TULSA, Okla. — While many business owners are slowing down or closing, vintage entrepreneur Michael Easter is deciding to start a business. A vintage mall called Love Me Two Times with booth spaces for independent collectors and vintage enthusiasts to bring new life to seemingly old items.
"We’re encouraging people to buy stuff that’s already here the can be loved over and over and over again, see—love me two times." Easter said.
Easter already owns an oddities shop called Good Mischief, but for a long time he had though about owning his own space to sell vintage items and do well enough to make his love his full-time job.
“When it’s time it’ll appear and it’s time," Easter said. “It was always a future ambition and goal."
Easter had been a teacher for 24 years when he made the decision to follow a different passion.
“I love the vintage vibe, I love re-homing things, I love re-homing stuff, I love it it make me feel like I’m doing what I ought to be doing," Easter said. "I've loved teaching, I love being there for my students, but now I'll just be there for them in a different way."
He had been thinking about owning a space to sell vintage items for months, but the pandemic is what made him realize it was time to take the total leap into entrepreneurship.
"A crisis like this can kind of shake us out of our channels and our ruts," Easter said.
Easter had been looking at buildings in November when he found the space located at 1740 S. Harvard. He was able to take ownership of the building in February.
"Right before the official announcement of COVID-19, I was signing paperwork and finding my contractor," Easter said.
Instead of taking this as a sign to hold on to his full-time job teaching, he was encouraged to go after his passion.
“I just sat back and would think what do I want to do, what landscape do I want for my life," Easter said.
So now, he's going for it.
"Ten days ago I let my boss know this would be my last year teaching," Easter said.
Easter designed Love Me Two Times vintage mall to have affordable booths for sellers to occupy.
"The first month of rent will also be half off because the goal of this place is to support local business and entrepreneurs," Easter said. "Now is the time because the vibe of the shop is to be peace and love."
Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the official open date for the vintage mall has not been set yet, but Easter still has room for vintage vendors.
To ask about space, call Easter at 918-857-4035.
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