Come on Back: Beyond Minkology's Front Room

By Sarah Hurley

Many loyal customers know the front room of Minkology like the back of their hand. With displays for beloved brands like eNewton, Tyler Candle Company, Mudpie, and Greenwich Bay, you can easily browse the front of the shop for hours, enjoying the sights, smells, and textures of our offerings. In fact, it’s so easy to get lost in our front-room displays that many customers don’t even realize that to the right of the register, there’s a hallway leading to two additional rooms full of merchandise in the shop.

“Come on Back” is posted in big block letters above the archway, and stenciled bees on the floor make a path toward the back rooms. Surprised? You might be. But if you follow the bees into the back, you’ll find not only our artists' hallway leading to an expanded selection of new retail goods, but also a wide array of vintage, antique, and second-hand items ready to find their next home. Here at Minkology, we’ve always been all about catering to each of our customers’ unique needs and styles, whether they prefer purchasing new or used items to brighten their homes and lives.

Store owner Wendi Mink has long harbored a passion for helping others find the perfect gift for themselves or their loved ones. Her love of retail therapy and gift-giving are things she learned from her mother at an early age. When Wendi’s mom had a bad day, or something was going wrong at home, going out to shop was often her way of “fixing” the problem.

“That’s not always the way to do it,” Wendi reflects in her later years, “but that’s what stuck with me.”

As the owner of a store like Minkology, Wendi is uniquely suited to provide that support to others—by stocking a blend of fun, quirky items and timeless classics, by recommending the perfect baby shower gift, by serving a much-needed scoop of Homeland Creamery ice cream to someone in need. (Yes, the back of Minkology also houses an ice cream parlor!) Our pickers, who search for vintage furniture, artwork, and home décor items, know that Minkology is always looking for unique pieces that shoppers won’t find anywhere else. “I always say, ‘We need a little bit of weird,’” Wendi laughs.

Customers often express admiration for Minkologists’ eye for staging these unique items, which might not match, but come together in vibrant, textured vignettes to make our space truly special. Chinoiserie, brass, glass, and greenery combine in beautiful, welcoming displays that make Minkology feel like a second home to so many customers. We work to keep the bright and airy Cox-Lewis building well-stocked and clean in the same way you’d want to make your house presentable before having guests over.

“Because that’s what we’re doing every time we bring a customer in: we’re inviting them into our house,” Wendi says. “And [we] want to show off things that might make their house just as comfortable and inviting and enjoyable…. You’ve always been taught—you've got people coming over. What are the things you do to make the biggest impact? You want to pick up; you want to make sure the toilet is clean. The places they may go and see something that doesn’t look great, those are the places you want to touch first.”

So, the next time you stop by Minkology, make sure to tour the entire house—not just the front room. Glance at the vintage pieces in the back. Grab a cup of Lemon Crunch or Chocolate Chip ice cream at Scoops By Mink. Venture into the workshop, which is not only where we complete creative projects on commission and offer classes ranging from cookie icing design to leather lanyard-making, but also an additional space to browse! No matter what you’re looking for at Minkology, you’re sure to find something special in one of our rooms to make your house feel more like home.