Megan Trenary, who opened Chelsea Outfitters last year with her husband, Matt, has quadrupled the general store’s space with their move across the street to the historic Kempf Bank building on the corner of Main and Middle.
The couple, who sell everyday goods for sustainable living, pulled up carpets, removed a drop ceiling, and painted, but Trenary says the old building—with tall windows and expansive wall space—was already a dream come true: “I appreciate well-made things even with their imperfections.”
She’s expanded their inventory of “quality brands with a good ethos,” including clothing and accessories from Stormy Kromer, Toad&Co, the Landmark Project, and Marmot. There’s also a “treasure wall” of vintage and “pre-loved” clothing from brands like Patagonia and Pendleton at prices ranging from $10 to $200.
With the bonus space, she’s also debuted an outdoor recreation section that includes backpacking and off-grid camping gear.
A large dressing room in the corner doubles as a play tent for kids with dress-up clothes, a hobbyhorse, and a giant stuffed moose. A selection of games and crafts for sale include face paints, soap carving kits, and cribbage boards, which she hopes “will help take people away from their devices.”
Related: Chelsea Outfitters
Chelsea Outfitters, 102 S. Main, Chelsea. (734) 593–9394. Tues. & Wed. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Closed Mon. chelseaoutfitters.com
Chelsea Outfitters’ move created an opening for Richelle Reese to realize her longtime dream of launching her own shop. Reese Chic Boutique opened in February and sells handcrafted jewelry and gifts from twenty artists, including Reese’s own creations.
Reese says she was in downtown Chelsea for a “girls’ day out” when she came upon the tiny storefront. “I told my friend, ‘That’s gonna be my store one day,’” and just months later, she learned it was available. “The universe came together” to make it happen, she says.
Reese stocks a wide variety of gifts from Michigan artists, many of whom she’s met at vendor shows through the years. “I don’t like having competing products,” she says, and inventory is “constantly evolving.” Decorative shadow boxes, colorful crocheted children’s toys, freeze-dried candies, hand-embossed metal signs, pottery, laser-engraved wooden hair clips, and Dungeons & Dragons–inspired novelty pillow dice are just some of the current offerings.
Handcrafted jewelry is priced from $10 for seasonal costume earrings to $55 for her most intricate seed beadwork earrings (she’s installed a workbench in the back of the long, narrow storefront). Her daughters, Aurora and Jillian Cook, help her out with social media, and Aurora works in the shop a couple days a week.
Reese Chic Boutique, 105 S. Main, Chelsea. (734) 604–3938. Mon. & Wed.–Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. Closed Tues. facebook.com/reesechic