The sales floor at Rusted Chandelier in downtown Kirkwood was abundant with colorful fabrics, custom florals, and distinctive home decor, but it could be difficult to distinguish it from the other shops on the block, such as a pottery painting store next door and even the corner pizza place.
The exterior aesthetic at the shop’s new location on Manchester in Kirkwood couldn’t be more different from the natural brick building with neutral-colored awnings, the standard look for the shops at its previous location. Now, black awnings trimmed in white set off the black-brick storefront. Lush floral arrangements flank the front doors that are decorated with wreaths, offering visitors a preview of what they’ll find inside.
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“I loved being able to decorate the front of the store the way I want,” says owner Patti Porter. “Where I was before, they wanted all the buildings to look the same so I wasn’t able to do something that helped make us stand out.”
Parking is also easier and plentiful at the new location, which has helped attract new customers, says Porter.
“We were in downtown Kirkwood for 12 years and some people who lived in Kirkwood didn’t know we existed,” she says. “All of our regulars have found us. Plus, we’ve seen a lot of new faces, which has been really nice.”
The move, which took place on July 1, has given Porter the space to consolidate the shop’s retail and warehouse facility under one roof. While the 3,300-square-foot sales floor is roughly the same size as the previous location, the new building includes 2,500 square feet of warehouse space.
“By having the warehouse in the back, we don’t need to go to an off-site warehouse, so we’ve been able to offer people things right away if it’s in our stockroom. That’s been very handy for customers. There hasn’t been a delay in getting things.”
Porter also set up a kitchen island to showcase some of the store’s wares. It also serves as a bar.
“[Customers] can sit down and I have a TV. I can give them a beverage,” she says. “I’ll have the baseball games on or the football games.”
Where: 11037 Manchester
Hours: Monday—Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Symbotic shared space: As with the previous location, Rusted Chandelier shares space with Pizazz 2 Interiors, an interior design firm owned by Carol Temple.
Coming up: A grand opening party is scheduled for August 22, from 5 to 7 p.m.
