The Heartwarming Origin Story Behind the Coolest Store In the Midwest
An Atmosphere of Approachable Elegance
Step inside The Foundry Home Goods, and you’ll instantly notice a lift in spirit. The store is adorned with exposed brick walls that give it a rustic charm. Natural sunlight pours in during the day, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. In the evening, the store is bathed in a soft, golden glow that adds to its mystical allure. The Foundry Home Goods is not just a regular store; it’s a place where beauty and elegance come together in a way that is approachable and enchanting.
A Unique and Special Origin Story
While many beautiful shops have interesting origin stories, The Foundry Home Goods has one that is particularly captivating. The founder and owner, Anna Hillegass, shares the story of how the idea for the store began to take shape in her mind while she was living in New York and working for Holly Hunt. Holly Hunt is a renowned high-end design showroom open only to trade professionals. Anna describes it as an elevated environment filled with polish and glamour.
However, she also experienced the stark contrast between the luxurious apartments where she worked and the bustling streets of the city. Anna felt nourished and excited by both worlds but wanted to create a space that captured the beauty of those apartments while also being alive and accessible to a wider spectrum of humanity.
Discovering the Perfect Location
Back in her hometown of Minneapolis, Anna’s father’s foundry in the warehouse district had a vacancy. This was a place she had always loved and felt a special connection to. The timing couldn’t have been better, and Anna saw it as an opportunity to turn her dream into a reality. She envisioned a place that would make everyday living easier and more beautiful.
With six months to actualize her dream career, Anna took a leap of faith. She packed up her life in New York and headed to Minneapolis. The quick turnaround and tight budget ended up working in her favor. The signature branding of The Foundry Home Goods came out of necessity, making it as genuine and unplanned as the store itself.
Anna shares how she found a bunch of index cards and loose-leaf paper lying around and figured out a way to print receipts on notebook paper, eliminating the need for a receipt printer. In a back room, she discovered a few rolls of brown paper and a giant spool of packing twine left over from the old shipping center that used to occupy the space. This accidental discovery became the inspiration for The Foundry’s organic and bare packaging, which is still used today.
A Move and Unchanging Atmosphere
Although The Foundry Home Goods has since moved from the North Loop to South Minneapolis, the unique atmosphere and carefully curated selection of goods remain the same. Anna chose the new location because it reminded her of living in the West Village in New York. The neighborhood exuded a comforting vibe, with brownstones and apartments quietly unfolding their stories as she walked through the streets.
Just like the found objects used for the packaging, the items in stock at The Foundry Home Goods are everyday essentials and staples. However, they are not mundane or ordinary. Each product is artisanal and simply beautiful to look at. The store offers a wide range of items, from utilitarian cleaning products, office supplies, and kitchen tools to decorative objects, textiles, and furniture.
Elevating Daily Living
Anna’s vision for The Foundry was to fill the shop with staples that people would use every day. She wanted to create a space where customers could come by and find the perfect beeswax for their dinner table that evening. The Foundry Home Goods is all about making daily living more beautiful, intentional, and elevated.
The store offers well-made versions of everyday essentials like dishware and cleaning tools. These products are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. The Foundry Home Goods aims to transform mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences and bring a sense of beauty to the everyday.
A Store You Can’t Resist
Visiting The Foundry Home Goods is an experience that often leads to finding something you suddenly can’t live without. The carefully curated selection of products and the store’s ambiance make it impossible to leave empty-handed. Whether you’re looking for a unique decorative item or a practical tool for your home, The Foundry Home Goods has something to offer.
The heartwarming origin story behind this cool store in the Midwest showcases the passion and creativity of its founder. Anna Hillegass took a leap of faith and turned her vision into a reality. The Foundry Home Goods is not just a store; it’s a place where beauty, functionality, and everyday living come together in perfect harmony.