Design Culture to Open Grand Rapids Storefront
The furniture and home decor business plans to debut its physical retail space in Grand Rapids on October 24, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Design Culture will open a new 500-square-foot storefront at 2141 Plainfield Ave. NE in Grand Rapids on October 24, 2026. Owners Eric and Lilia Brown established the business after previously selling items from their home garage.
Why it matters
The transition to a permanent location provides a larger, safer venue for customers following high demand at the owners' previous garage operation. The shop will maintain a unique, once-a-month retail schedule to allow the owners time to source and prepare inventory.
The new retail space encompasses 500 square feet, operating exclusively on one Saturday each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. When not open for retail, the shop will host art demonstrations and gallery events.
The players
Eric Brown
He is the co-owner of Design Culture who previously operated a home-based decor business.
Lilia Brown
She is the co-owner of Design Culture and helps source inventory for the shop.
The details
The owners source inventory by traveling through Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois before spending the rest of the month cleaning and repairing items for the monthly sale. The shop sells a curated mix of furniture, art, books, plants, and home decor.
Timeline
Mod Decor began selling items from a garage in 2022.
Design Culture opens its storefront on October 24, 2026.
Market Landscape
Design Culture follows a pattern set by the rise of appointment-based and limited-schedule retail models to manage inventory. This strategy allows small business owners to maintain personalized inventory sourcing while balancing operational costs.
Local shoppers can access the store exclusively on its monthly Saturday retail days during the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. window. When the storefront is closed for retail, the space serves the community through hosted art galleries and demonstrations.
The takeaway
The move from a garage to a brick-and-mortar storefront reflects a growing need for established small businesses to find sustainable retail balance. Customers should note that the limited operating hours are intentional to prioritize the quality and restoration of the inventory.
Further reading
For more on local business activity, see the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOODTV.
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