Miss Henny Penny’s Groovy Coop Owner Katie Scott aims to fill her store with unique, vintage items.[/caption]

When Katie Scott left her job teaching special education, she traded her classroom for a vintage store.


As one strolls through the historic downtown square in McKinney, the sounds of vinyl records coming from Scott’s brainchild, Miss Henny Penny’s Groovy Coop, can be heard.


“When I was a schoolteacher, I had a vintage business on the side,” she said. “I would go to estate sales and search for unique items. During this time, I was looking for a spot to open a business, and it just magically all came together and blossomed into the Groovy Coop.”


The retro-inspired store aims to embrace individuality and artistry by providing eclectic goods from yesterday and today. Although Scott said she was not looking for a space with a lot of square footage, she embraced the site that “fell in her lap.”


“I had only ever done vintage, but I had so much space; I needed to do more,” she said. “I had never looked into the retail business but decided I could just pick out things that I think are funny or interesting, and I’ve stuck with that.”


Scott said she has always been a fan of retro goods.


“My whole life I’ve liked old items,” she said. “My parents had this great furniture in the ’80s, and I cried when they got rid of it.”


When searching for new items for the store, she said she sticks with what she has known her whole life—estate sales.


“I tend to be drawn to things from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s because of the stylings,” Scott said. “I’m also drawn to unique things, and I love the old avocado green and orange.”




Miss Henny Penny’s Groovy Coop In addition to records, the store sells a variety of clothing items.[/caption]

Scott said it was easy to set up her storefront, drawing on her family for inspiration.


“When you walk in the shop, the vintage side is basically my grandma’s house,” she said. “It all reminds me of being there, and it has a nice, warm fuzzy feeling.”


The vintage area is like stepping back in time with wall-to-wall afghans, needlepoint, glassware, figurines and retro toys arranged around vintage furniture, Scott said.


Although the store has a variety of goods, a prominent selection comes from the record collection, which includes many famous recording artists.


“I have always been a collector, and it has morphed into its own business,” Scott said. “We see a lot of repeat business because they are constantly building their collection. People bond over music.”