Former Jewelry Hospital to be upscale consignment shop in Grand Rapids Uptown

Stephanie Johnson's experience as store manager for two Banana Republics, a Nine West store and a Home Fabrics shop gave her a desire to be the mistress of her own domain. She will make that dream come true on October 24 when she opens Urban Exchange, an upscale women's consignment shop at 926 E. Fulton, Grand Rapids.

The 1,200-square-foot store occupies the former Baribeau's Jewelry Hospital which relocated across the street. Urban Exchange will offer gently used clothing, shoes and accessories.

"I'm taking in current fashions, high quality fashions and will offer head-to-toe options, meaning shoes, scarves and jewelry," Johnson says. "We're targeting sizes 0 through 14 and our target market is women professionals aged 22 thru 44 who are fashion forward."

Johnson's criteria for accepting consignment items are, "first and foremost, condition and quality of the piece," she says. Brand names are preferred, but not required. She also looks for style, embellishments, color, pattern and texture.

Antique trunks, repurposed dress forms and retro furnishings will give the space a clean, eclectic look.

"'We painted every square inch, tore up the old floors and painted them high-gloss black," she says. Of the three rooms in the shop, one has magenta walls; the other two have Kelly green walls.

Although the brick building has storefront windows, Johnson isn't going to clutter them with displays.

"We would like the pizzazz of the interior to shine through the windows to the busy street," she says.

Source: Stephanie Johnson, Urban Exchange

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].