The store is owned by Kristen Garcia, a South Austin resident of 20 years whose love for vintage stems from her late mother’s own passion.
“She really taught me everything that I know about hunting, getting deals and what to look for,” Garcia said. “When I was little, everything we owned came from garage sales and thrift stores. She could talk someone down from a dime to a nickel; it didn’t matter how cheap it was. ‘I need to feel like I’m getting a deal,’ is one of her famous quotes.”
Effie Vintage officially opened its doors Dec. 11, 2021, and now houses a total of four different sellers, including Very Cherry Vintage by Ashley Martin, Vida de Vintage by Janie Munoz, Eisley Co by Christina Pearson and Effie Vintage by Garcia.
“Christina and I actually started doing markets together,” Garcia said. “So it felt right to say, ‘Hey, I’m terrified, and I have this opportunity; Do you want to join me?’ It was just us for about four months until we brought in Ashley [Martin of Very Cherry Vintage].”
Garcia found the blue house Effie Vintage is home to in October 2021. Effie Vintage is named after Garza’s mother, who died six months earlier.
“I always tell people if I’m working and they buy something of hers, I tell them that’s an original Effie Vintage piece, so they know that was a piece from my mom,” Garcia said.
Effie Vintage offers unique vintage pieces, personally picked by Garcia and her fellow vendors.
Furniture, art, decor and clothing from around Texas can be found in the store.
“I like to tell people with vintage you’re really putting in something one of a kind,” Garcia said. “You can still build modern around vintage, and I love that. Some people might be scared to venture off into vintage, because they think that everything has to be vintage, and that’s not it at all.”
Garcia said she aims to uplift local female small-business owners.
At Effie Vintage, customers can find candles handmade by Adorn and Garnish, a locally owned candle shop in Austin. The candles are poured in vintage wares found by Garcia.
Effie Vintage has its own signature scent, composed of palo santo and ocean breeze that reminds Garcia of how her mother’s beach home in Corpus Christi smelled.
“We’re women-owned, women-run and minority-owned,” Garcia said. “Just the fact that we get to say all those things and be those things in this community, I love it.”
Effie Vintage participates in events, including a pop-up market hosted on the greenery outside the shop.
“It’s really fun to connect to the community,” Garcia said. “We bring in really fun stuff that we’re proud of to see go into homes.”
