By Kelly Youngblood
Digs, a new furniture, vintage, and antique store that opened at 32 E. Springfield Avenue in Champaign on July 7, is the collaborative endeavor of friends who enjoy expressing their different styles and creativity.
For visitors to the store, that means “there really is something for everyone,” says Laura Young of Digs, who along with five vendors, curate the store’s inventory.
In addition to furniture, vintage items, and antiques, Digs also offers home décor, gifts, barware, jewelry, and new and vintage clothes.
Young, who is originally from Texas, moved here with her family in high school. After college, she lived in southern California for nearly 30 years, where she ran a store called Vintage Home.
She returned to the Champaign-Urbana area 10 years ago and opened Bohemia in Urbana. She also worked in real estate and flipped houses while continuing to decorate and sell vintage furnishings.
Since opening Digs, Young says business has been great.
“We love the space and visibility of our location,” she said. “We have had great community support and word has been spreading. We regularly get told by new customers that (their) friends highly recommended us.”
Digs began with Young and three other vendors including:
Ivy Morgan Corson, who lived in Denver for many years where she had a vintage and imports store. She also has a shop and workshop in Homer called Ivy Vintage.
Joy Davis, owner of Now and Zen, which was previously located on Cunningham Avenue in Urbana. Davis closed that location and opened with Digs.
Robb Tobias, owner of Dudes Standard and a vendor at Crossroads Corner Consignment in Champaign for 10 years. He will continue to sell at Crossroads as well as Digs.
Two new vendors have been added at Digs including:
Sharyn Jane of MeAndHer, a mutual friend and an avid collector of vintage.
Julia Beals, owner of S.H.E.D. Studio, paints furniture and favors a modern beach farmhouse style.
Digs is open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store is open Mondays by chance or appointment. For more information, call (217) 205-0299.
You can also follow Digs on Facebook and Instagram.