Urban Bird & Company to open Alpena location
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ALPENA - A popular northern Michigan women's boutique is set to open its newest location in downtown Alpena this Friday, bringing clothing, shoes, accessories and gifts to the former Olivet Book & Gift space.
Lindsey Clark, owner of Urban Bird & Company, said the Alpena store will open Friday with regular hours beginning immediately. The shop will operate Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the holiday season.
Urban Bird & Company currently operates a store in downtown Cheboygan.
Clark started the business about nine and a half years ago as a short-term pop-up in Cheboygan.
"I got this crazy idea that I would open up a clothing store, and I was just going to try it as a pop-up for three months," Clark said. "We signed a short-term lease for a place in downtown Cheboygan, and I brought in furniture and fixtures from home to decorate."
The pop-up proved successful, and the business continued. Clark said the company has moved locations a couple of times in Cheboygan and recently completed a remodel of its current store there.
Clark, who studied retailing at Michigan State University, later worked in banking and economic development. Through that work, she has collaborated closely with the City of Alpena and the Alpena Downtown Development Authority for about eight years.
"I've just been advocating and championing for Alpena to continue to grow and prosper and revitalize their downtown," Clark said. "Alpena has always been something on my mind. It is just about finding the right location at the right time, and that just kind of all aligned for us right now."
The Alpena store will focus on women's clothing, shoes, accessories and some gift items. Clark said she plans to emphasize footwear, creating a shoe lounge area similar to the Cheboygan store, because she believes it fills a gap in the local market. She also aims to offer brands that complement, rather than duplicate, those already available from other Alpena retailers.
One distinctive offering will be Dune Jewelry made with sand from Lake Huron. Clark said she recently collected sand from a state park beach to send in for pieces that will be available in Alpena.
Clark said the tight timeline to open before the holidays has been the biggest challenge, with some inventory still expected to arrive and last-minute work, including painting and wallpaper, underway. Her husband is handling some of the final preparations.
Despite the rush, she praised the support received so far from the community, the DDA and the chamber.
"The more retail and, you know, shops and restaurants that you have downtown definitely makes for a more walkable, community-friendly, pedestrian-friendly environment," Clark said. "And so, we are hoping to contribute to that foot traffic for everybody."
She added that window displays are a priority for the business, noting that Urban Bird & Company is known for its seasonal displays, including elaborate Christmas ones, and that the staff is already working on them for the new store.
Clark encouraged shoppers to support local businesses throughout downtown Alpena and said the store is open to feedback.
"If there's something you like that we're doing, please let us know. And if there's something you think we could do better, also please let us know," she said. "We are here for the community. We want to offer brands and products and price points that work well for most people."
The store plans to participate in a downtown holiday tree event in November. Clark also said she has considered future events that could connect Alpena and Cheboygan.
The Alpena location is at 100 N. 2nd Ave.