A relatively new retail store devoted to eco-friendly consumerism is moving into new digs after only four years of being in businesses.
Sustainable Goods is moving from the 1200 block of Main Avenue to a bigger, more central location at 680 Main Ave. in downtown Durango. The move will take the shop from 800 square feet to 1,323 square feet. It is the former location of Karyn Gabaldon Fine Arts.
Claire Attkisson, owner of Sustainable Goods, said she is thrilled to continue offering eco-friendly products to the community on a much larger scale. She said the increased square footage will allow her to stock more clothing brands made with sustainable materials.
The larger space has also allowed the store to partner with Revival Goods, a local business focused on fair trade products.
Emily Schmidt, owner of Revival Goods, said the store will be a collaboration between the two businesses. They will both maintain their individual branding and work with different vendors while sharing the space.
Schmidt said there is a lot of overlap between fair trade – a sustainable sourcing model meant to improve the livelihoods of producers and workers – and eco-friendly products.
“So many of the products that are made fair trade are just naturally made sustainably, because a lot of the artisans are working with the resources around them,” she said.
Attkisson said the businesses have been discussing the possibility of a collaboration for about a year.
The move follows the death of Karyn Gabaldon, a staple of Durango’s art community, whose art gallery occupied the building for many years.
Gabaldon had developed relationships with many local jewelers over the years and provided a place for them to display and retail their work.
“We will be continuing with several of her jewelers in our space, so we'll be able to retain some of those amazing jewelers that people have come to love,” Attkisson said. “... We are so grateful to Karyn Gabaldon. Her eye for beauty is just second to none in this community.”
Sustainable Goods previously sold coffee in addition to merchandise, allowing customers to shop with a warm beverage in hand. Attkisson said she will no longer be serving coffee.
“Now that we're right downtown, we've got two coffee shops right next door, and we just don't want to compete with that,” she said.
This will be the store’s third move and its largest location. Attkisson began with a small storefront in the Smiley Building and found a market.
With a five-year lease, and the option to renew it for another five, Attkisson hopes the new location will be the store’s “forever home.”
A soft opening will be held 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at 680 Main Ave. Food and drinks will be served, and there will be a pop up appearance from Fusion Permanent Jewelry.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
