Rising Stars: Meet Gretchen Davey of Orange

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen Davey.

Hi Gretchen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Groovy Ghost Vintage was founded by my husband, Steve Molina, and myself, but the beginnings of our vintage business dates back to 2013. Steve enjoyed vintage reselling online and finally found a spot within Orange Circle Antique Mall to expand to. He did this as a side hustle in addition to his corporate job. We met in 2019 and I began joining him on his picks. We expanded to 3 stores within the Orange Circle totaling around 10 booths and cases combined. In summer of 2023, we were approached by another antique vendor about a shop in the Circle closing down. The shop wanted to pass their lease on to another vintage shop and also sell their inventory as a whole. We jumped at the opportunity – it is rare to find affordable rent within the Circle. From there, we helped sell off the prior inventory and opened our doors within a month. Since then, we’ve made sure to become involved within our community. The Circle gives the small town feeling like no other, it’s rare to walk down the street without seeing someone you know. We absolutely love being here and doing what we love.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Small business is tough – every small business owner will tell you that. It’s been a bit hectic with various things, but since we are in such a high foot traffic area, it has balanced out. With a college nearby, we always have students coming through, but when they’re on break – we definitely notice the dip.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Groovy Ghost Vintage isn’t a typical vintage store with grandma’s dusty antiques. We made a conscious effort to not use the word antique and chose to focus on vintage. To some, they don’t see the difference. Antique is considered to be an item over 100 years old, while vintage begins at only 20 years old. So, we like the nostalgia of the 1960’s to 1990’s and focus on that. We keep ourselves involved in the community, attending events and meetings, getting to know our fellow local businesses. We also now host a vintage market every other month at the American Legion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://groovyghostvintage.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/groovyghostvintage
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/groovyghostvintage

Image Credits
personal photo: city of orange
store photos: Gretchen Davey