The Melting Pot World Emporium announces closure after close to three decades

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – As a staple to the counter culture of Reno is shutting its doors, the owners of The Melting Pot World Emporium talk about how it feels to take a step back after nearly three decades.

Founded in 1996 by Eric and Monique Baron, the store started off as a love of music festivals and turned into an iconic cornerstone business with all the festival gear, art, and home decor you could ask for. After vending at many local festivals for a few years, the couple opened their first 750-square-foot store on Wells Ave before expanding in 1999 into the Barnes Radio Building on the corner of Virginia and Taylor. Seven years later, they moved the store to its current 5,500-square-foot location, where it has been for the past eighteen years at 1049 S. Virginia St. in the heart of Midtown.

“It’s an end of an era, for sure,” said Monique Baron.

The Melting Pot has been a hub for cultural diversity and supporting the local art scene. For fourteen years, it served as the walk-up ticket outlet for Burning Man, Brüka Theatre, and countless other performances and fundraisers, cultivating a spirit of diversity and unity in the community.

“We were one of the first people on the street to try and create this type of energy,” Eric Baron said.

As they’ve raised their family here, they’ve even turned the business into a family affair where you can find their son Kaz, acting as their top salesman. But unfortunately, like many other businesses, the pandemic wasn’t kind to the Baron’s.

“We lost all of our events, everyone was sheltering in place, and even when it came back it was a slow start,” said Eric.

After being deeply involved in the community for decades, it’s painful for the Barons to take this step back.

“It’s an amazing business, we love what we do, we put our heart and our soul into it,” Monique said.

But they’ll hold onto the memories and the kindness the Reno community has given them.

“I think a lot of people will miss it a lot and appreciate what we brought,” said Monique.

From here, the Melting Pot World Emporium will serve the Burning Man community one last year. After the event, they’ll then start thinking about sales and an official closing date but will continue serving the community through their online store and seasonal pop-ups.

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