Now Open: Mercado Lifestyle Store in Silver Lake

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Thanks to a tipster, we got wind of Mercado quite some time ago, and a recent visit to the new shop lived up to the hype.

Longtime Silver Lake inhabitants Michelle Weaver and Chelsea Iovino wanted to open a lifestyle store unlike any other in their neighborhood. Mercado Boutique, which opened Memorial Day weekend, doesn’t carry the same redundant brands of clothing, stationery and housewares that other lifestyle stores rely on to attract customers. Weaver and Iovino traveled to locations like Paris, Italy and Amsterdam in search of rare merchandise like Hut Up merino wool sheeps and rabbits, and they are currently the only store in the US to carry Aruzu Firuz’s vinyl cut-out floor coverings.

But they didn’t let their love for all things exotic distract them from worthy local designers, so you’ll also find jewelry collections from LA-based designers like Helen Carallo and Julie Fisher’s Knot Too Much To Ask and necklaces by Daniel Hernandez.

Most of the furniture is also up for grabs. Weaver, who is a former set designer, finds vintage pieces to rework and refinish, so everything is one of a kind.

Mercado's owners aren’t showing any sign of slowing down; they plan to head to South America and Asia to recruit some new designers to carry in their boutique, and are looking to get more clothing into the store, especially men’s and also men’s accessories. They are still planning their official launch party as well as quarterly events to expose new talents they’ve encountered. We’ll keep you posted on the dates, but in the mean time, go check out the Ericka Pena jewelry. There is parking in the rear and a quirky grey poodle that hangs around the store. ‘Nuff said.
· Now Open: Mercado [Racked]
· Storecasting: Mercado [Racked]