Internationally exhibited photographer Deborah Anderson in her gallery in The Fort. Photo by Marshall Smith

The ledger of Idyllwild businesses changes often. Off-Hill visitors come to the Hill, fall in love with the village shopping district and decide to open businesses. If these businesses fill a then-unavailable niche, or if the products or services offered are superior to existing businesses, the newcomers generally find success.

Sometimes businesses decide to downsize for economic reasons and sometimes they close for the same reasons. This week’s profile includes a bit of each.

Downsizing, for practical and business efficiency reasons, is the long-popular Spruce Moose in The Fort. The owners’ extensive remodeling of their new space, done to continue the decorative and marketing theme that has made the Spruce Moose one of the more popular businesses in town, should be completed by next weekend. The Spruce Moose remains on The Fort’s second floor in a prime location. Closing on The Fort’s second floor is The Elephant Walk.

Internationally exhibited photographer and longtime Paris, France, resident Deborah Anderson has opened a gallery on the ground floor of The Fort. Prior to her acclaimed photography career, Anderson had a successful fashion-design business in Paris. In opening her Idyllwild gallery, Anderson said she wanted to offer visitors and residents quality and affordable art and to contribute to Idyllwild’s reputation as an arts district and shopping venue.

Anderson will continue off-Hill enterprises, including serving as art director for the renowned Gansevoort Hotel Group and its flagship Park Avenue location in Manhattan. Anderson also is working on a feature documentary film about abuse of Native American women.

Also new in The Fort is Christy Hopkins’ Sacred Soul Creations and Pets and People Boutique in the second floor space previously occupied by Lady of the Lake.

Evan Mills, owner of the building in which the Courtyard Gallery is housed, has yet to announce the future of the gallery after an attempt by sculptor Kara Unland to preserve the long-running artists’ co-op collapsed. The Town Crier will continue to report on this situation, including documenting the artist co-op’s history, Unland’s attempt to continue it as manager and Mills’ decision as to future use of the building.

Chiropractor Lauren Chandler has moved her practice across North Circle to Oakwood Village along with her vitamins, herbs and homeopathic remedies, as well as classes in aroma therapy, herbology, and use of vitamins and supplements. That part of her business is called The Art of Wellness. Chandler said she was very happy with her new and remodeled space. “Now I have a waiting room,” she said, smiling.

Also in Oakwood, Chris and Katie Bayer have opened Black Mountain Coffee Roasting and Tasting Gallery. Chris explained, much like wine shops with tasting facilities, he and Katie will offer customers tastes of beans they have roasted and are selling. They moved into the space in mid-November. “We do wholesale coffee roasting for both on-Hill and off-Hill businesses, as well as selling our roasted beans in our shop,” said Chris. “Also, our place is made to be kid-friendly, so parents can come in to taste coffee and have a comfortable space in which their children are welcome.” The Bayers have two young foster children of their own.

Attorney Jill L. Ryther as opened a legal practice in Oakwood. Ryther could not be reached regarding the nature of her practice, but her practice in Los Angeles, Ryther Law Group, fights for animals and their advocates.

On a regular basis, the Town Crier will continue to update the village business profile.