Nearly six years ago, in April 2000, Paula Baker bought Gypsy Trader, a consignment shop originally located on North 45th Street and Wallingford Avenue North, from its original owner.
Five years after, she moved the shop to 3517 Stone Way N., she expanded the business to include a second store across the street, at 3510 Stone Way N. That store has become Gypsy Java and Gypsy Trader Home Store. It is both a café and a consignment shop, primarily devoted to home items.
Eyeing the move
Baker, who lives in an apartment above Gypsy Trader with her husband, Greg, had a dog-training school in North Carolina, turning their hobby into a business. When she came to Seattle, she knew she could do it again.
Admittedly a longtime "treasure hunter" who enjoys shopping at consignment shops and antiques malls, Baker decided that she could run the already successful consignment shop if the previous owner would work with her for a month and teach her about the business. The owner agreed.
About 18 months after buying Gypsy Trader, Baker relocated it to its current site, between Fremont and Wallingford. Then she looked out across the street from her rooftop balcony and spotted the building that was to be home to Gypsy Java.
Instantly, she knew that she wanted to own that place as well.
Nearly four years later, she got what she wanted, opening Gypsy Java Café and Home Store last May.
More work, more support
Baker's decision to open up the second shop was an obvious one for her.
"I felt it was the right direction to go," she said. "I'm very encouraged and pleased about how it's grown and the regular customers that we get."
Baker said that the transition from owning one shop to owning two has "been a real learning experience."
Her biggest challenge has been the amount of paperwork, which has tripled since she opened the second shop. In fact, Baker devotes an entire day out of each week to doing paperwork.
On those days, as well as on weekends, which Baker takes off, her husband works at Gypsy Trader. He also handles all the computer work.
"He's a very intricate part of the store," Baker said of her husband. "I'm very blessed to have someone like him who supports me."
Baker also gets a lot of help and support from her employees, including Gypsy Java manager Nicole Sonne. Sonne started working at Gypsy Trader four years ago, and when Baker bought the second shop, Sonne went over to run it.
"It's a good challenge," Sonne said. "It's nice to have a change after [just] doing the consignment shop for three years."
Feeling at home
Gypsy Java offers a one-stop place to shop, have lunch and drink coffee. In addition to its offerings of sandwiches and soup, the café also serves organic coffee and vegan products.
"I think it's a perfect fit," Baker said. "People like to take their coffee and walk around. The flow is excellent...very easy-going."
"We're [also] very family-friendly," Sonne asserted. "Kids can come in and sit in the kids' corner while the parents shop."
"It's a very comfortable atmosphere," Baker added. "It's very warm. I just think it's absolutely charming.... I feel at home [here]."
According to Baker, both shops get a lot of the same customers. In fact, when someone buys something at Gypsy Trader, the receipt offers 50 cents off a coffee at Gypsy Java.
Baker seems to really enjoy the businesses that she's created and kept going: "It's very labor-intensive, but it's very rewarding," she said.[[In-content Ad]]
