Aloha Vintage Mercantile LLC has reached full vendor capacity a month after opening its doors to the public at the Trent & Argonne Plaza, in Spokane Valley.

“There’s been so much community support coming in here so far,” says owner Amanda Tracy. “It’s awesome and encouraging.” 

The store operates at 8901 E. Trent, Suite 108B, in Spokane Valley's Millwood neighborhood, tucked into a strip mall east of a Safeway grocery store at the northwest corner of the Trent Avenue and Argonne Road. 

Aloha Vintage has 23 different vendors that showcase a mix of vintage goods, antiques, upcycled fashion, handcrafted leather work, resin art, 3D-printed items, furniture, and collectibles.

“Some of them just hand-make everything,” Tracy says of the vendors. “And some of them have all vintage and antiques. There are lots of crafters and some have just upcycled clothing.”

Tracy spent three years as vendor manager at Spokane Valley-based Pine Street Market before it was purchased by Rebel Junk LLC. In her previous role there she cultivated relationships with more than 150 vendors. By the time the market's ownership changed hands, Tracy says she was ready to go out on her own.

“It was the kick in the pants I needed to do something on my own,” she says.

With 30 years in retail — largely in the corporate world before shifting to small business — Tracy says her experience, paired with strong vendor connections, helped shape Aloha Vintage’s collaborative model. The retail space provides a mix of designated booth spaces, as well as a commission-only system for smaller or sporadic contributors.

“(Vendors) work really hard on their booths,” she says. “And most of them have full-time jobs. Most of us have a couple side gigs to make ends meet. … This gives them an outlet to get rid of stuff they either make, or stuff they love shopping for but don’t want to accumulate in their garages.”

Tracy’s affection for vintage items stretches back to her childhood. Many items in the store stir up memories from her grandmother’s kitchen or her parents’ cabinets, including Betty Crocker cookbooks, Pyrex kitchenware, and century-old books, says Tracy.

“I grew up in that universe,” she says. “My grandma and my entire family were both junk collectors and treasure collectors. Old stuff tells a story. It has energy. ... Everything is disposable nowadays. I love finding furniture and old stuff that’s made to last.”

The name of the business, Tracy says, was inspired by a recent trip to Hawaii, where she returned feeling refreshed and inspired.

“I got back from (a trip to) Hawaii in July and everybody was a bit cranky,” Tracy explains. “I thought, ‘There’s no Aloha here,’ so I’m going to bring Aloha to Spokane. We’re going to bring the spirit.”

That spirit, she says, shows up in the variety of Aloha Vintage's vendors, many of whom are friends, family, and former colleagues. For instance, one current vendor specializes in items made of leather, crafting handbags, purses, and refinished furniture. That vendor operates a neighboring booth to their mother, who offers upcycled clothing to patrons.

Another vendor previously spent three years working at The Walt Disney Co. and now brings in Disney-exclusive merchandise, movie posters, and collectible pins. 

“She has a lot of stuff you can’t get anymore,” Tracy says. “You can only get it here.” 

A longtime former colleague, who Tracy describes as the “heart and soul” of Pine Street Market, occupies a curated booth filled with vintage china, linens, jewelry, and a other collections.

“She loves buttons,” Tracy says of her former colleague. “She has a storage room back here and it’s almost completely full of buttons. She can’t stop.” 

Aloha Vintage operates Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tracy is the only employee at the store.

“We’ll keep these hours at least through the holidays,” she says. “If we’re really busy, we’ll stay open seven days a week.” 

Small bites: 

Chavelitas Pub Grill & Cantina, located at 22302 E. Country Vista Drive at the Trailhead Golf Course in Liberty Lake, opened its doors Nov. 15. As previously reported by the Journal, Chavelitas offers a fusion of Mexican and American cuisine. The menu features a mix of signature items from owners Vanessa Orozco and her father, Tony Orozco. The dishes are inspired by their two other restaurants: Spokane Valley-based Casey’s Place and Coeur d’Alene-based Las Chavelas.

Cheney-based Barrelhouse Pub & Pizza has opened a second location in downtown Spokane, at 157 S. Howard. According to the company's website, the restaurant opened has been operating since 2017 and serves handmade pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, and salads.