By James Peacemaker Jr, The Hopewell News
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — It was a cold and blustery day, but after stepping through the teal door of ReVintage, things suddenly became bright and spring-like.
The new shop officially opened on Tuesday. It is located next to Domino’s Pizza and the Bowling Alley on the Boulevard features colorful artwork, whimsical crafts, furniture and jewelry.
The owner of the new shop, Gayle Heilbrun, of Prince George, said she got started a few years ago with craft shows and had been a vendor at another store before she decided to start this venture.
“So I decided why not take a leap of faith and do this on my own?” she said.
She sells furniture and upcycled crafts, making pieces out of repurposed items. She has taken pieces from an old chandelier and turned it into a flower and turned legs off of an old table into bracelet holders. She said she is particularly fond of owls, seashells and angels. The store itself has been repurposed as well, as it previously used to be a tattoo parlor. She transformed the dark paneling into a bright shop with booths carved out for other vendors. Heilbrun’s work and other items she collected are at the front of the shop, with seven other vendors occupying the rest of the space.
Heilbrun said she had met a lot of people at craft shows and through Facebook. Most are from the area.
“They came in droves to me. I didn’t go looking,” she said.
Heilbrun said she also plans to start doing craft classes for kids at a space at the rear of the shop. The shop had an invitation-only soft opening event on Sunday, and Heilbrun said the response was amazing.
“’We’re so glad to have something like this in Colonial Heights,’” she recalled one person saying. “… I was really, really encouraged by their comments.”
The shop’s official grand opening is planned for today.
ReVintage is located at 2229 Boulevard, Colonial Heights. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ReVintageVirginia or call (804) 520-1650.