“I wasn’t sure what it would be like after having been away for so long,” says Lowery, a 12-year Mill Valley resident who previously worked at Gap Inc. for 11 years, mostly in merchandising and buying. “But that time was instrumental in knowing that I could go back to work full-time, the kids would be fine and everything would be manageable. It allowed me to feel like I had bandwidth to take on something new.”
That something new is The Edit, “a jewel box of curated women’s apparel, handbags and jewelry” within the Mill Valley Lumber Yard at 129 Miller Avenue. Lowery officially opened the shop earlier this month, bringing a long-simmering idea into fruition. She celebrates with a grand opening on Thursday, Nov. 29, 5-8pm as part of the Mill Valley Lumber Yard’s “Enchanted Evenings,” a series of Thursday holiday shopping happy hour events featuring bites and treats from Flour Craft Bakery and the soon-to-open Watershed Restaurant, while MVLY’s host of retails tenants, including Ambatalia, Bloomingayles, FarmHouseUrban, Makers Market, Spirited Marin and the newest tenant, Aviator Nation. The series runs through Dec. 20.
“I’m feeling really good – it’s been a wonderful response so far,” says Lowery, who calls her clothing selection a “mix of classics with boho chic vibe with fun prints and colors – East Coast meets West Coast. It seems like the community is excited to have another place to shop.”
So what was the deciding factor in Lowery turning her dream into a reality? As has been the case for many of the Lumber Yard’s ever-growing roster of tenants, it was the vision of Matt and Jan Mathews, and the space they’ve created on the historic property.
“This is a really magical space in the heart of Mill Valley and it feels very tucked away with the gorgeous view of Mount Tam and it’s becoming a great destination for people to come and socialize and be part of the community and shop and dine,” Lowery says. “It just felt like the right place to have a store and I really wanted to be part of that community feeling. I’m excited.”
The 411: Amy Lowery’s The Edit retail shop celebrates its opening on Thursday, 129 Miller Avenue, 5-8pm, as part of the Mill Valley Lumber Yard’s “Enchanted Evenings,” a series of Thursday holiday shopping happy hour events. Free.