(Image: Glasswing)
As Capitol Hill’s independent retailers welcome holiday shoppers, fashion and design shop Glasswing is celebrating a decade of shopping on Melrose — and plans for a leafy Pike expansion that will help boost its growing “plant design” business.
“I was just looking at photos of the shop when we opened in 2013, and it’s truly amazing to see the growth of where we were then, and where we are now,” co-owner of Glasswing, Alisa Furoyama said. “Today, it feels full of life and with such thoughtful care put into every little corner of our space. We can only exist and continue working on this project because of our amazing customers and community.”
Following several years operating as a pop-up shop, Glasswing signed their first lease a decade ago at 1525 Melrose Ave. November 24th marks their 10 year anniversary.
Now, Glasswing has signed a new lease in a warehouse space connected to Victrola Coffee on Pike Street to create more room for its Greenhouse Plant Design team after it shuttered its E Olive Way greenhouse shop to start the year.
“Unfortunately, we only had a year before the pandemic closures of 2020, and after trying to reopen, we realized that location wasn’t going to be a good fit going forward,” Furoyama said.
Glasswing’s plant offerings have continued to be in high demand, Furoyama said. The newly leased Pike St. location will allow the greenhouse team enough space for upcoming projects.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t a retail space, but we do foresee possibly hosting community events in that space in the future,” Furoyama said.
Parker Jackson, Glasswing’s plant specialist and buyer, sources the unique and indoor plant collection that’s on display and includes easy-to-grow classics like snake plants, and more rare specimens. Furoyama said the shop’s greenhouse section allows individuals to connect with nature in their homes in numerous ways.
(Image: Glasswing)
“Over the summer, we were able to host our workshops off-site next door in the Melrose Market, and will be looking for a new space in 2024, so stay tuned!,” Furoyama said.
Emerging from the pandemic, Glasswing feels well-positioned to host events, and is excited to plan for the 2024 calendar year.
“The in-store experience is so important to us and something we put a lot of love and passion into,” Furoyama said. “Our goal is to have our space feel like an immersive experience that’s engaging all of your senses coupled with genuine care and customer service from our time.”
She sees value in continuing to slowly expand the shop, and feels great about what the shop and the team have accomplished thus far.
“We feel such immense gratitude that people continue to shop small and support their local businesses,” Furoyama said.
This Black Friday, advocates, including individuals of Indigenous Nations, are calling for a boycott on big box stores, with rallies and disruptions expected to take place across the country as part of annual protest against large corporations and the heightened concerns over the war in Gaza. Glasswing and the community of independent retailers on Capitol Hill represent a healthy alternative to the Amazons and Wal Marts of the world. The store has also made part of its mission sharing stories about its fellow shops and designers as part of its social media efforts.
Glasswing doesn’t host Black Friday sales, but this year there are plenty of annual anniversary sales, which will run online and in-person until November 27th, with 20% discounts.
They will also be celebrating the opening of a new neighbor — CHS reported here on the Levantine flavors and natural wines part of a new Melrose Market venue from Ahmed Suliman and Marc Papineau.
“On Friday night after we close up shop, our team will be popping next door to the Melrose Market to celebrate our anniversary,” Furoyama said. “Please join us at the newly opened Cafe Sulliman and Cantina Sauvage space!”
Glasswing is located at 1525 Melrose. Learn more at glasswingshop.com.
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