Embracing history and building upon it

The Business News Staff

Staff

August 29, 2022

MANITOWOC – Over the past several years, communities of all sizes have made conscious efforts toward revitalizing, regrowing and reinventing their downtowns – which often hold rare insights into a community’s past, present and future.

Manitowoc business owner Natalie Hamilton – the face behind Graced and the soon-to-be-opened downtown boutique Kindred, both of which are residents of the city’s downtown – said she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

“I think we should embrace the history of our city and celebrate it,” she said. “I cannot imagine ever starting a business in a strip mall on a mall – that’s not part of who we are as a brand.”

Hamilton said though she appreciates new, building on what is already there is important.

“We have so much history that we should embrace that, celebrate it and build on that in our community rather than start from scratch,” she said. “There’s a way to do it where you’re not erasing history, rather you’re embracing it and building upon it.”

Hamilton said Graced, which is located in Manitowoc’s historic Schuette Department Store building, has helped spark childhood memories for some customers.

“We have people who come in who shopped at the Schuette Department Store when they were young,” she said. “These are elderly people like in their 80s, and they have memories of shopping here as kids. It’s cool to see, and they share their memories with us.”

Hamilton said with Kindred setting up shop in the former Fehr’s Jewelry store, which was built in 1867, it will offer the same reminiscent experiences.

“People are going to come in just because they want to remember, trigger those memories and see what the building looks like today,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll have people come in and tell us stories about how they used to shop for jewelry at Christmastime for their mom or girlfriend. I think that’s important for our community, and it’s such a good news feeling that we don’t get enough of these days.”

Repurposing history

Hamilton said the vision of Kindred is to bring the building into 2022, while honoring and preserving the historical charm.

“It’s amazing that this building was built in the 1800s,” she said. “It’s such an old building, and the craftsmanship inside is amazing.”

Hamilton said because the building was originally a jewelry store, there are mahogany cases for products that line the walls, which are “absolutely gorgeous.”

“You don’t see craftsmanship, wood craftsmanship like that anywhere, anymore,” she said.

Hamilton said the plan is to keep the mahogany pieces and repurpose them to fit the needs of Kindred.

“It would be a shame for that to go away, to tear it out, so we’re embracing that or keeping all of that cabinetry and repurposing it and restoring it to original beauty,” she said.

Hamilton said they are also keeping all the original light fixtures and chandeliers.

“We’re going to have those pieces of history that are still present, but we’re revitalizing the building to make sure it’s up to code,” she said. “There’s lots of construction going on – we’re putting in a bathroom on the first floor, all new paint, all new flooring. So, doing those updates will make the building feel like ‘Oh, it’s 2022,’ but we can celebrate the pieces of history that are still here.”

Invested in downtown

Hamilton said when she started Graced and will soon open the doors of Kindred just down the street, she was immediately invested in the revitalization of the city’s downtown.

“Since we started in a historic building… that became part of our brand that became part of who we are,” she said.

Hamilton said local businesses in a community’s downtown create a different feel.

“It’s important for tourism,” she said. “It’s important for the community that was here – you want to have pride in your community. I love that we have so many downtown small businesses and that we all work together to make our businesses successful. Whether it be retail stores or the restaurants – there’s so much energy together, and it only makes us stronger.”

Hamilton said a vibrant downtown full of local businesses is also good for tourism.

“It brings tourism and money to the downtown area, and it creates a bit of something bigger, that’s beyond ourselves,” she said. “Whereas when you have corporate, large-chain stores, you don’t get that same collaboration and sense of community.”

Opening soon

Hamilton said a tentative opening for Kindred is set for Sept. 16, with a chamber ribbon cutting set for Sept. 14.

However, she said that could change, depending on construction.

Hamilton said Kindred will complement Graced but with a bit more of a professional focus.

“One of the things I felt like we were lacking (at Graced) was clothing for dressier occasions or work, for people who want more of a professional dress,” she said. “And Manitowoc is kind of lacking for shopping (options) for those types of clothing. I came up with the idea for Kindred, which would fill that need, but also give (customers) another place to shop.”

Hamilton said the inventory between the stores will be completely different.