If you’re looking to round out a lazy Saturday at the Brooklyn Flea, grab a morning coffee on the way to the L Train, or snag some unique pieces to invigorate your summer wardrobe, The Vale Collective is ready to deliver. The ambitious cafe/boutique/gallery soft-opened this week inside of the old d.b.a. space at 113 North 7th St., and owner Stephanie McDermott and project manager Kim Lenoir (who are also Williamsburg roomies) are perfecting the store for its first weekend in business.
When last we spoke with McDermott, the space was all sawdust, two-by-fours and blotchy unpainted walls. Two months later, the team has succeeded in making the space unrecognizable from its beer bar days. The store sells Birch coffee and serves espresso drinks made on The Vale’s customized Italian espresso machine. They hope to begin serving beer and wine later this summer.
There are plans for an art gallery in the basement, which Lenoir said was so dark and dingy that she and McDermott cringed to think about going in it when they first started renovating; now it’s a large, high-ceilinged room with tiled floors and whitewashed walls waiting to be covered with work by local artists.
The merchandise, which is mainly imported from Australia and Europe, is an eye-catching mix of whimsical and sophisticated. Smaller items like Quay sunglasses sell for $40, while one of the most expensive pieces is a grey Atea Oceanie trench dress that goes for $490. One of Lenoir’s favorite garments is a bold lips graphic tee by Parisian designer Yaz Bukey.
Click through the slideshow to see some of what’s for sale.
