On Sunday I had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at a new furniture and accessories store opening in St. Paul! I met Neal back in August when I bought a set of classmate chairs from him. When he told me he was opening a store, I was so excited. Naturally, I asked for an early look. I chatted with Neal and took a bunch of pictures as they were putting the finishing touches on the store!
The store is called MidModMen + friends. Neal and John, of MidModMen, are joining forces with Eric and Mary, of Mid-Century Vibe. They welcomed me into the store, like they were welcoming me into their home. Neal explained although they love mid-century modern, their store aesthetic will include modern home furnishings from any decade. Modern will be the lead, with a healthy dose of mid-century. They are also very proud of their smalls; glassware, tabletop, and barware. There were lots of sparkly sets catching my eye…perfect for holiday gifts!
The store is spacious and has wonderful natural light. You can truly see the beauty and the color of the pieces. They had high standards for traffic flow and presentation. All the funriture and decor are set out similar to how you might arrange them at home. It allows you to really see how a piece works. There are a lot of furniture vignettes throughout the store, but the flow is open. No dead-ends in here. You can easily wander and see all the pieces.
They won’t put anything on the floor that isn’t ready to use. Neal’s partner John does all the furniture restoration. One thing I noticed immediately when I walked in the store was the lack of “vintage smell”. I credit this to the restoration, cleaning and care they take with all of the pieces they sell.
When you shop at MidModMen + friends, they want you to leave the store with more than just a great piece, they want you to leave with a story. They enjoy researching their finds, so they can pass the history of the piece on to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for more details, they are delighted to share. They will also give you all the know how to take care of your new piece.
Neal and Mary’s Tips for Buying Vintage:
1. Think about how you are going to use it. Look for versatile pieces you may use one way now and a different way later. Mary’s example was a low boy dresser that could also be used as a media stand.
2. Think about where you are going to put it. Is it the right size? The right scale? Does it fit?
3. Consider what you need to go with it. MidModMen + friends are happy to help you coordinate several pieces or make recommendations on how to fit a piece into your current space.
4. Remember vintage furniture is quality made. The pieces are so sturdy and have been around in amazing condition for 50 or more years. By buying vintage you are getting higher quality at comparable prices to new, lower quality furniture.
MidModMen + Friends is celebrating their grand opening this Friday, Oct 12! They are located at 2401 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55114-1507. Parking available on Raymond and adjacent streets – some metered, some free.
GRAND OPENING HOURS
Friday, October 12 | 11 AM – 8 PM
Saturday, October 13 | 11 AM – 8 PM
Sunday, October 14 | 11 AM – 5 PMREGULAR HOURS
Every Saturday | 11 AM – 5 PM beginning October 20
Plus, special 3-day sales in November and December
Want to get a peek at the current inventory or know when new things are coming in? Follow MidModMen on Facebook. For anyone outside the Twin Cities area, if you see something you like, they will ship smaller furniture and accessories within the US.
This place looks fantastic! Sort of wishing I was still living in Minneapolis and not Seattle so I could check it out asap!