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'American Pickers' Star To Open Shop in Wicker Park

By Alisa Hauser | January 10, 2013 8:21am | Updated on January 10, 2013 12:04pm

WICKER PARK — The owner of a rockabilly-inspired boutique is teaming up with the star of reality TV show "American Pickers" to form a "Cherry Pickers' Row" in Wicker Park.

Not exactly a full street, or even a block, "Cherry Pickers' Row" will comprise two adjacent storefronts at 1734-36 W. North Ave. — one owned by Remey Rozin, 38, owner of the Broken Cherry boutique, and the other by Danielle Colby, 37, the only female cast member on the reality TV series "American Pickers."

"We've been trying to find a legit space in Chicago that works well for us for a long time," Colby said by phone from Le Claire, Iowa, where "American Pickers" was filming.

"Broken Cherry has a very rock 'n' roll style, and ours is very vintage, kind of like European Dust Bowl with a strong feel of Americana," said Colby, who is a longtime friend of Rozin.

A no-nonsense, heavily tattooed spitfire who has a large online fan base (and her own burlesque troupe), Colby is seen on "American Pickers" managing the Antique Archaeology shop in LeClaire for her two collectible-hunting co-stars.

But fear not, "Pickers" fans. Colby said she'll divide her time between Iowa to film the show — three to four days a week — and Chicago.

On Sunday, Colby closed her own LeClaire-based store, 4 Miles 2 Memphis, to move it to a space that Rozin previously was using on North Avenue. Rozin will move her BC Speed Shop, a mens clothing company, into the Broken Cherry storefront to free up space for Colby to sublet.

At 4 Miles 2 Memphis, which is named for Colby's two children, shoppers can find clothing, jewelry and other items made by the store owner and her many "talented friends." Merchandise includes jewelry such as a  a "Bang!" silver pistol handgun necklace, "Dead Sexy perfume" and original T-shirt designs.

Colby said 4 Miles 2 Memphis also will sell screen-printed T-shirts with a Neuf vies, or "9-lives" label, made by her husband, Alexandre DeMeyer.

The two friends met in 2004 when Colby was living in Chicago and Rozin was involved in starting the Windy City Roller Derby league.

The women hope to bring more foot traffic to the Hermitage and North avenues area, about three blocks east of the neighborhood's bustling Milwaukee-Damen-North intersection.

Colby said that she and Rozin plan to host outdoor flea market-style events in the summer.

"I've known Remey for a long time and always had a fondness for her. It's a great collaboration between two very strong women who just want to run good businesses and have a positive impact," said Colby.

4 Miles 2 Memphis is expected to open at 1734 W. North Ave. on or before Feb. 1. Store hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.