In a space tucked between the Kalamazoo Public Library and the parking lot for Peregrine Tower is the new home of
Bella Patina.
The shop, slated to open in April, will sell items being given a second life. Co-owners Bridget Fox and Michelle McDade take the reduce, reuse and recycle practice seriously and all the items they sell will be those that they have found at flea markets, estate and garage sales or have had donated to them. And yes, occasionally trash picking and dumpster diving is involved.
"You wouldn't believe what some people throw away," Fox says.
"For us, the saying 'one man’s trash is another man’s treasure' is how we're making a living," says McDade.
But the people who threw away what Fox and McDade are now selling would never recognize it. The two artists makeover the pieces into works of art. From home furnishings to personal adornments, like a necklace made of an old poker chip and a T-shirt, the pieces are one of a kind.
Fox’s art training began at the age of 4 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and she went on get further experience at the Chicago Institute of Arts. McDade is a self-taught artist who simply creates what she loves. She also hates to see things go to waste. "I took what my family gave me and redid it to fit with my style."
The two artists met at the Junior League and became friends when they found they had a number of things in common -- a lot of kids, a background growing up in entrepreneurial families and they both decorated their homes by recreating used furniture to fit their tastes.
They decided to go into business together and have been making pieces for the store since September.
With a good idea of what they wanted to sell, they decided to enter the Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. retail incubator program. The retail incubator offers training, mentors and money intended to help young businesses grow.
In January, they found the 1,500 square foot space with 1,000 feet of retail space and room for any of the nine children the two women have between them. The space is being redeveloped as part of the
Peregrine Plaza project at South Street and the Kalamazoo.
Both women emphasize Bella Patina is not a resale shop and there will be no consignment sales of other artists’ work.
"No one else is doing what we do in downtown Kalamazoo," McDade says, "and the business people have been so excited for us, supportive and enthusiastic."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave
Sources: Bridget Fox, Michelle McDade, Bella Patina
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