J Street Vintage owner Lizzie Harlan hopes her knew shoppette, Lizzie Lou's, will help kick-start small shops and encourage the Jefferson City community to rally around local businesses.
Harlan opened Lizzie Lou's, at 608 Jefferson St., last month. The shoppette will provide a space for pop-up businesses to set up shop, photographers to hold photo sessions and instructors to host classes. On the fourth weekend every month, the space will feature products from J Street Vintage.
Harlan became owner of J Street Vintage last year after a couple of years as a vendor at the vintage store.
"I want this space to be a launchpad for people, not just another J Street booth," Harlan said. "I want it to give them the chance."
Harlan's favorite part of Lizzie Lou's is that the 600-square-foot space is flexible.
At J Street Vintage, Harlan has a long waiting list of vendors. Since she requires J Street Vintage vendors to have 80 percent of the booths be vintage, Harlan added, that eliminates all of the craft booths.
"I'm a crafty girl at heart, so it hurt that I had to turn so many people away," she said. "This has no rules over here. It's flexible, and it just seemed like a fun way where I could constantly change stuff around and do all of the fun stuff I want to do."
Harlan recommended businesses that are interested in renting the space contact her about the price. Those interested in reserving the space can call Harlan at 573-257-7894.
Harlan said she hopes Lizzie Lou's Shoppette will help small businesses branch out and encourage the community to embrace lesser-known businesses.
"The community really has power that they don't really understand," she said. "They don't know that if one person shares my post, their cousin in St. Louis sees my post and comments and then there are 20 new likes I got in one day from a single share. It just dominoes."
The building at 608 Jefferson St. previously housed Mattie Grace Boutique until the store relocated last month.
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