Darlington’s newest Main Street shop opened on May 6 and offers an eclectic collection of old and new and specializes in unique fresh floral designs, potted plants, home decor and garden items.
A Vintage Market Floral & Home is located at 319 & 325 Main Street and is operated by owner Jean Bull of Platteville and her team, including husband Rodney, daughter Kristie Olson, Toni Sperry and Nicole Allen.
Each member of the team contributes something vital for the shop. Bull as owner, is also an artist and designer; she’s attended art shows across the country for 30 years where she displays her artistic creations. Bull handles the floral (both fresh and silk) designs, paints and designs/creates jewelry for the shop.
Bull’s husband, Rodney, also helps out around the shop with things like customer service, deliveries, building frames for some of the shop’s art and other tasks.
Kristie Olson, of Highland and Bull’s daughter, handles customer service, jewelry, deliveries, does some of the sewing and is learning floral design as well.
Toni Sperry, of Evansville, creates all of the fabric home décor and crafts available in the shop, including pillows, dolls, country home spun and primitive décor and more. Sperry and Bull have attended art and craft shows together for many years.
Nicole Allen, of Lancaster, handles customer service and helps with the jewelry.
“Basically 90 percent of the store is all handmade items,” explained Bull. “We have a huge line of inspirational frame art that is handmade and designed here in Wisconsin and just a large variety of home décor and vintage items. We’ve gotten feedback saying it’s a great shopping experience.”
Bull and her team are constantly looking for vintage items to repurpose for the shop and will be getting more and more items in all the time.
On the floral side of things the shop handles all occasions, from sympathy to weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions. Bull said she has been a florist for 35 years.
“Things have been going very well since we opened,” said Bull. “We’ve had a really steady stream of people every day and we already have a good return customer base.”
Customers have told Bull and her team they appreciate the wide variety of items available to choose from.
Bull, who previously operated a store in Platteville, said they’ve just loved having a shop in Darlington.
“I just love Darlington,” she said. “People here could not be nicer and we just love the small town home feeling to the area and how down to earth the people here are.”
In fact Bull and her team are planning a big grand opening event for the store on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20 during open hours both days.
There will be refreshments and door prizes and with every $10 spent, customers will receive a free rose. There will also be a ribbon cutting organized by the Darlington Chamber/Main Street program that Friday morning at 10 a.m.
Currently, the shop is gearing up for Canoe Festival weekend, during which there will be extended hours. Normally the store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed Sundays.
The story of the A Vintage Market Floral and Home’s birth goes back to Bull’s son Jason, who discovered the buildings for rent on Darlington’s Main Street last year and notified his mother of the situation.
“I looked at the buildings in November and the first time I walked in, I just knew this was it,” said Bull. “I had been looking for a store location and I found it here in Darlington.”
Bull signed a lease to rent the two storefront locations in December of last year and prepared to open in the spring, just in time for Mother’s Day.
Bull tips off customers to look for new events and items in the shop in the future, including a Christmas in July event, seasonal décor and more.
For more information anyone can stop by the store during business hours or contact A Vintage Market Floral & Home at 608-776-8281 or by email at avintagemarketfloralandhome@yahoo.com. The shop can also be found on Faceboook.
