It is late January, and snow is pounding the window panes of Waynesburg’s art gallery, Artbeat. The owners, Jim and Linda Winegar drove in all the way from West Greene, like they have most days in the past five years. But today is not like most days.

Because Artbeat closed Jan. 13, more than two weeks ago.

Today, the shop is cluttered with the gallery’s remains—the walls sport empty hooks and wires where framed work once hung. Handmade pottery is strewn about the counters, and stacks of documents are piled up on a desk in the back.

“The things that I think I will miss are the community events and the things that we’ve done that are bringing people into the space,” said Jim Winegar.

In addition to housing the gallery, which held the work of around 88 contributing local artists, Artbeat also hosted various activities and events for the community, including book signings and readings, poetry readings, special galleries and other collaborations with neighboring businesses in Waynesburg.

Over the years, they garnered loyal customers from all over the country—people would stop in on their way to somewhere, just for Artbeat’s unique array of small-town craftsmanship.

“Everything in the gallery is handmade by an artist or a craftsperson, so all the pieces are pretty unique,” said Linda Winegar. “As far as that goes, it’s not like something you’re going to find in a chain store.”

But in the end, there simply wasn’t enough foot traffic, said Jim Winegar—not enough people were actually coming into the shop. He attributes it to the small population, with an even smaller percentage of art patrons.

The Winegars announced Artbeat’s closure just before the new year, and held a sale for the first two weeks of January for 25 percent off everything in the store. Since then, the shop has remained open for artists to come reclaim their work that didn’t sell.

One such artist was Leslie Fehling, from Prosperity, Pennsylvania. Fehling said she couldn’t have launched her career in watercolors without the support from the Winegars.

“I was just starting to paint,” said Fehling. “And just how they encouraged me. They probably were instrumental to me going to a full-time art career.”

When Fehling returned to the shop to pick up her remaining pieces, she was moved by the huge impact that the small business had created.

“It was kind of sad, but what struck me—we were going over the inventory sheets, and out of the 900 items, I came home with maybe 60,” she said. “And to think that I had sold that much artwork through Artbeat, this little gallery in Waynesburg.”

Artbeat had an important presence outside of the art community, too. The Winegars helped establish the Waynesburg Merchant’s Guild, for local businesses to work together and draw in customers. Together, the group hosted events on High St. like the Cookie Caper and a chili cook-off, in addition to participating in the Holiday Open House each Christmas season.

They have seen Waynesburg’s business economy shift a great deal in recent years.

“There’s other businesses that have already gone,” said Linda Winegar.

“And there are a number of businesses that we know are just hanging on,” Jim Winegar added.

But the Winegars don’t regret their efforts to keep the shop going. They’re happy they tried.

Now, they’re viewing the closure as an opportunity to refocus. They’ll be setting up a display place in their own home studio and offering classes and workshops at that location. They look forward to travelling out west in the spring, to get more inspiration for their own art. And they still plan to support local artists through their connections and website.

At this point, it’s bittersweet.

“Creative people are the most tenacious people you’ll find,” said Jim Winegar, “And they will find a way to survive.”