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One-stop Vintage at Shared Space

Bringing a shared vision in vintage shopping to Broadway

Providence Monthly Magazine ·

If you haven’t wandered by 140 Broadway recently, you should definitely make it a priority. An old office building is currently in the process of transforming into something incredible – hosting retail space for small business owners and vintage collectors, gallery space for local artists, classrooms for art classes, workshops and more inside, and a large parking lot out front for outdoor craft markets and community events. What is this veritable treasure trove of cute clothes and accessories, crafts, trinkets, gifts, community and healing space all in one, you ask? A coming together of a number of local businesses and entrepreneurs called Share Space.

Dana Kretzmann, founder of the shop White Buffalo and owner of the building that hosts Share Space, gave me a tour. White Buffalo occupies the front of the building, offering a fun collection of vintage and handmade goods. It has a totally earthy feel – Dana’s handmade jewelry line Brave features cool and simple pieces with interesting stones. She also has a line of natural bath products called Harvest Moon, sews floor cushions and has plans to get back to sculpting. Before Share Space, White Buffalo moved around a lot, hosting a number of pop-ups and at one point occupying a space next to The Grange. Now, the store has found a home – and it’s not alone.

Dana shows me around the still developing space, each store offering a similar vibe of funky earthiness but each with its own unique aesthetic. The theme of vintage and handmade is apparent throughout, all of them complementing each other without direct overlap. Artifacts Collection is put together by a young woman who makes her own jewelry and also collects fair-trade wares from around the world. I Want a Pony is a boutique featuring handmade vintage and vintage-inspired pieces. The owner redoes furniture and the shop also has a ton of cute kids clothes. Other shops include Vintiques, Mirrorball Boutique and Vintage on the Rocks. There’s also gallery space for local artists, a nonprofit that does art and problem solving with kids and a studio for Reiki.

“As a small business it’s really hard to do it alone, so I feel like people now feel comfortable under the umbrella of Share Space to start a business, because it’s not as scary,” says Dana on the rapid number of business joining in on the space. She discusses the warm sense of community fostered within Share Space
– everyone is able to do their work and run their individual businesses but also help each other out. “We’ve just so quickly become like family, and we all have each other’s backs,” says Dana.

Share Space also hopes to be an important place for the larger community. This fall, they’ll have outdoor markets on Friday nights, featuring live music, vendors and food trucks in the spacious front parking lot (September 4 and 18 from 6-10pm). Dana also discusses plans for outdoor movie nights, fashion shows, fundraisers, community classes and workshops. As it continues to grow each day, this hip Broadway spot will definitely be one to watch.

Share Space
140 Broadway 270-8871
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