You just never know what people are looking for, what they're gonna use it for. And so, you really have to learn not to rule anything out."
 

Until recently, Kelly spent her career in the corporate IT world, a path she had followed for as long as she could remember. In 2022, she made a bold and deliberate pivot, stepping away from the familiar to give herself the space to discover what truly inspired her. What began as a season of exploration quickly evolved into a passion-driven reinvention.

That journey led Kelly to thrift stores and estate sales, where she became immersed in the stories behind vintage pieces and captivated by the growing online reselling community. She launched her reselling business across platforms including eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, and Depop, and soon developed a particular fascination with vintage glass and its artistry. A defining moment came when a carefully packed piece arrived shattered to a buyer, an experience that sparked a powerful realization and a new vision: fragile, storied pieces deserved a different kind of home.

From that moment, the idea for a brick-and-mortar store was born. Kelly founded Modern Vintage Marketplace in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, transforming her love for vintage into a thoughtfully curated, community-centered destination. The store recently celebrated its two-year anniversary.  Today, Kelly runs the store alongside her husband, expanding into a much larger space, the marketplace now offers even more room to showcase quality vintage finds while supporting local artisans, handmade goods, creative upcyclers, and meaningful community connections. Her mantra: you’re not shopping, you’re rescuing!

Modern Vintage Marketplace (@mvmretail) is Highlands Ranch’s destination for discovery, nostalgia, and pure creative fun. Our  vintage wonderland features over 5,000 unique items, and blends the best of vintage, antique, and modern artisan treasures—all curated with heart, style, and a dash of quirk. The moment you walk in, you’ll catch the scent of cedar, candles, and vintage magic in the air. This isn’t just a store, it’s an experience. Play a game, lounge in our lounge, uncover hidden secrets, and explore textures, colors, and stories at every turn. You’ll find over 20 local artisans offering handcrafted goods you won’t see anywhere else, alongside an ever-changing mix of retro clothing, one-of-a-kind décor, and delightfully eccentric pieces that spark joy without breaking the bank. We’ve designed every corner to invite slow exploration and connection. Stay awhile—browse, chat, geek out over design, share a memory, and meet people who love vintage as much as you do. At Modern Vintage Marketplace, every visit is fresh, fun, and full of surprises. Bring your curiosity…and your sense of wonder…and lose yourself in the experience.

View the Modern Vintage Marketplace website.
 

SHOW NOTES & TAKEAWAYS

  • Don’t dismiss items just because they don’t immediately seem valuable or desirable. Often, the things you think won’t sell “are the first thing to go.”
  • Pricing strategies to keep vintage goods accessible.
  • Her theory of what she calls “slow exploration."
  • Why she prefers to “rescue” items rather than shop for them.
  • Thrift with purpose but remain flexible.
  • Thrift frequently and act fast.
  • Get creative with how you use or repurpose items.
  • The transformation and thriving of secondhand and vintage culture.
  • The impact of pop culture has on secondhand trends
  • The fun and connections found in both in-person and online vintage communities.