My Vintage Thang along the Melrose curve on 7th Avenue is a terrific shop that I really enjoy exploring! Each time I visit I discover a new artisan as well as new treasures for gift giving, to add to my home décor or enhance my garden.
The shop’s creator LaNetta Duede has been a vintage vendor at shows for six years and has always had a love for old things. When her father purchased an old piece of land in Wickenburg, they discovered it was loaded with “cool old items” and that began her pursuit of repurposing vintage.
When the store on 7th Avenue became available, LaNetta thought, “Why not try my hand at a Brick and Mortar shop?” With her background in retail, it seemed like a good fit. She thinks the building she’s in was probably built in the 1950s and she likes the charm of its brick walls.
My Vintage Thang is primarily Vintage and Antiques and all of the vendors are local artisans. They sell furniture, knick-knacks, jewelry, original artwork, repurposed wood and metal items. The vendors’ styles are very eclectic and complement her mix of odds and ends. LaNetta said, “We have all styles from Farmhouse, Industrial, Country French to Shabby Chic and Rusty.”
LaNetta can tell you stories from her vendors about how they create their artwork. I was curious to hear how the soaps and lotions are made from goat’s milk and to learn that the vendor, LaNetta’s sister, actually raises her own goats and milks them herself. Or about jewelry that is hand cut from hammered aluminum trays dating back to World War II where the artist looks at the pattern in the platter and creates the jewelry from that pattern. On my latest visit, I found the sweetest toddler sundresses made from vintage pillowcases. I was fascinated by garden art that mixes everyday vintage “throw aways,” such as an old camera flashbulb and a toilet bowl floater, with stained glass art to make a garden stake. They were all very cool.
Since opening 18 months ago, the shop continues to gain popularity and they are growing and expanding their inventory daily. Although LaNetta works closely with her vendors and Brillstreet Vintage’s Melanie Mannos is her “Goto Gal” who has a great eye for classy vintage. LaNetta has added Parking Lot Fleas on the first Sunday of each month—upcoming markets will be on April 5th and May 3rd.
LaNetta says her husband Gary is her right-hand guy and her muscle and that daughters Kelsey and Kylee help out when they can. Kelsey makes the String Art that is sold in the store.
LaNetta hopes to have a website up and running soon so that she can also sell items online. With any small business, it takes time to fulfill all the hopes and dreams the owners have. Stop by soon and check out what’s new. My Vintage Thang is located at 4826 N 7th Avenue in Phoenix and is open Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 602-810-0799, email duedelanetta@gmail.com or Like the shop on Facebook.