Downtown gift shop Daisy Janes is relocating this week to a significantly larger space at 9 W. Old State Capitol Plaza.
Owner Julie Johnson started the business six years ago as a second career following her retirement from the medical technology field. I had sold things at Studio on 6th and Wild Rose downtown, and my husband suggested I open a place for myself, she said.
Johnson opened the business in December 2016 in 1,000 square feet of space at 424 E. Monroe. The business has grown over the past few years and Johnson has continued to add new product lines, such as baby and childrens items. We had accumulated quite a lot in our itty-bitty space on Monroe, she said. We got to the point we were just too crowded for our space, but I didnt want to scale back.
Instead, Johnson decided to expand, and will now occupy 3,000 square feet on the Old State Capitol Plaza. The space, which housed Marleys Pub at one time, has been vacant for more than five years, and Johnson said her landlord purchased the property last year and began making improvements.
"Its been a big job, and its almost finished, but the space isnt quite ready for us, Johnson said. She is in the process of moving this week and plans to have a soft opening Saturday, Nov. 5, but has decided to postpone the ribbon cutting and grand opening until Nov. 19 due to the façade work that is still underway.
Truth Lounge recently moved into the building at the corner of Fifth and Adams streets and The Wakery, a dry bar and late-night coffee shop, is scheduled to open next door to Daisy Janes in the first part of 2023.
It will be nice to have another woman-owned business next door, said Johnson, who is encouraged by the various types of new businesses moving into the downtown area.
Johnson said shes also looking forward to being able to expand her existing product lines and add new ones now that she has more space for the business. Im always finding new small businesses making unique items I want to try out, she said.