Vintage store ‘Jean + Cook’ opens in Shockoe Bottom

Some of the merchandise at the newly-opened Jean + Cook. Photos courtesy Jean + Cook

A shop full of old clothes and goods has slotted into an even older building in Shockoe Bottom. 

Montpelier native Edra Coles-Dozier has just opened the doors on vintage shop Jean + Cook at 3 N. 18th St. The shop, which debuted July 19, has a mix of vintage clothing, décor and accessories that transcend decades. 

Though this is the first storefront for Coles-Dozier, it’s not her first time as a business owner. She founded Jean + Cook (named after her grandparents) locally as a small event planning company in 2015.

But with a love of thrifting and vintage items that has lasted over 20 years, Coles-Dozier began to phase out the event planning side of her business during COVID-19 pandemic and phase in selling vintage items circa 2020. 

“I started selling vintage because I collected so much stuff that I wasn’t using,” Coles-Dozier said. “It was just sitting around. My friends and relatives that knew me encouraged me to start selling vintage.” 

After dreaming of a storefront of her own for several years, Coles-Dozier began searching for a spot in the city. 

The shop has vintage clothes, decor, jewelry and accesories,

The 1,200-square-foot building on 18th Street, much like the items in her shop, has been around for quite some time: It was constructed in 1883, according to One South Commercial, which leased the storefront. Jean + Cook is occupying around 430 square feet on the building’s ground floor. Its upper level houses apartments. 

“It’s small, which is exactly what I wanted. This is my first brick-and-mortar…hopefully down the road I can expand,” Coles-Dozier said. 

The shop has a variety of vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories and home décor. Jean + Cook’s online store shows items like silver brooches, woven handbags and floral patterned china for sale. 

Though the shop is currently composed of mostly women’s items, Coles-Dozier, who sources from thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales and antique shops in the area and beyond, said she is currently working on finding some men’s items, along with some larger sizes. 

“I don’t source from a particular decade or era. If I like it, if it’s stylish, if it’s good quality and if I can keep it out of a landfill somewhere, then I’m gonna get that,” she said. 

Edra Coles-Dozier.

Some secondhand, non-vintage items will also be sold, along with new handmade goods including bath products made by Coles-Dozier herself and items sourced from small, women-owned brands, like candles from Baltimore-based fragrance brand Tobi Quinn. 

“People can find something. Even if vintage clothing isn’t your thing, you can maybe find jewelry, or a purse or a fragrance,” she said. 

Most of the shop’s vintage clothing items are priced at $75 or less, while candles start at around $15 and bath bombs start at $9. 

Coles-Dozier plans to incorporate some of Jean + Cook’s earlier work into the new storefront, with plans to host events and curated dinners within the space.  

Coles-Dozier will keep her full-time job as a social worker while running the store solo. She said she may look to hire an employee if business is good.  

Current planned hours for Jean + Cook are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. 

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