Style Expansion Entrepreneurship
WHERE GEEK MEETS CHIC: Local Duo Expands Niche Biz to Banbury Place
unique shop offers lost treasures and upcycled eclectic goods
Carlee Shimek, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Dawn and Tim Wells are proud owners of a multi-genre vintage collectible trove, which they sell in their new Banbury Place storefront, Geek Chic. If you love things eclectic and enthusiast-friendly, chances are high you’ll find something up your alley at Geek Chic.
“Our goal is to find new homes for items rather than see them end up in a landfill,” Dawn explained. “We love the history of vintage items we find and either shining them up for them to live on as-is or upcycling them into something new.”
Geek Chic has a veritable multiverse of goods to peruse: comic books of all kinds, vintage clothing, cassettes, decor, glassware, jewelry, art, collectibles from the likes of Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, Disney, Funko Pops, teapots, upcycled Tin Men bird feeders, and much, much more.
After a near-death medical trauma left Tim unable to manage his old comic book-selling business Pixels ’n Pages, the couple began hunting through estate sales and took to selling their discovered treasures on eBay, then at The Shed (1519 Mayer Road, Altoona). They kept upgrading their storefront until they recently became tenants in Banbury Place.
“The increased size and exposure has been great for us,” said Dawn about the move to Banbury. “It allows us to have regular store hours and display a lot of items that were stored away in our old space.”
Dawn added her “chic” to what started as Tim’s “geek” business, and the themes coalesced into Geek Chic, where there is something for anyone and everyone. They are located in Building 13, Suite 3 of Banbury Place, where they are open noon-6pm Thursday-Friday, and 10am-4pm Saturday. Geek Chic is also a vendor at Collective Charm (16 W Columbia St., Chippewa Falls).
“Geek Chic is all about mixing genres and different interests,” Dawn said. “Nothing makes us happier than when people from all walks of life feel a sense of nostalgia and wonder.”
Learn more about Geek Chic on their website, Facebook, and Instagram. Geek Chic’s storefront is located inside Banbury Place (930 Galloway St., Suite 3, Eau Claire).
