Vintage Charm Awaits: O'Brien's Dry Goods Opens This Wednesday in Downtown St. Cloud

O'Brien's Dry Goods , a new antique and vintage store is set to open in downtown St. Cloud on Wednesday.

The store's gentle launch begins on Wednesday, and O'Brien mentioned he is thrilled to witness customers inside the store at last.

I’m genuinely thrilled about seeing the number of attendees," he stated. "It seems it’s going to be quite chaotic during the initial few days, which will be wild. ... This level of anticipation from folks eager to check things out has never happened before.

The store offers a blend of vintage apparel sourced from owner Chad O'Brien’s personal collection along with vinyl records and collector pieces. A significant portion includes retro merchandise associated with educational institutions around the St. Cloud region.

O'Brien initiated renovation work on the area at the beginning of this year with the aim of reverting it to its former condition. This involved reinstating the tin ceiling and wooden flooring as well as installing new windows along the rear wall. Additionally, he has planned to paint one side of the shop facing the alleyway so that local artists can transform it into mural spaces.

O'Brien has resided in St. Cloud for approximately 25 years. Prior to switching careers, he was employed in banking. Following an exploration of several locations downtown, he ultimately discovered his ideal space in December.

O'Brien mentioned that positioning his enterprise in a historic downtown storefront held great significance for him, and he appreciates the sense of community that comes from having a downtown location.

"He mentioned that there were numerous alternatives beyond downtown, but they held no appeal for him. The location had to be downtown; it absolutely needed to be in an older structure. His vision involved rescuing and restoring such a building," he explained.

O'Brien's Dry Goods similarly collaborated with the City of St. Cloud for the restoration of the building, utilizing assistance provided through the Downtown Exterior Improvement Grant Program.

"I genuinely feel very supported in downtown thanks to all the various organizations," O'Brien stated.

The store rapidly became crowded with additional sellers eager to join the marketplace, offering shoppers plenty of products to look through upon its launch next week. During the inaugural day, O'Brien's Dry Goods will offer complimentary coffee and goodies, and he intends to celebrate with a grand opening event at the location sometime between late May and early June.

After opening on Wednesday, O'Brien's Dry Goods will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. 611 West Saint Germain Street

Teagan King reports on business and development for the St. Cloud Times. You can reach her at teking@gannett.com.

The article initially appeared on St. Cloud Times: The vintage and antique shop O'Brien's Dry Goods will be inaugurating its doors on Wednesday in downtown St. Cloud.