BG vintage shop open for business

The old VFW building in Battle Ground’s Old Town got some new life last month thanks to local entrepreneurs Lalonie Walker and Vicki Conley.

The pair, with the help of their respective husbands Jim and Ed, opened Nest Vintage/Contemporary Furniture and Home Decor on Dec. 17, after branching out on their own from when they originally paired up as vendors at the nearby Rusty Glamour.

“We were partners for about two weeks and realized we could run our own business and have the things we like to sell,” Conley said.

Among the issues they needed to figure out was both where they would get the vendors from and where the business would be located.

“Fortunately, we discovered the VFW building, which had been rented out for various things, but was basically just red carpet and blue tape everywhere,” said Walker. “We also found there was a waiting list for vendors trying to get into the Rusty Glamour, so we were fortunate to offer them a place to go as well.”

The initial response has been so strong that within the first month, Walker and Conley now have a waiting list of their own.

While she and her husband ran a detail shop, and she’d spent the last 10 years working for C-Tran, Walker didn’t have any formal background in home decorating. Rather, it was a hobby she always enjoyed.

“If I could decorate a cave and make it look nice, I’d do it,” Walker said. “It’s always something I liked to do and my goal has always been to make my own home as inviting to friends and guests as possible.”

When they moved into the space, Conley admits she was worried how it would all take shape.

“I just kind of sat in the corner and watched a tornado of people moving around me, using electric screwdrivers and drills, banging hammers and setting up booths,” Conley said. “A few hours later though, everything looked just great.”

Nest specializes in both contemporary and vintage wares in a wide range of styles.

“We have a good mix of everything from shabby chic to elegant to country,” Walker said. “Our vendors do the pricing for their items and decorate their spaces to their liking.”

At first, Walker wasn’t sure if each 5-foot by 9-foot space would work for all 20 vendors, but its openness allowed for some creative measures in decorating.

“Fortunately, we can go vertical and use the wall space as well as the floor space. I’m pretty impressed with how everything turned out.” Walker said.

Even though she and her husband live in Orchards, Walker said she’s grown very fond of the Battle Ground area and is considering a relocation to be closer to the shop.

“We do love it here. Battle Ground’s very quickly becoming a hub for antiques and vintage shopping,” Walker said. “The great thing as we develop our business, we can send people to local restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations and hotels, so it’s really nice to be a part of the community.”

As being a part of the small, but popular group of vendors specializing in antiques, Conley and Walker said they’re all committed to growing together, rather than outdoing each other.

“We realize that if we develop as a community, everybody wins, and I really want to be involved,” Walker said.

With the store now open for business, Walker and Conley are finalizing a website which they hope will be up and running later this month, but they admit it’s taken some time to get everything started.

“We’re still waiting for our business cards to arrive,” Walker joked. “It’s always something which comes around a little later than you planned.”

Nest Vintage/Contemporary Furniture and Home Decor is located at 619 SE 1st St., in Battle Ground. Current store hours are Monday thru Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.