By: Deborah Johnson Wood
When John and Susan Walborn looked for the perfect space to open their YT Galleria home and art shop in 2005, they found it. But it was occupied already. And out of their price range.
So they launched the business across the street in a renovated laundromat and built it into a popular shopping destination for clients looking for local art, one-of-a-kind home furnishings, art jewelry and custom-made clothing.
But they needed more room, so when the space they originally wanted at 966 Cherry SE opened up early this summer, they jumped to buy it and the nine-space parking lot behind the building.
“This is a dream come true after dreaming about it for 30 years” says Susan Walborn. “We’ve had to build the business with sweat equity to get it to the size where we could afford this.”
The store features work by national and local artists and is home to three Grand Rapids in-house designers/artists—fine photography by Jonathan Shuff, custom clothing by Christian Taylor Design by Pat Jones, and furniture design by Melissa Longo.
The new 1,800-square-foot store is double the size of the old space, with stained concrete floors and the original storefront windows and transom doorway.
“One of our staff, Molly Kulkawka, her two teenage daughters and her friend moved the entire store across the street in two days using a little red wagon,” Sharon recounts. “They worked so hard. The whole neighborhood watched our progress with excitement.”
Source: Susan Walborn, YT Galleria; Ellie Frey, CWD Real Estate Investments
Deborah Johnson Wood is the development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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