Miss Wonderful Vintage is a store on Main Street in Cedar Falls, IA that opened in November of 2012 by Ann Eastman and her husband. Together, they have enjoyed collecting vintage items for almost 25 years! Before Miss Wonderful Vintage, they opened Cup of Joe with the intentions of turning that into a vintage store. Following the renovations, they instead chose to make a more sustainable business, creating the 50s-inspired coffee shop that remains today. However, Miss Wonderful Vintage has been a dream of Ann’s since college. After selling Cup of Joe to a new owner, they decided to invest their profits and finally create the vintage store she had always wanted!
Ann's interest in collecting vintage began in her childhood, when her grandma would let her take items from her attic when she came to see her. This is how Ann actually came up with the idea to name her store Miss Wonderful Vintage. When her grandma passed away, her mother told her to look through the attic one more time to get a memento, and she chose a Miss Wonderful branded shoe box. She wanted to name the store after her own “Miss Wonderful” -- her grandma. To this day she keeps this shoe box on display in her store. When Ann first opened the store, she longed to share her love of vintage pieces with others like her grandmother did. Over the years the store has evolved to sell other new items, but she always has a section of the store featuring vintage items! You can find sunglasses, earrings, journals, stickers, bags, plates, candles, and more there. She loves selling items that make her happy, ones with fun patterns, shapes, bright colors, and a sense of playfulness! Ann is passionate about the products sold at Miss Wonderful Vintage, and she chooses the assortment of products and quantity wisely. Many of the new items she sells are made from sustainable or recycled fabrics. She prioritizes purchasing products from local and sustainable brands in the U.S., even if it means purchasing in smaller quantities. Some examples of this are her makeup bags that use recycled canvas, or her cards that use eco- friendly ink! Ann is also passionate about giving new life to vintage items, and reusing or recycling fabric for other products. She likes to buy from thoughtful and creative people, and support brands that care about the environment and are eco-conscious. Ann says that her favorite part of her job is the social aspect and getting to meet new people everyday. She loves sharing what she loves with others and helping people find vintage items. If you ever find yourself on Main Street in Cedar Falls, IA be sure to stop by Miss Wonderful Vintage and say “hello” to Ann! She is always looking to make new friends and show people just how passionate she is about vintage items and the other great products she sells. Words / Katie Maloney Photography / Isaac Hackman Graphic Design / Sarah Westholm & Kailie Hesner
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November 2021
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