Unique store in Lakeside closing after 17 years

By Andrea Busche

Serendipity, a unique shop located in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood, featuring an eclectic mix of new and vintage items, is closing its doors after 17 years in business. The 2021 holiday season will be their last.

“It’s so bittersweet,” explained Gayle Healy, who co-owns the shop with her mother, Shirley Johnson. “We’re going to miss the people — our customers. The people have made it so special for us. That’s what it’s all about.”

“But Mom is 93 now,” Healy added. “She’s doing well, but she has stepped back in the last few years. This was always our dream — to open the shop together. So, it’s lost a bit of its luster; it’s just time.”

Healy becomes emotional when thinking about closing her doors. But she also has exciting new adventures to look forward to.

As well as reflecting on Serendipity’s history as a staple in Lakeside, Healy also shared some of her future plans, including her continuing sales of unique vintage items in the area.

History

Prior to opening her shop, Healy, who lives in Duluth’s Hunter’s Park neighborhood, worked at Maurices corporate offices in Duluth for 23 years. Healy and her beloved mother had talked about opening a shop together for years.

As regular Serendipity shoppers know, the shop is located in a large, two-story house at 4407 E. Superior St.

“We found the house online,” Healy said. “I remember it like it was yesterday. We looked at it that night. We both looked at

This Christmas-themed display at Serendipity shows just a portion of holiday gifts as well as home decor available at the shop. each other and said, ‘This is it.’ We had a lot of fun naming every room — we have the cabin room, the clothing room, the kitchen, the dining room, etc.”

Serendipity opened its doors Oct. 6, 2004.

Together, the women worked hard to make their shared vision a reality. Healy also noted tremendous gratitude for her husband’s help and support.

“I couldn’t have done this without my husband, Roger Healy,” she said.

Healy and Johnson traveled regularly to major markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas to source their new items. They found their vintage wares at places like flea markets, vintage sales, estate sales and garage sales.

Healy described Serendipity’s style as “an eclectic mix of new and vintage,” and explained that the meaning of the word serendipity is “finding the unexpected.”

Merchandise

Serendipity offers a wide array of items, including:

• Clothing for women and babies.

• Seasonal items (holiday, fall, and Halloween décor).

• Garden items.

• Vintage décor.

• Home décor – with a special slant toward the lodge/cabin theme.

• Kitchen items.

• Gourmet food items, including marshmallows, popcorn, and peanut brittle.

• Jewelry.

The Christmas season has always been a busy one for Healy and Johnson.

“Our fourth quarter is always our biggest,” Healy said. “That’s when we make about 65% of our annual sales.”

Over the years, many shoppers have purchased jewelry, clothing and Serendipity’s decorative gnomes to give away as Christmas gifts.

“We sold over 2,000 gnomes just last year,” Healy said. “And we sell these plaid, flannel ‘shackets’ — a combination of a shirt and a jacket — that are really popular.”

When it comes to decorating a home for the holiday season,

Healy has a few trendy tips to offer.

“The natural look is really big. I personally really like the ‘nature part’ of decorating for Christmas, too,” she said, “wood, pinecones, deer, berries, things like that.”

Shoppers still have one more season to do their holiday shopping at Serendipity. The store will remain open through January 2022.

Future plans

After the holidays, Healy and Johnson will sell the brick-andmortar shop, along with everything in it. However, they are retaining their business name.

“I want to keep doing vintage shows, like the Duluth Junk Hunt and other pop-ups,” Healy said. “Going forward, all of my items will be vintage, though.”

Healy refers to her future as “semi-retirement.”

The future of

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