by Cori Hilsgen
Jami Lea Lewison, owner of Gypsy Lea’s, said her store offers something new every month.
Unique furnishings, decor and other treasured items displayed in the store are found, fixed, cleaned, recycled, refurbished and repainted for monthly events.
The store is restaged before each monthly event. Currently, about 50 vendors’ pieces are displayed on consignment, along with Lewison’s pieces, in the store. All are interspersed and are not grouped by individual vendors.
The four-day events are held the second Thursday through Sunday of each month.
“It’s like a whole new store every month,” she said.
Lewison, also known as “Gypsy,” has many people out “picking” or finding new furniture pieces and decor for the store. They locate tossed-out items, pieces sold at sales and more.
She and vendors work hard to clean, fix and refurbish items before they are placed in the store. Furniture and decor are repurposed to last.
Lewison hopes to inspire people when they walk through her store, which offers many custom or one-of-a-kind pieces.
“It’s all about the fun,” Lewison said. “I hope when they stroll through here they will find ideas for their home or business.”
Lewison wants customers to find special pieces and decor for their home or business that will personalize it to their decorating tastes.
A carpenter employed by Lewison creates requested modifications and new pieces for her, when customers request them.
“If we can envision it, he can build it,” she said.
Lewison’s customers come from far and wide and many of them even plan their vacations to join friends and family at her monthly events. A couple thousand people usually come to the store during the four-day events.
“Gypsy Lea’s is a destination,” Lewison said. “It’s so much more than a store. It’s all the energy and excitement that makes it such a fun place to come. It’s a positive, upbeat environment for kids to adults, women or men. Everyone enjoys the atmosphere. We create an environment where people have a good time and sales happen.”
Lewison got her nickname “Gypsy” when she was younger, because of her free-spirit and unique personality. When she was trying to name her business, a friend introduced her as Gypsy Lea and it clicked that that should be the name of her business.
She has always enjoyed saving, restoring and refurbishing things, but didn’t realize she had a talent for it until she moved to St. Cloud about 12 years ago. After moving, she would work on her furniture pieces in her driveway and arrange them and other decor in groupings to go in her house.
People stopped so often to ask if she was having a garage sale, that she started telling them they could make an offer if they saw something they liked. Many of them made offers and returned the next year to ask her if she had more pieces.
Lewison gave an example of a yellow dresser which was purchased for someone’s cabin and was so well liked that more of her work was requested.
With her newly realized talent, Lewison studied, considered and opened her business offering the monthly events.
She searched for two years for the Sauk Rapids location, which she opened May 2008. The location offers room for vendors and customers to maneuver large pieces of furniture and other decor.
“I have had continued growth each year,” she said. “I started with four vendors and now have about 50. It has never stopped growing.”
Lewison has two adult sons and one grandson, 2.
Gypsy Lea’s, located at 115 Division St., Sauk Rapids, is open on the second Thursday through Sunday of each month; 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays.
Lewison is also glad to meet people by appointment, when her schedule allows.
Upcoming events include Sept. 10-13, Oct. 8-11, Nov. 12-15 and Dec. 10-13.
Contact Gypsy Lea by phone at 320-251-4019, email at [email protected], or check out the facebook page at facebook.com/GypsyLeas.