By: Hanna Nakano
Markets have long been the center of community, connecting the maker to the buyer—the buyers to one another. The first part is easy enough; it’s the second that really holds its weight.
Shelley Dunning has this thing about her that makes it feel like she’s your closest friend. It’s an openness, an authenticity. And it’s something she translates so naturally to Mabel’s Market.
Mabel’s Market specializes in pantry items and gifts, local and West Coast products from small producers, including their own original products, and charcuterie supplies.
Nestled between the Pence Gallery and Cloud Forest Cafe, Mabel’s Market stands tall: the sage green house, with fresh baked baguettes on the porch. Welcoming, from the first glance.
Creating a truly welcoming atmosphere—an inclusive space—is essential to who Shelley is.
“We are so very lucky to call this building ‘home’ for Mabel’s,” Shelley said. “It’s a beautiful space. It has a warmth and history to it that feels ‘right’ for Mabel. Big windows. High ceilings. Creaky floors. It has a sense of history and a feel of home.”
Inside Mabel’s Market is a world of highly curated, exceedingly gourmet foods and gifts. The kind of delicacies you’d find at a styled picnic on the cover of Food & Wine magazine. Shelves: stuffed like sardines in the best way possible. Tinned fish (of course she carries Fishwife), small batch cocktail ingredients, honey, delicate French candies, salami, cheese, jams, crackers, and all the accoutrement you could dream of.
The selection at Mabel’s Market, unmatched in Yolo County, merely sets the scene for Shelley’s real goal: bringing people together.
“We know that Mabel’s already provides a place for people to stop and visit and meet new friends—we are also excited about the events our new space will allow us to share: tinned fish tastings, New Year celebrations, seasonal dinners, and neighborhood gatherings,” Shelley said. “So many things to celebrate and so many opportunities to bring people together.”
At Mabel’s Market, conversation is happily encouraged. A sunroom filled with cafe chairs sets the stage, doubling as a lending library for cookbooks and essays from The French Laundry, Anthony Bourdain, and Escofier.
Most days, you’ll find Shelley there with her laptop—typing away as she awaits approvals for the next phase of Mabel’s Market.
That’s because beyond the Instagrammable shelves, just through the French doors—a real California gold mine. Two living rooms worth of space for seating and snacking, for book clubs and card games. Room for community to really be built.
“We are adding a bistro to Mabel’s Market,” Shelley said. “We’ll prepare small shareable plates using all the unique products from our market shelves and provide them to guests in our dining room with full service, including beer, wine, and fun mocktails. We hope every person who comes to Mabel’s feels like it’s their special place to enjoy a meal and share with friends.”
That’s what Mabel’s Market is doing. Encouraging meaningful relationships. Creating happy memories. Inspiring joy.
Mabel’s Market began during Covid in 2020 as Mabel’s Farm Box, preparing cheese and charcuterie boxes for sale at outdoor venues. In 2022, they added strawberry shortcake to the menu and began selling at the Davis Farmers Market. Mabel’s Farm Box opened as a storefront in the Breezeway at Thyme Square in Downtown Davis in 2023. July 2024 marked the opening of Mabel’s Market on D Street.
Mabel’s Market is located at 222 D Street, Suite 1, Davis, Ca 95616. Find Mabel’s Market on Instagram: @mabelsmarketdavis.
