When the folks at Rocket Reuse [1] closed their door at 1355 Park Street, those of us who loved the little shop for used books, movies, music, and vintage clothing engaged in a temporary tantrum. Wait, what? No more the mannequin in the window, no more rolling cart of used books tempting us as we walked by, no more dog and kid along with Eric and Katherine? Oh, the humanity! But then we leaned forward and read the notice that they were not actually ceasing operations, but moving across the street to a bigger and better location at 1424 Park Street (former home of Twirl). The announcement said there’d be a grand reopening in the spring.
[2]And now, I’m thrilled to report that it is indeed spring, the birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and this past Saturday, May 16, Rocket Reuse held a “soft” opening as part of national Vintage Store Day. So while there were just a few teaser shelves of books, delectable items from days of yore were enticingly displayed in the new space. Sturdy racks were found in larger, more comfortable areas and—my oh my—there are now two legit dressing rooms to try on that cool skirt, swell shirt, or rocking jacket.
Perhaps the most remarkable change to the store—other than at least quadrupling in size—is the addition of fetching archways the owners built to create the various “departments.” Soft White and Prince Purple are the color schemes, with plenty of room to test out that pleated dress with a necessary spin or to stack the books, CDs, or DVDs that you’re prepping for purchase. And the light from the storefront windows gives a cheerful vibe to the whole place.
[3]Visitors at the soft reopening roamed the store in awe, thrilled to spend a Saturday looking for things to help them look cool, and excited from the teaser preview to see what it will all look like next Saturday, May 23, for the full, grand reopening. On a street where shops come and sadly go, and where some retail spots are still vacant, it’s exciting and reassuring that a business that first opened up in 2010 and is so loved, is still here, and honestly, is bigger and better than ever. How cool is that?
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players [4], a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected] [5]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane [6].