Boutique moguls aim to entertain clients at new retail outlet in Carytown

A gift shop that aims to enliven the brick-and-mortar retail knowledge has opened its doorways in Carytown.

Brick and Mortar Mercantile introduced very last week in the previous Carytown Goodwill retail store at 3114 W. Cary St.

The shop is the newest Carytown undertaking by Ben and Tara Wegdam, the married couple guiding the Zest Garments & Co., Lou Lou Boutiques and Crème de la Crème retailers in the similar neighborhood.

The Carytown Brick and Mortar is the brand’s initially place in Richmond. The Wegdams also have Brick and Mortar retailers in Middleburg and Leesburg, and in Frederick, Maryland.

The brand name released quite a few many years ago as a bid to reverse falling foot targeted traffic at the Wegdams’ other outlets with an emphasis on an participating shop expertise and “edgy” item choices, Ben Wegdam mentioned.

“We noticed that targeted visitors in general was down, and there ended up a few explanations for that. But in all probability the principal cause is everybody is searching at Amazon,” he stated. “We arrived up with a idea that is all about amusement. Not that I want to be a restaurant or a bar, but men and women need to be entertained when they come right here simply because entertainment is a little something they just can’t get online.”

The Carytown keep options a piano that customers can play and a birdcage with dwell birds as ways to capture the notice of customers.

“The complete plan is to provide folks in. And when they’re in, they have enjoyment,” Wegdam reported. “Obviously, we hope they buy a thing. But even if they really don’t, we hope they have a very good time.”

Brick and Mortar carries a extensive assortment of apparel, books, toiletries, novelties and other goods. Manufacturers on the stores’ shelves involve names like hat enterprise Stetson and out of doors outfits business Filson, as properly as manufacturers like shoe firm Blundstone, cleaning soap organization Dr. Squatch and apparel brand name Upstate Inventory.

While Brick and Mortar is generally a retail store-sure strategy, it does operate a confined on the net retail store. It signed a lease on the 5,000-sq.-foot room late last calendar year.

The parent business of Brick and Mortar is West Federal Retail, which the Wegdams personal. In addition to the four Brick and Mortar destinations, the corporation operates a lot more than a dozen Lou Lou locations, 3 Creme de la Cremes and a few Zests. West Federal is based in Middleburg.

Other new stores that have recently opened in Carytown include things like collectible toy shop Toy Lair and bag company Lineage.