Magpies General Store in Sanford, is anything but General

From the first time I heard Magpies was opening I almost compulsively checked their Facebook page for updates. And I can finally announce that they are OPEN and Fantastic!

Magpies Modern General Store, 215 East 1st Street Sanford, FL 32771 – (407) 495-8549

I love all of the fun and unique merchandise that they offer from the oh so popular Hyppo gourmet ice pops – to local handmade bowties, unique flavors of cotton candy such as Lemon Basil and Merlot, 100% leather handbags, bat houses and hilariously labeled candles and soap that have names such as “True Artists” and smells like unemployment, combined with ramen noodles and high quality paintbrushes and is sure to help keep you from working for the man and inspires all nighters and is dead broke too (I love these you have to get in to read them all). Needless to say Magpies is a unique store indeed and is here just in time for Christmas. They’ll be on our Christmas shopping guide for sure!

I chatted with owner Maguire and her husband Chris for a bit as I walked around capturing their store and their products and I am just in love with the way they repurposed their store. They and their partners, Jackie and Kurt, collaborated in the design of this store and used wood from old barns, boats and other miscellany objects to create the walls, shelving and the beautiful mirror you’ll see below. They did a magnificent job and I just can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks about this place!

As always be sure to take some time to Welcome them to the area and maybe even treat yourself to just one of the many things they have to offer.

Magpies is open for business, but will celebrate their Grand Opening Party on December 2nd, so put on your fancy dress and shoes and join them in celebrating! Click here for more details.

Magpies Modern General Store, 215 East 1st Street Sanford, FL 32771 – (407) 495-8549

Your store has lots of unique items, how did you choose the products for the store?

I went to the Gift Market/Show in Vegas/LA and Atlanta to find unique items, from mostly small-batch companies. Many of the lines are not carried anywhere in Central Florida and some even in the entire state. I have also been curating many of my selections online and in my travels out West, over many years, finding many lines that also give back portions of their proceeds to different charities around the world.

You & your business partner, Jackie, have done a great job with this space, what are your backgrounds?

My background is over 20+ years in the retail business. Including my own women’s clothing store in Santa Fe, NM and Store Management in a couple of large national specialty clothing companies. My family and I also owned The Blue Dahlia Restaurant & Wine Bar here in Sanford, currently The Breezeway, but sold it in 2008 to spend more time at home. As for Jackie, she has always been interested in opening her own store, but has no prior experience. She currently works in the healthcare field. We decided it would be a great way for her to learn more about the retail process by becoming a minority investor and participating in the entire process of starting a store from the ground up.

What made you want to have a store in Sanford?

We have lived here for over 14 years and have watched the downtown go through many phases. I have considered opening a store for many, many years, but until now haven’t felt it was the right time. After the addition of many strong businesses and our thriving nightlife, I realized it was the best time to jump in and hopefully encourage others to join me.

Do you have future plans for the store?

We are hoping to have our online store up and running some time in January, which will allow our many visitors to Sanford the opportunity to buy from us going forward. We are interested in expanding our space some day or in possibly opening another type of retail store downtown. The more options we

 can offer in Sanford the better we will be able to support and sustain unique locally owned businesses. SUPPORT LOCAL!

Your husbands did a great job making the display pieces for the store, how did you come up with the design?

Chris and I, along with Kurt & Jackie Ewen, collaborated as a team coming up with the design organically as the space evolved. We wanted to use as many reclaimed, repurposed items as we could, so we started with the materials we all had on hand and designed pieces together.

 

Do you have a current favorite item in the store?

I have a few…I love the Ella Jude handcrafted metal and leather jewelry from Tennessee, the line of vegan all-natural body care from a 

 

mother-daughter team in California and the unique Spitfire Girl, line of fragrances, candles and wide variety of accessories created by a quirky couple from L.A., that I met at the Vegas market. Oh yeah, I am also ECSTATIC to carry gourmet ice pops from The Hyppo, based out of St. Augustine…they are amazing!

Anyone you’d like to thank?

First and foremost I would like to thank my husband Chris, our two sons Jackson and Harrison, and my Mother, Donnie for encouraging me to open this store, as well as their patience throughout this journey. Of course, I could not imagine going through all of this without Kurt and Jackie Ewen’s hard work, guidance and friendship throughout, they have been so amazing.

“We are very excited to join the downtown family of businesses all dedicated to our wonderful town. We look forward to having many unique events in the coming year and to getting to know more of the people in our community.”