A creative new venture quietly joined the ranks of downtown businesses last fall and is quickly becoming a popular destination for all ages of local artisans and a new place to host group events.

The ClayGround on Hazel Street made their debut at the Harvest Festival, and owners Bridget Ellis and Ron Rader had just four days to stock and open the store in time for the evening’s festival.

Bridget laughed and shared that with a whole lot of hard work; the duo somehow purchased all their inventory and set up the store in that short timeframe. They officially opened in time for the holiday festivities and have been in operation for just under four months.

To get in the spirit they even had Santa join them last minute for the Downtown Christmas Event.

Bridget Ellis (center red) shows customers paint swatch samples, illustrating what the colors will look like after the ceramic piece is fired so that they can choose their color pallets. Photo by Seti Long

The Rader-Ellis family moved to Gridley in 2020 and after taking time from her regular career as a registered nurse due to complications with COVID-19, Bridget decided she wanted to open a place that would be a creative escape for people looking for something interesting to do in town.

“I decided to do something that I could still reach out to people and enrich people’s lives…So even though I couldn’t do nursing, because that was my passion, helping people, I felt that I could reach people in other ways,” said Bridget.

Bridget and Ron began planning.

The ClayGround features children’s toys, gifts, beads and a large stock of unfinished ceramic pieces that are meant to be painted by customers. From piggie banks to serving platters, there is something intriguing for all ages.

In fact, Bridget shares that her store transcends age and social barriers, bringing the artist out of even the most skeptical of patrons.

Since opening, The ClayGround has hosted team-building activities, book-club groups and girls’ night parties, along with becoming a popular date-night location for youth.

The ClayGround features a large selection of toys and gifts, including adult purses and more! Photo by Seti Long

Newly hired employee and local teen Itzel Cruz said that she fell in love with the place after the first time she came in and agrees that fellow teen couples really enjoy the activity.

“The fact that it’s even young men who are coming in on dates and finding that they like to paint – it’s awesome!” said Bridget. “There’s kids that aren’t really into sports, but they get the feeling of increased self esteem because they are good at painting.”

Ron shared that a friendly local grandmother comes with her grandson, who she simply watches paint.

“It’s something to do with a loved one when you want to bond – it’s a neat way to connect with somebody,” Bridget added.

Currently The ClayGround is not charging painting or firing fees until March, hoping that the promotional period entices more people to try their hand at painting a piece.

The ClayGround’s unofficial motto is “The family that paints together, stays together.” This family came to The ClayGround for a Saturday afternoon of creative fun. From grandchildren, mother to grandmother, each of the guests could be seen laughing and smiling as they painted their pieces. Photo by Seti Long

Since the business is family owned and operated, either Bridget, Ron, or their sons Christian and sometimes Lucas are available to help instruct amateur artists. Bridget has compiled samples of paint swatches so that guests can see what the paint will look like once fired, which is much different than one might expect when first applying the colors to a piece.

Bridget and Itzel are also Spanish speaking, further breaking down barriers between customers.

The duo reaffirms that The ClayGround is a gathering place for all ages, races and personalities to express and enjoy creativity and are excited to see a diverse range of patrons coming from the community.

This new mother paints her baby’s foot to create a special memento of her child’s youth. Bridget Ellis (left) assists with getting the baby footprints just right! Photo provided by Bridget Ellis

Bridget reports that The ClayGround has one of the largest kilns available for firing pieces and that turn-around time is usually within 48-hours, even for classes or group parties.

One of the most fun parts of the experience is the expression on customers faces when they return to retrieve their fired pieces.

“It’s so exciting!” said Bridgett.

The ClayGround is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, but is expecting to post new hours as they further dial in the best times to suit patrons. They can be reached at 530-908-7203 or you can stop by the store at 853 Hazel Street, Gridley.

Special thanks to Jill Phillips for supporting the launch of The ClayGround and the other surrounding downtown businesses that have all given The ClayGround a warm welcome.