Perhaps most of you can relate…but have you ever found yourself walking the same path everyday, from train to home or home to corner store, doing your typical routine. Maybe your is head down, listening to music, eyes not particularly focused on anything or anyone and for some reason on this particular day and seemingly for no reason, you look up…and pay attention. Your eyes widen, you stop and do a lopsided moonwalk back to the item in the window that has caught your eye. You look around, wondering if anyone else has noticed the gem you’ve found and with mouth ajar in awe, you walk in.
Well that is what happened to me a few weeks ago on a typical run down Fulton Street.
The gem in mention: Grady’s Collective Market at 923 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, a communal and creative space, featuring fashion, beauty, art and vintage finds.
Owner, curator and self ascribed lifestyle designer, Damien Holbert, is not new to the retail business. He co-owned a sneaker and denim shop, called Boro 51, in Las Vegas prior to returning to Brooklyn. He leases out space to artists and entrepreneurs weekly, monthly, and sometimes by the day.
Damien’s own work can be seen as soon as you approach the store. His customized furniture is displayed in the window. He makes his furniture and artwork from found furniture parts in and around Brooklyn. So that old crooked stool no one wants is the makings of one of Damien’s masterpieces! The extent of his talents is ridiculous. Damien designs apparel, creates interior furniture, mixes music, and refinishes modern furniture. He currently has an exhibit on display featuring insects made from wooden chair parts. Yes, you heard it, “insects out of furniture”. I’m sure we Brooklynites wouldn’t want anything more than another insect in our apartments. But his stuff is HOT, and imma figure out a way to purchase a piece.
The store is looking for additional tenants. Damien emphasized the need for a coffee or juice bar. And starting the end of the month, the backyard will be open for vendors as well.
I’m a fan of shared workspaces. On my first visit to Grady’s all kinds of bells were ringing in my head. All I could think of were the amazing opportunities this gives to startup retail entrepreneurs in Central Brooklyn.
Entrepreneur Suzette Lavelle (suzettelavelle.com) explained to me that she lived in the neighborhood for 6 years prior to starting her business within Grady’s. She was a buyer in the fashion industry for years and decided it was time for her to start her own retail business. She concluded that Grady’s would be an appropriate stepping stone to get her own spot. She needed the exposure without the extra expenses of erecting her own boutique.
She’s been in Grady’s for 4 months and has learned a lot. She has used this experience as a small incubator. She now has a sense of her target market; she has built quite a number of repeat customers. She has learned to stay on top of her marketing. Although her main dollo comes from vending at festivals and markets during the year, she admits that having a store gives her customers the impression that her brand is stable, consistent and legit.
Her advice to entrepreneurs who are thinking about becoming tenants at Grady’s is to not quit their day job yet. She said that Grady’s is excellent for someone who has a day job, but has always wanted to have their own shop. There is always someone present to oversee the store so individual retailers do not need to always in the store. They could set up their booth, and only work their free weekends.
Grady’s is also a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs. Just a few weeks ago a young designer asked to hold his launch party in the store after hours. He only had one printed t-shirt, a hat, patches, and two printed sweatshirts to display. He set up a booth in the middle of the floor and promoted using social media. What Damien thought would be a small gathering of 10 or so people, turned into a much larger party. All artists understand the extreme need of SPACE, and Grady’s as provided that in an affordable and fresh new way.
So when you’re on your way to or from brunch, or on a stroll down Fulton Street make sure to go inside. It’s located at 923 Fulton Street between Clinton and Waverly Aves. Hours: Tues, Wed noon-7pm; Thurs, Fri noon-8pm; Sat 11am-7pm; Sun noon-6pm. Located off the C, G trains to Clinton-Washington Aves. Tell Damien Bedstuy Modern said, “Whaddup!”
Websites to checkout:
Gradys: gradysbk.blogspot.com
Damien’s email: DamienHolbert@carbonmade.com
Artwork: brooklynzoonyc.com, PARASITENYC.BLOGSPOT.COM
