The newest addition to ever-changing Uptown Minneapolis comes from a neighborhood retail veteran. Best remembered for the groundbreaking Uptown clothing boutique Tessudo in the ’90s, Ursula Galanos was one of the first in town to carry elite designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Anna Sui. With her new concept, Shine On, she expands beyond the scope of clothing and accessories to include home goods, apothecary items, and gifts.
When Galanos shuttered Tessudo a decade ago, she took a break from business to focus on starting a family. In the years since, she’s done home renovations and worked on the sales floor at Patina. So when she was ready to open a new store, it was only natural that she would shift her focus from exclusively fashion to home goods.
Shine On carries everything from gluten-free and pescetarian cookbooks to Minnesota-themed goods, décor items, kitchen accessories, and locally made art. Gift ideas include swan-shaped tea infusers displayed alongside Corkcicle wine chillers and dish towels bearing 1950s imagery and irreverent phrases. Its strongest facet, though, is its apothecary, which contains an assortment of beautifully packaged candles, soaps, fragrances, and lotions
by Seda France, Kalastyle, Paddywax, and Minnesota brands Illume and J.R. Watkins.
The fashion-and-home-goods hybrid appears to be a burgeoning retail model in the Twin Cities. But compared to minimalist shops Mille, Idun, and Parc Boutique, Shine On has a decidedly funkier vibe.
For fans of the former Tessudo, Galanos intends to inject her new storefront with more of the same eclectic point of view. Her treasure trove includes vintage purses from Prada, Valentino, and Carolina Herrera; exotic statement jewelry; and bohemian maxi skirts, embroidered tops, and casual-chic dresses from up-and-coming designers from around the world.
Shine On
908 W. Lake St., Mpls.
612-886-1499
shineonshop.com
