Carol Papaleo, owner of Art U.P. Style/Grandma’s Corner/Scandinavian Gifts in downtown Marquette, stands by her artwork for sale at the 3-in-1 shop. The store also features handmade gifts from Sweden, Melissa & Doug toys and many other items. (Journal photo by Christie Bleck)

MARQUETTE — The gift store at 130 W. Washington St. in downtown Marquette really is three shops in one.

Carol Papaleo is owner of Art U.P. Style Gallery/Grandma’s Corner/Scandinavian Gifts, which features Papaleo’s unique art, educational toys and gifts from the Nordic region in that order.

Papaleo has had the business for 17 years, although not always in its current form, having started out as a consignment gallery.

“I grew up in a gift shop, so I started adding other things to it,” Papaleo said.

That shop eventually took on a personal touch.

“Being an artist myself, I decided to feature myself more, and it kind of evolved,” Papaleo said.

She used to manage Scandinavian Gifts, which was located along Third Street, but developed the desire to “do her own thing.”

An opportunity came up for her to take over the Art U.P. Style Gallery, which was in the Art of Framing business that currently is located along Washington Street.

“I started doing the gallery, and then moved around quite a bit until I found this spot,” Papaleo said.

She’s been at 130 W. Washington St. for about seven years.

The 3-in-1 store is full of many gifts, but maybe the most notable is Papaleo’s work, which is featured as hangable art as well as coasters, tiles, ornaments and other items.

Gov. Rick Snyder is one of her fans, having found her work on the internet. The governor gave her a call in 2015, commissioning her to paint scenes from photographs he sent her, she said.

Those paintings were transferred to ornaments, which are sold at the shop as the Governor’s Collection. They also were sent to Snyder, who Papaleo said chose the art.

Most of the colorful scenes Papaleo depicts should be familiar to Marquette-area residents, with subjects including the Marquette County Courthouse, the Marquette Lighthouse, St. Peter Cathedral, sled dogs, the breakwater at the Upper Harbor, the trestle that used to be over Front Street, natural scenes and cityscapes.

“It’s very whimsical,” Papaleo said. “It evokes memories for people. I think to do things that mean a lot to me.”

One of the first paintings she created was of a little alley along Front Street.

Another piece shows the former Palestra, a hockey rink in Marquette, while Presque Isle Park is featured in other artwork.

It’s not just art, of course, that fills the store.

Grandma’s Corner, found in another section, is filled with items a grandma probably would like to buy a grandchild. For example, there are plush animals, Melissa & Doug toys and other imaginative gifts for the young set.

The Scandinavian Gifts section is blended with Art U.P. Style, with those gifts set apart in one area.

Papaleo said she meets with importers to acquire the Scandinavian gifts, which can come from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

Found on the shelves are items like spiced mug mats, a hand-carved train set and birds from Sweden, lingonberry preserve and books such as “The Nordic Guide to Living 10 Years Longer” by Bertil Marklund, M.D., Ph.D. There even is Abba herring kept in a chilled refrigerator.

Non-Scandinavian items can be found as well, such as handmade soaps from Gwinn.

“I try to keep it unique,” Papaleo said. “We have a variety of things.”

The wide array of one-of-a-kind gifts is not lost on patrons.

“One of my favorite stores in Marquette. Incredible talent and wonderful gifts!” read one Facebook post. Another post noted the store is a “must do” in the Upper Peninsula.

To see more of Papaleo’s art, visit etsy.com/shop/papaleo.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.