Megan and John Glass-brenner have always wanted to start their own business. And they also wanted it to benefit people who were in need while still providing themselves with an income to raise their children, now toddlers.

“We wanted to do second-hand because we feel that it’s very important to up-cycle anything as much as possible in a consumer market that wants everything cheap and fast,” shares Megan.

Earlier last summer, John was helping his mom clean out a storage unit that was mostly full of furniture and nice décor from when she had changed styles in her living room.

“And Megan and I said to each other, ‘Why doesn’t this area have any nice second-hand stores for gently used furniture?’ ” adds John. 

So last August – on their sixth wedding anniversary – they decided to take the plunge and go out on their own. Like any fledgling entrepreneurs, they started out small and opened their 1,000-square-foot store in a former belly dancing studio near Regis High School. Customers heard about The Attic via social media and word of mouth. Many asked if they ever took furniture on consignment. At that time, the couple sourced furniture at estate sales and buy-outs from furniture store closings.

Enter the Gently Kissed Consignment Store in downtown Chippewa Falls. As part of their research, Megan called that business, and little did she know the owners – who were in their 80s – planned to close down and retire. As a result, they were more than happy to share their business model, contract forms, and even consignment customers with the young couple.

So now not only did they need a larger space, they also had more business than they knew what to do with, all within the first six months of being in business.
In April, The Attic Furniture and Home Goods consignment furniture and décor re-opened its doors at 2015 Fairfax St. (across from the Memorial High School sports fields). Housed in the former Bush Furniture Warehouse, they now have 8,000 square feet of space where they artfully stage and group the furniture, home goods, and art.

When you walk through the door, you’re impressed by the sheer volume of high-end, high-quality furniture, mostly mid-century and newer for any room of your apartment or home. There’s a huge, hand-made floor model cabinet from Charlson’s, now closed. There is a patio dining set originally bought at Hom. There’s an extra-long custom-made white sofa. There are a pair of gold Ethan Allen wing-back chairs. Rarely does anything stay on the floor for long, so consigners, who sign a sliding scale contract with The Attic, usually get close to the price they were looking for. And the buyers get a reasonably priced, built-to-last piece of furniture. If, by chance, something doesn’t sell, the owner can take it back or The Attic handles the donation to The Ark (which gives to individuals and families in need at no charge) or a local charity of the consigner’s choice (such as Goodwill or Savers).

The Attic also provides boutique space to about a dozen crafters and collectors at the back of the store. John and Megan handle the sales so the vendors don’t need to be there. And way back is the heavily discounted area, where college students might look for a lightly used sectional, couch or chair.

The Attic Furniture and Home Goods • 2015 Fairfax St., Eau Claire • Tuesday-Saturday, 10am to 5pm • (715) 225-9951 • JohnandMeg@theatticEC.com • www.theatticEC.com • www.facebook.com/theatticec