Around The Bend: InRugCo. Studio & Gift Shop
Stepping inside InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop feels a bit like walking into Mishawaka’s creative heartbeat.
This family-run shop blends artistry, craftsmanship and local vibes into every nook and cranny. Join us as we take you behind the scenes of a spot where creativity is stitched into every thread.
Around The Bend takes a deeper look into the stories of beloved favorites and hidden gems throughout St Joseph County that make this place unforgettable. These places we cherish didn’t just appear—they were built with passion, purpose, and stories worth telling.
A Family-Owned, Homemade Haven
An Italian grocery store-turned mercantile shop, InRugCo. Studio & Gift Shop is a must stop in Mishawaka.
Pam and Rex Richardes started the business in 1985 out of a two-stall garage. Pam wanted to have the opportunity to work and stay home with her kids.
Those kids, “rugrats” as they called themselves, Lindsay Vest and Clark Richardes are now the second-generation owners of this family-run business.
Indiana Rug Co. started with customary rugs, which they still create today. However, it expanded well beyond their wildest dreams.
“Around the holidays, my mom would do craft markets, and she would sew teddy bears, and she would make pillows and all kinds of things,” shared Vest. “Then as it grew every year, it's like, well, we could do more.”
The company blossomed from there, as all the rugrats (including their older sister, Sommer) rallied together to expand upon their mother’s talents.
They started to sell her handmade items which would quickly sell out, as they aren’t easily mass produced.
“This sort of evolved into, what are the things we like? What do we want to see in a store that isn't around here? And so my brother moved back home from Colorado, I moved back home, and we just kind of all put our heads together and came up with the store that you see now,” added Vest.
Family run. Family owned. Locally made and sourced items. Purely South Bend/Mishawaka.
“We design all (the shirts). And it's a culmination of a lot of different ideas, experiences, things that happen to us. You know the joke that we are the ‘townies.’ We brought that into light last year as a t-shirt,” said Vest.
There are few places in The Bend you can buy a shirt dawning the city’s name. With so many visitors looking for souvenirs, this is the perfect place.
“I think the fun thing about the t-shirts is…we kind of make fun of the things that other people really rage and don't like this area for. And we're like, you know, it is what it is. Embrace it, because there's a lot of other really great things about living here…it's kind of charming that way,” quipped Vest.
At Visit South Bend Mishawaka, we wholeheartedly agree. There is a lot to love about being here. And InRugCo. embodies that spirit.
The local souvenirs don’t stop at the shirts. There are plenty of other chachkies and items to take a piece of The Bend with you. Or, remind you of why growing up here was so fun.
There are dozens of fun locally made and designed stickers for purchase on the side wall of the shop. If you’re from here, you’ll recognize some childhood favorites.
“We just released a Potawatomi Pool and a Kid’s Kingdom (sticker), because we grew up going there,” shared Vest.
Some stickers and postcards include a secret personal touch of the family’s. In some of the outdoor recreation graphics, you can see their father.
“We really want to be authentic to the area.”
Authenticity is the heartbeat of this store. They sell the items on their shelves, because they know them well. The whole family does.
“Most stuff…somebody in the family has tried it, or they heard about it, and they wanted to try it. And there's lots of different personalities in the family. They all kind of balance each other out. Makes for a perfect eclectic shop with everything you could ever want,” shared Richardes.
InRugCo. is also the destination for local coffee mugs, and most special, the only location you can purchase the Indiana Dunes mug.
Beyond the local items that greet you at the front of the store, as you wind your way back through the shop, you find two rooms including footwear and outdoor wear.
“My parents have always been really avid outdoor people, and so from a young age, I was always raised with the notion of, you’ve got to dress right for the weather,” said Richardes. “And you know how harsh the winters are here. So, when it came time to expand, we were like, we have to bring in the best socks and footwear we can find.”
Richardes worked in the outdoor industry in Colorado. When he moved back, because of his expertise, he knew exactly what the store needed. He brought in top quality, national brand clothing good for any weather.
There is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices! InRugCo. is prepared to help with that.
You can also find clothing items made in Ireland and hats made in Poland. Of course, we can’t forget American made clothing from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Once you’ve made your way to the back, which included a stroll through jewelry, purses and shiny items, you arrive at the Paradise Patio out the back door. This patio changes with the seasons, and currently it’s in holiday mode. Here you can find items for your yard, garden, patio, etc.
You must have worked up an appetite from all of that shopping, so it’s time to head back to the front to stock up on homemade baked goods!
“Our mom just kind of got a wild hair and said, you know, I want to open up a bakery. And we were like, okay…she is just nonstop energy.”
You got that right, mom does the baking too.
Everything in Lola's Pastry Bread & Jam Bakery is baked from scratch. Fresh ingredients, artisan heritage flour and no preservatives. Except for the bagels—those are flown in from New York.
You can find all sorts of decadent desserts like chocolate croissants, Mexican conchas, danishes, cheesecake, cupcakes, scones, quiche, tamales, breads, pies, cookies, brownies, muffins…and so much more.
Is your mouth watering yet? Well, there’s even more next door. Talking Horse, a newly opened walk-up ice cream stand. Here you can find ice cream, fruit smoothies, floats, shakes, sundaes, and specialty items like campfire rolls.
During the cooler months, you can get homemade soup of the day. And if you didn’t already guess, mom makes the soup too.
The ice cream is also local, coming from Crystal Springs Creamery in Osceola.
This house next door, the home to Talking Horse, is the former home of Allan “Rocky” Lane, the voice of the talking horse on the television series, Mister Ed. “He grew up in that house. So, to celebrate that, when we went to name our takeout ice cream stand, we thought why not Talking Horse?” shared Richardes.
When you visit the ice cream stand, you’ll find third generation “rugrats” working as the ice cream professionals. Another branch of the family tree.
Their specialty is the aforementioned campfire roll. A chimney cake Czech-style pastry dessert. If you’ve never tried one, it’s a must. It includes ice cream, fruit of your choice, syrup of your choice, all inside of a delicious puff pastry.
At the end of your visit, it’ll be hard to choose your favorite item, or even your favorite part of the whole experience.
But this family knows one thing, you will feel at home while you’re there.
Visit InRugCo. Studio & Gift Shop: 220 E Mishawaka Ave., Mishawaka, IN 46545
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