When you walk into this local business, the impression is like being in a small European mercantile shop. Visibly welcoming, warm, cozy and eclectic. You want to grab a cup of tea, sit down and check out all that the shop has to offer.
Looking to do some entertaining for family or friends, but needs some design ideas and items that can help make that night a hit? Or maybe a dried or fresh flower arrangement, paper goods or a class in floral design?
These things and more can be found at Foxglove Market and Studio located at 792 Grand Avenue whose proprietor, Christine Hoffman has provided these resources to customers since she moved into this open space last year. Her shop emphasizes sustainability, utility, community and comfort. In the growing season, Christine has five local flower farmers providing fresh cut flowers that are grown under sustainable, chemical-free conditions.
Christine has lived in St. Paul “off and on” for the last 20 years or so. She studied classics and art history at Macalester College with an emphasis on Latin…a language she came to love – really! Christine didn’t expect she would become a retail merchant, but “I’ve always been somewhat of an entrepreneur and I like being self-employed”.
She started out doing freelance design work in “retail merchandizing” for store displays and windows; hired her talents out as a home interior designer; … and even worked several years as a behind-the-scenes designer for an HGTV show for three seasons.
After moving on to being a full-time event designer, Christine felt she was at a crossroads in her career. Then, she got a call from her friend, the owner of Golden Fig telling her about the open space available next door. Her first reaction to her friend encouraging her to set up retail on Grand Avenue was – “Are you crazy?” Long hours, costs and such.
But…by the end of the day, she agreed that it was a very good idea. The concept of a retail store that could utilize all the many skills she had honed over the prior 15 years…except maybe Latin. Christine loves entertaining and wants to encourage others to do so. “That feeling of gathering.” She sees how customers like to come in and dig through her paper goods and other design elements to see what they can do with these at home.
Christine doesn’t think the concept of Foxglove would probably have worked as well 10 years ago – “the mix of new and old, an organic feeling…” but it works now and she feels the support from all the neighborhood customers who come in.
Store hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and you can get further information at www.foxglovemarket.com
Comment