D: Why the move?
DM: We just needed more space. Our inventory has been dispersed between two old houses and a warehouse for 39 years. As you can imagine, things were getting cluttered. We wanted to find a space where we could fit everything, so we ended up buying a 45,000-square-foot warehouse in the Design District. The houses provided good ambience for selling antiques, but the new place allows us to build our own vignettes.
D: Why the Design District?
DM: The area has always been a destination for designers and decorators, so most of our customers were already down here. Plus, the large structures of the warehouses are more conducive to our type of display. Even though it’s mostly open to the trade, everyone will still be welcome to shop with us.
DM: We still carry the same things we carried at the old location—we just have room to display all of it. We’ve added a separate lighting business called Uncommon Lighting. My nephew Scott and his wife, Laura, run it. So it’s one-stop-shopping—people are able to wander between two stores under one roof.
D:
What was your inspiration for the new space?DM: We get to start with a clean palette. We’re able to incorporate our large circus banners and carnival tent pieces. Plus, we’re able to hang our racing skulls from the ceiling.
D: What was the biggest challenge?
DM: We’ve managed to accumulate a ton of things over the years. People thought we were crazy to consider moving. The reconstruction took longer than expected, so the most daunting task was trying to keep one location selling during the process. It wasn’t seamless.
Uncommon Market
100 Riveredge Dr.
214-871-2775
uncommonmarketdallas.com