Des Moines vintage shop celebrates grand re-opening

DES MOINES, Iowa- A local business in Des Moines is celebrating its grand reopening Saturday after closing for six weeks due to flooding.

Funky Finds is a small business located on the corner of 18th Street and Grand Avenue that sells vintage items including clothes, furniture, and decorations. The shop has two levels, one at street-view and a 4,000-square-feet lower level where most of their inventory is located.

The shop received international recognition when their costumes and props were used in a Netflix movie earlier this year.

However, earlier this summer, construction began on Grand Avenue and 18th Street, and the sidewalk and curb outside of Funky Finds was removed. Three days of heavy rainfall in late July caused water to flood into the lower-level of the shop.

Owner Suzie Fredregill said they were able to remove most of their items from that area before the heaviest rain fell, but the building wasn’t spared. At its peak, close to four inches of water flooded parts of the shops. After the water dried, damage was left behind. Parts of the wall, ceiling, and all of the carpet was removed.

“It was heartbreaking, but on a couple of different levels. First, because this is truly a labor of love to own a small business and all the work that you put into it, but also because of the history of this building and because it’s on the National Registry of Historic Places,” said Fredregill.

The store’s insurance didn’t cover flooding, and after assessing the damage, Fredregill knew she would have to close the shop until construction on the lower level was completed.

However, the community’s help made a big impact.

The building manager where Funky Finds is located allowed them to use another space in the building to continue business, and friends helped move inventory to the new temporary area.

The new space is two doors down from the store’s original location, and it’s on street level. While the lower level of the original space is closed, they’re still using the upper level.

“When a situation like this happens, you can either look at it as a tragedy or as an opportunity. And we chose to look at it as an opportunity so we can bring everything up from the lower level onto the street level where the community can see us better,” said Fredregill.

Their grand re-opening kicks off at noon and the store will be open until 6 p.m.

Funky Finds is located at 1731 Grand Avenue in Des Moines and the new temporary location is 1725 Grand Avenue. The store is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 12 P.M. to 6 P.M.

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