letting the cat out of the bag

The last time we chatted I promised you some news so I might as well just blurt it out.

I'm opening up a shop here in St. Louis!

I have to tell you that it feels really weird to type that (and it will feel even weirder to hit publish) because this has been what we refer to in our house as a 'lock it up conversation' for well over a year - meaning no one outside the walls of our house was to know. But now that leases are FINALLY signed and construction is underway, slowly over the last few weeks I've started to tell others - clients, close friends, etc. - and no one has laughed at me yet so we are off to a good start.

This is a very long time coming and it has been even harder than I imagined. And my imagination can lean pretty doom and gloom so that should tell you something. Potential business partners that flake, potential landlords that don't return phone calls and an architectural review board that has had...challenging opinions have made this difficult to say the least. However, I'm not a quitter. A cryer during all of this for sure, but not a quitter. And finally we lucked out and found a great landlord and a unique spot so with the biggest hurdles behind me (knock on wood) we are officially underway and I finally feel comfortable sharing.

So this is my new home away from home. Ain't she a beauty? NO. The answer to that question is no. If you think this is bad, wait till you see the inside. But she has a lot of positives - location, size, and most importantly - free range to change whatever I want. Of course when I planned and dreamed about this whole thing, I had visions of a super cute little shop downtown with a fabulous store front. But the more time this little mint julep and I spend together the more we are bonding. And let's be real, who doesn't love a great before and after?! Can I get an Amen!

And speaking of mint, that is the first thing to go. In my ice cream mint is an excellent thing, on buildings not so much.

So what will be in this little cinderblock gem? I'll have my office, which means I can have client meetings, store all my goodies and finally use my dining room table at home for dining. Wahoo! And on the retail end I'll have tons of great vintage furniture and lamps that have been refurbished, refinished and refreshed as well as accessories, custom lampshades and pillows, art etc. The goal being to provide people with pieces that have the character and uniqueness of vintage items without the work of having to remove the funk (old upholstery, broken drawers, missing legs etc.)

I'll for sure take y'all along as renovations progress and as I prepare for opening day, which will hopefully be in mid-June.

So, that's my Friday news. What do y'all have going on this weekend?