5 minute read
EMPORIUM
Like a crow, charismatic Emporium’s owner Darren Marshall is attracted to shiny objects. Since he was young, he’s been an avid collector of anything sparkly and beautiful. He reveals, “I don’t buy things that I don’t love.” Darren has a natural gift for interacting with people, and a visit to his shop feels like being welcomed into his home. He says, “My store is a reflection of me,” and notes that his home is similar to his gorgeous Emporium.
He previously owned the store Magpie on Main Street for five years. After it closed, he sold online and at auctions for a few years, but felt the timing was right to begin a new venture. Earlier this year, Darren drove by the vacant storefront that had been home to Alma Vintage. He instantly knew he had found the perfect location for his new shop with its two large windows, perfectly situated in front of a bus stop. The store opened on March 12.
Pantone’s Radiant Orchid was chosen for the exterior—a bold, inviting purple that turns heads. Vibrant hanging baskets add curbside appeal. The interior renovations were largely tackled by the multi-talented owner, with some help from his friends. He custom-created rich shades of lapis, rose quartz and malachite for the walls and added crown moulding, shelving, and track lighting. He’s created a place you simply don’t want to leave.
Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, he transformed the storefront into three separate spaces. With retail space at a premium, Darren saw no need for a storeroom; instead, he used every inch for display. The result is like visiting a three-room art gallery.
Darren’s background in interior design shines through in the gorgeous vignettes he creates.
One should allow time to slow down and explore every carefully curated corner of Emporium. Look up, look down, there are treasures in every direction. You’ll find vintage and antique glass, ceramics, lighting, jewellery, artwork, and so much more.
As the saying goes, “If you build it, they will come.” Sure enough, customers began arriving as soon as the store opened. “Dunbar is a very supportive community,” says Darren.
Customers come from all over the Lower Mainland to visit Emporium. His Instagram followers are growing, and word of mouth is spreading. Visit @sparklydarren on Instagram and you’ll discover, just like the music he plays in-store, his posts are paired with a thoughtfully curated soundtrack. Nina Simone is one of his favourite singers, and her vibe fits the shop like a glove.
He often hears customers say, “This is just what Dunbar needed.”
People have been incredibly positive about this one-of-a-kind business. Darren is getting to know people’s names, and friendships are forming. He says, “This is much more about community than commerce.”
Darren loves a good party, which presents an opportunity to dress up and socialize. At Emporium’s lavish grand opening, he served bubbly, a six-foot-long charcuterie platter (yes, you read that right!) and croquembouche from neighbouring business Toña, of which he is a big fan.
His fascination with collecting began when Darren was just a little boy. His mother took him to a farm auction and gave him $5, and after teaching him how to bid, he was off to the races. Darren spotted a box containing Wonder Woman comics (he had a massive crush on Lynda Carter) and placed his first bid. Little did he know that the box held more valuable items beneath the comics, including a carnival glass pedestal bowl valued at $300, which a woman bought from him on the spot, and assorted gold jewellery worth around $400.
His passion for buying and selling collectibles truly took off in his twenties, when Darren scoured vintage and church sales. Today, he mostly visits people, often those downsizing their homes, by appointment.
With 40 years of experience and a keen eye for quality, Darren is well-versed in the history and stories behind the pieces he sells, from their country of origin to their makers.
“My days are long, often 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, but I needed to do something positive, and opening the store was it,” Darren says. “This is a place of positivity, and it gives me a reason to get up and get dressed. I like talking to people.”
Emporium isn’t bound to any particular period. It contains treasures from the early 1800s to 2010. Darren comments, “Every era has bursts of good, and sometimes genius, design.”
How does he classify Sparkly Darren’s Curated Emporium of Incomparable Vintage Goods? “It’s a marriage of home décor and antiques that is relevant to what people are looking for today. It doesn’t have to be old; it has to be beautiful. You won’t find any plastic here.”
Emporium
4315 Dunbar Street Vancouver, BC V6S 2G2
Phone 778-772-2736
Instagram @sparklydarren
Article by Sarah Gordon (August 2025) @PallaMedia
