Making an impression
Store's vintage clothes score hit with young people
A consignment boutique recently expanded in downtown Brainerd to include more room for items that often attract young people -- vintage clothes.
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Classic Impressions, on South Seventh Street in downtown Brainerd, sells antiques, new and vintage clothing, gifts, handmade novelties, primitive furniture and gourmet items. The vintage hats, gloves, purses, jewelry and clothing have been popular items with teen-agers and college students.
An interest in attending auctions and in antiques inspired owner Krista Hubbard to try her hand as a consignment shop owner. Hubbard opened the business last December and added on about a month ago. The store also sells items worldwide through the Internet giant eBay with recent shipments to France and Canada.
"We definitely needed to," Hubbard said of the expansion. "We were bursting at the seams."
Classic Impressions, in downtown Brainerd, recently expanded into adjoining store space to add more room for new and vintage clothing.
Clothing items are now mainly in the store's expanded area with antiques offered on the other side. Hubbard said talented consignors who are artists and artisans provide items for the store. Seth Ebberly, a master craftsman, creates cranes, duck and fish decoys, fishing lures and even a life-size carousel horse. Taffy Wood is an expert quilter. Larry Sorenson refinishes furniture. Sonya Berg creates gourmet coffees, hot chocolates and cordials, soups and breads along with handknit baby sweaters and stockings. Cindy Konich creates therapeutic oils and bath salts and sells them exclusively in the shop.
Hubbard previously had a '50s era malt shop and tanning salon in Clarkfield.
Diverse offerings range from famed tobacco tin cans adorned with Prince Albert to books on Gray's Anatomy, games, clip-on roller skates, school desks, lanterns, clothes, hats and gloves. The store conducted a grand opening Nov. 17-18. The store is open Monday through Saturday.
Hubbard said a goal is to be fair to clients and customers, as well as putting out new items daily. She said the downtown location has been a positive setting with five antique shops nearby, which brings more shoppers to the area. And neighboring shop owners have also been supportive, Hubbard said.
"Everyone has been really positive to try and help and get me started."