REXBURG—For Cole Saunders and Brady Tarkalson, finding vintage clothing is about more than stocking the shelves of their Rexburg store.
“Part of our jobs is just going out and treasure hunting every day,” Tarkalson said. “There’s just a big rush feeling when you find something insane, and you put in the work to find it, and it just feels amazing.”
Saunders and Tarkalson are the owners of The Closet, a vintage clothing store in Rexburg specializing in pre-owned clothing, media and other pieces from the past. The two started by selling clothes online and at pop-up events before opening their first physical location on Main St. earlier this year.
Within months, the business outgrew its original space, leading the owners to move into a larger location at 136 S. 1st W., near the BYU-Idaho track, Northpoint and The Cedars.
The move has allowed Saunders and Tarkalson to display more of their inventory and create different spaces throughout the store, including rooms dedicated to sports, media and denim.
“One of the fun parts about the new store location is we were able to decorate it and just deck it out in old vintage posters, memorabilia and all that stuff,” Saunders said. “So, you get a really nostalgic feeling when you walk in.”
The Closet operates on a buy, sell and trade model. Customers can bring in clothing they no longer want and potentially sell or trade those pieces for something in the store. Saunders and Tarkalson also find inventory through estate sales, yard sales, thrift stores, original owner collections and other vintage sellers.
The owners hope The Closet can become more than a place to shop. They want the store to provide another place for people in Rexburg to gather and find something to do.
“We just want to add a little bit of flavor, a little something for people to do on weekends, events for people to go to, and just a fun place for people to visit,” Saunders said.
That goal includes hosting local events at the store. This Saturday, Oct. 9, The Closet will host a vintage market featuring vendors selling clothing, handmade goods, jewelry and other items.
Beyond the events and clothing, Saunders said one of his favorite parts of the store is seeing customers recognize pieces from their own past.
“We’ve had a lot of 30-50 year-old people where they walk in and they’re like, ‘Oh, I remember seeing and getting this, you know, when I was a kid, or this was really big when I was a kid,’” Saunders said. “And I think that’s really fun for people to be able to come in and see stuff that they saw in their childhood or that they remember from back in the day.”
For Saunders and Tarkalson, The Closet is a way to give pieces from the past another life while creating a place for the Rexburg community to shop, gather and make new memories.