stores we love
Mission Men and women alike wil l f ind a funky mix of quality treasures at this new Johnson Drive hot spot Vintage Mission
Dan: We want our customers to have a friendly, comfortable and relaxed experience. We hope they take time to explore, enjoy the music, have a piece of chocolate from the counter and discover something new every time they visit. VKC: Why do you continue to do what you do? Dan: The people and the stories are the most fun! I love it when customers tell the story be- hind the item they selected. Maybe the vase they just bought looks like the one that was always on their grandmother’s kitchen table, the women’s lace handkerchiefs are part of plans for a vintage wedding, or an old album reminds them of a special time. We even had a surprise marriage proposal happen in the store because the bride- to-be loved shopping for old books and journals! VKC: What else do you want people to know? Dan: I always appreciate feedback from our customers about things we can do to make the store better. If they’re searching for specific items, I’ll make a note and keep my eyes open for it at an auction or a sale. VKC: Name three stores you love. Dan: Good Ju Ju, The Ridge Antique Mall, and Bitterman’s Eye Candy
VKC: How long have you been into vintage? Dan: My wife and I have always chosen to furnish our home with unique items that were built to last or had history attached to them. It might be a table made from an old sewing machine pedestal, the clock our son made in high school shop class, or the rolling pin that my wife’s grandmother used to make pies. VKC: How did you decide to open a business? Dan: I always dreamed of owning my own business and we had explored other ideas such as a restaurant or coffee shop. I have retail, sales and financial experience. We’ve lived in Mission for 25 years, like the small town atmosphere and knew we wanted to do something close to home. We had filled up our basement and a storage locker with goods. When we saw all the excite- ment around vintage and a storefront for rent on Johnson Drive, the time just seemed to be right. VKC: What are your favorite pieces to buy? Dan: I look for items that are well made, functional and can be brought back to life with a little bit of attention. It’s always fun to find a totally unique item that can be used in a differ- ent way, like a white enamel pharmacy cabinet
or a church pew. Our checkout counter is a bar from the 1970s, covered in blue and white vinyl. I enjoy buying old musical instruments and albums. Our customers like the selection of vintage costume jewelry and purses. VKC: How would you describe the style of the items in your store? Dan: We have a funky mix of vintage furni- ture, artwork, household items and personal accessories. Men and women will both find something interesting and we carry a mix of small items and large furniture pieces. VKC: What’s the most unique item you’ve sold? Dan: We bought a solid wood end table at an auction, but the top was in bad shape. Instead of traditional furniture refinishing, we covered the surface with craft beer bottle caps and clear resin to make it one-of-a-kind. It’s probably in someone’s “man cave” now! VKC: What is your business philosophy? Dan: Our goal is to offer a continually chang- ing flow of fun items that our customers won’t find anywhere else, at a fair price. VKC: What experience do you hope your customers have in your store?
VintageKC / Fall 2013 44
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