The Brush Factory on Kings

by Sara Uzer

The Brush Factory on Kings is a collection of locally owned shops, food vendors and makers under one roof in Lewes, offering everything from clothing and furniture to gifts, jewelry, produce and baked goods. As it approaches its 10th anniversary, owners Mark and Christine Chura look back on years of building not just a business, but a destination rooted in the local community.

“We saw a gap in small businesses in the area, and we wanted to be able to create something that supported locally owned businesses,” Christine said.

For Mark, the building itself helped shape what The Brush Factory would become.

“This building was a little larger than what we had envisioned when we started, but we saw that this could become a destination,” he said. “It had a lot of unique features and character to it.”

Bringing local businesses together has remained at the center of their mission.

“That’s been one of the keys for us, to bring in local merchants that had something different to offer and provided a good mix of retail options,” Mark said.

Christine said the support of local residents helped carry the business through some of its most challenging moments, particularly during COVID.

“Our local community has supported us throughout, especially during Covid,” she said. “We would have not survived without our locals. And we tried to give back during Covid as well, doing grocery deliveries and whatever we needed to do to help everybody out.”

Those relationships are what make The Brush Factory different, Christine said.

Mark Chura, left, and Christine Chura, owners of The Brush Factory on Kings.

“We know about our local community’s kids. We know about their work. We know about their vacations, or if they have a new house or grandchild,” she said. “That’s why we are an integral part of this community, and that was our goal. We’re not just a big box store or a gift shop. We offer so much more than that.”

Mark said Lewes’ evolution into a year-round community also created opportunities for local merchants who might not have been able to support individual storefronts.

“It’s a great place to set up a business,” he said. “We felt there were a lot of opportunities for local merchants that individually couldn’t survive in a brick and mortar setting, but collectively could do well and thrive.”

Today, visitors come to The Brush Factory for the experience as much as the products.




“We like to think it’s a fun place that provides both old and new, and something for everyone in the family,” Mark said. “There’s clothing, furniture, gifts, and food. There are a lot of reasons to come here.”

Christine said customers are welcome to simply walk around and enjoy the atmosphere, whether they buy something or not. And when they do shop, their purchases often reflect the store’s eclectic mix.

“It always cracks us up because we have people come up to the counter with a tomato, a piece of jewelry, a shirt, and a cookie. We always tell them, ‘Oh, we see you made the loop!'”

That variety is intentional.

“We have such a wide variety of merchandise that are themed in different ways,” Mark said. “People can find almost anything they’re looking for or be surprised by what’s here.”

“We always say whether you’re 9 or 90, you can come in and find something,” Christine added.

Over the years, The Brush Factory has also helped local entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses.

“We’ve been able to grow our merchants,” Mark said. “And that’s allowed them to make their business a full-time business, in some cases. So it’s an important provider of jobs for the community as well.”

Christine said she has watched merchants pay off college loans, buy cars and put down payments on homes.

“So this is by no means a hobby for anyone here,” she said. “And mostly everyone has been with us for the whole ten years.”

For customers who choose to shop locally, Mark said the impact goes far beyond a single purchase.

“They’re supporting their neighbors and their neighbors’ family,” he said. “They’re supporting the health of the community and really bolstering our local economy.”

While online shopping has transformed retail, Mark said The Brush Factory has never tried to compete solely on price.

“We know we’re not going to compete with Amazon. What we try to do is offer a different experience so that it’s not just about the cost of the item you’re getting. It’s the adventure you had finding it.”

For Mark and Christine, the most meaningful moments come from seeing The Brush Factory become part of people’s lives.

“We see people gathering here who haven’t seen each other for a while,” Mark said. “It’s become a destination for the community to just relax, and that’s what we want this to be.”

After nearly 10 years, their goal remains simple. Christine wants customers to leave “satisfied,” while Mark hopes “that they want to come back again.”

And while The Brush Factory continues to evolve, Mark said the importance of local businesses remains unchanged.

“It’s easy to be enthralled by the latest big box store coming in, but small business is really the heart of the community. The folks that come here realize that and support us, and we’re just very grateful for that.”