JACKSON, MI – It may look like just a house on Kibby Road, but it’s really a place where people can shop for clothes, browse for home décor or even grab a bite to eat.
Michelle Moore operated Not So Shabby, Oh! So Chic in Kibby Cobb Plaza, for around 10 years, but said she decided it was time to stop renting and own her own place to offer a better atmosphere for customers.
She landed on a two-story house at 2600 Kibby Road, right next door to the plaza. The house used to be the home of Earle Insurance Agency, but the home décor and gift store has turned it into a space that can hold all its customers’ wants and needs, employee Lisa Pritt said.
“What (Moore) wanted to do is just have a better experience (for customers),” Pritt said. “She wanted to change things a little bit. She wanted to go in a new direction and offer some different (things).”
The shop officially moved in April and has since been decked out with of thousands of items people could usually find at its original location, such as home décor, women’s clothing, jewelry, furniture and shoes.
While the new location is relatively the same size as the previous shop, the rooms inside the house allow merchandise to be easily separated based on theme and styles, unlike at the previous store, Pritt said.
This includes a lake room and a clearance room. There’s also a restroom and two dressing rooms, compared to just one room before, she said.
Moore and staff did not want to stop there, however, Pritt said. They also wanted it to be a place where people could grab some lunch, play some games and enjoy company.
Inside a room in the back, people can find a range of to-go foods prepared by WestEnd Farm to Table, such as a range of sandwiches, chips, potato salad, muffins, beverages and charcuterie boards.
“(We) would sometimes have people in here that would say ‘I’m kind of hungry,’ and they might leave and not come back,” Pritt said. “(Moore) was like ‘Why can’t I offer food?’”
People can take their food to the deck in the back where there is a range of tables, a large yard, a small pond and even some small games like Jenga.
If you travel a little further back, you ca find two ducks named Cheese and Quackers, and a rabbit. It’s perfect for kids to see when their parents take them shopping, Pritt said.
Not So Shabby, Oh! So Chic also is hosting events on the deck, including trivia night. The last trivia night for this season is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16. Moore is hoping to offer more events, and even conservatories in the winter months with bread bowls and soup, she said.
“I absolutely love the new space. It feels like I’m welcoming people in my home,” Moore said.
At the previous location, Moore cared for a cat named Mama Kitty, who lived behind the plaza. Since moving, the rest of the businesses have volunteered to continue for her care, Moore said. However, they would not be surprised if Mama Kitty pays them an occasional visit at the new shop, Pritt said.
Related: Meet the cat who’s claimed the hearts of Kibby Cobb Plaza business owners
Not So Shabby, Oh! So Chic is open noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
More information can be found on the store’s Facebook page.
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Source: mlive.com