Endless treasures await at Riverside Resale Shop

FORT MADISON - Finding a consignment shop in the area that housed both clothes and one of a kind, vintage furniture was difficult until Riverside Resale Shop came into town. In fact, one of the two owners, Tenneille Speer, saw the empty space on Avenue G that previously held Shug's Toy Store, and said to her husband Kris that they have to do something with the space.
"Kris and I were tired of seeing these buildings vacant. There's two apartments upstairs and then this amazing retail space downstairs. So I told Kris we need to buy it, we need to do something with it. Kris was like, "Well, what are you gonna do?" and I said I'm gonna open a resale shop," said Tenneille.
They are renting out the apartments above their shop, as well.
Tenneille has a lifelong affinity of "digging" through vintage stores and the potential of each find.
"My whole life has been a treasure hunt," Speer exclaimed as she talked about how she used to visit vintage stores wherever she could find them. 

What got them started in the business is a passion to bring more life to downtown selling unique furniture and clothes, but also making sure to keep prices affordable for a largely low-income community. 
"That really was the biggest trigger, having household items, clothing, home goods, sofas, chairs - for them to be able to afford to furnish a home for themselves."
Tenneille said the idea sprung from them wanting to try to figure out something to put downtown and get more people coming down not only to them, but the other small businesses as well. For the Speers, community is the foundation of their business.
"So we are just trying to get everybody to go stop at Pool 19, or Junque to Gems, or stop in at My Sister's Closet."
As one walks in to Riverside Resale Shop, you get a warm greeting from Tenneille, Kris, or one of their kind employees. Need a new mixer but also shoes for an interview? Or perhaps a chase lounge? Riverside Resale Shop has it.
The shop is at 820 Avenue G, and their business hours are Monday through Friday from  9 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM - 5 PM.