CENTRAL LAKEVIEW — Whether on the hunt for tea cups for an "Alice in Wonderland" unbirthday party or searching for the perfect place settings for your "Gone with the Wind" rehearsal dinner, True Vintage is here to help.
The former vintage consignment shop that opened in October is switching its focus, relaunching June 15 as a vintage rental store, allowing its owner to spend more time doing what she loves.
"I actually got into this particular industry because I really love looking for the merchandise, and I enjoy investing that time and energy. When people would bring merchandise to me [for consignment], it really wasn't as fulfilling as when I would go out and hunt," said owner Farah Ghaus, 27, of Lincoln Park.
While True Vintage will still sell some trinkets at its 2934 N. Clark St. storefront, the majority of its business will now be online, where shoppers can browse through rentable products. The shop will also offer event styling and consultation services, focusing on intimate events for 20 people or fewer, Ghaus said.
The notion of vintage rentals has gained traction over the past several years, particularly since vintage and rustic weddings became trendy. True Vintage will join a handful of other Chicago ventures like Rent Vintage Chicago, Chicago Vintage Weddings and Shadow Box Dreams.
Since deciding to switch, Ghaus has been slowly building rental inventory — focusing on items from the 1920s through 1940s — and working on a new website, TrueVintageRentals.com, which will launch June 15. Ghaus' first website, TrueVintageChicago.com, will also remain up.
This weekend, True Vintage will have a blowout sale with discounts on items that won't be used in the rental business. The store will be open from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Clients who want event styling will meet with Ghaus at the Clark Street store, which is being partially converted into an office space. There, they'll craft a "style blueprint" and decide which items to rent.
Themed packages will also be available for those searching for a quick solution, with "Alice in Wonderland" and "Old Hollywood" among the offered themes.
"I really, really love the styling aspect. We've actually talked to a handful of customers, and they've been really excited about the idea. It's kind of encouraging when people who appreciate the products you sell are also into what you're moving toward," Ghaus said.
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