After discovering a shared passion for vintage items and clothing, two local friends decided to take the leap and open up a business in Breckenridge.
Vintage Sweet & Chic opened last month at 215 South Main Street. The yellow walls inside are lined with things like lace dresses, vintage furs and cowboy boots, teacups, pillows and postcards. While only about 10 percent of the items for sale are actually vintage, the rest have a “vintage aesthetic,” according to co-owner Katie Meyer.
“Any girl I run into, especially in this town, really loves unique pieces, especially funky and retro,” Meyer said. “So we thought it would be great to bring it here to Breckenridge.”
Meyer and co-owner Ann Csincsak worked together at Craniologie in Breckenridge before jumping into business together. The two “both really fell in love with vintage,” according to Meyer, and decided to open an Etsy store –\— an online marketplace for handmade or vintage goods — on the side, selling things they sourced in Denver.
“We were at the post office about two times a day, sending things to people all over,” Meyer said. The friends did so well online, and had so much fun shopping for the items they sold, they decided to go for the real thing.
“We just went for it … it all fell into place,” Meyer said. “Going after a dream is really exciting and scary at the same time.”
They spent about a month revamping the space, which used to house both a ski boot and bike shop, working to make it as warm and welcoming as possible. What used to be a rubber floor is now wooden, and the walls were painted yellow and lined with crown molding. A dressing room and chandeliers were added, along with shelving for jars of candy behind the register.
The friends spend time trolling antique shops and Etsy for unique items. They want everything to be different; something that reminds someone of an item their grandma had. But they also wanted it to be as affordable as possible: The clothing ranges from about $25 for a shirt to $300 for a vintage fur jacket.
“You don’t have to spend your whole paycheck,” Meyer said. “We wanted something that was just as much for the locals as the visitors.”
So far, the response has been wonderful. The two already have repeat customers, and “everyone who comes in says they love it,” Meyer said. “That’s the most rewarding thing, hearing people compliment your store.”
And at some point, the two hope to expand – they’re considering another location in Denver, Boulder or Aspen.
“We definitely want to open another store,” Meyer said. “We’re big thinkers and big dreamers.”
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