DULUTH — The Sleepy Sparrow has nestled in as the newest member of the Lincoln Park Craft District retail scene.
The clothing and gift shop is located at 2022 W. Superior St. in Suite B. The space served as the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 137 for decades before it relocated to Proctor last year.
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Built in 1913 as a 5- and 10-cent variety store, the Mohaupt Block building was purchased by Martin Sawinski of Emjayees Properties LLC in 2007 for $193,500, according to St. Louis County tax records.
In addition to The Sleepy Sparrow, the historical structure is also home to Stronghold Tattoo Studio and upper-level offices. According to the Family Rise Together website , a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) Small Business/Entrepreneurial Center plans to open in the building soon.
Owner Kayla Leveille has dreamed since childhood of owning a shop similar to the ones her family frequented during camping trips.
“I always just loved walking around and looking at all the things,” Leveille said. “To be able to have your own shop and pick what you want and like, build the community, build relationships. I want my shop to be a place where people come in and they feel welcome and they enjoy coming there. I want to create that because that's what I have experienced.”
Leveille, who lives in the Proctor area with her five children, fiance and his six children, recognized that “perfect timing” doesn't exist and decided to take the leap and chase her dream.
“You find those little snippets of time that you can work, and you just pump out what you can,” she said. “Then you go back to your family and making dinner.”
Since leasing the space, Leveille has been busy peeling away the layers of flooring to unveil the original hardwood. With a fresh coat of green paint on the walls and a touch of bronze to the old tin ceiling, The Sleepy Sparrow made its debut during a grand opening Nov. 21.
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Balancing a busy home life with launching a start-up has been a challenge, Leveille admitted, but the community has offered ample support.
After forming a business plan with the help of the Small Business Development Center in Duluth, she sought mentorship through the Entrepreneur Fund and began listening to like-minded podcasts.
Inspiration and advice were also drawn from Leveille’s siblings, who each have entrepreneurial ventures across the country, including photography, a home inspection business and maple syrup farming.
“The Lincoln Park community has also been very helpful,” Leveille said. “Everyone just is welcoming, supportive, and if you ever have any questions or need anything, they're always willing to help out.”
While there are several similar retail shops in the Craft District, The Sleepy Sparrow sets itself apart by offering unique items with a heavy focus on fair trade and ethically sourced goods.
The 1,300-square-foot newly renovated store offers a wide variety of clothing options, games, home goods and toys. Earrings and bags are among the shop’s most popular merchandise among customers. Magnetic Scrabble boards have also been a big hit this holiday season.
“I try to find things that not everyone else has because I don't want to steal business away from anyone else,” Leveille said. “I, myself, love to come to Lincoln Park and just go to one of the coffee shops, and on a beautiful summer day walk in and out of the shops. It's just fun. It's peaceful. I love the whole artsy feel of what the community has been able to create.”
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The Trust Project
