Found in Fred, a new store in downtown Fredericksburg, will celebrate its opening on Friday, Aug. 7, with a 3 p.m. puppet show and 6 to 10 p.m. catered open house.
The store, located at 1004 Caroline St., will serve as a pop-up space to provide a second storefront for existing businesses and a physical presence for online businesses and startups. “Our goal is not to take business from other locations, but to direct customers to local businesses,” said Rick Jeffries, cofounder of the store with Chris Austin.
For a weekly or monthly fee, business owners can have a product featured in the shop. Jeffries and Austin will provide physical and online merchandizing. “This gives businesses a presence on the main drag in downtown Fredericksburg, and doubles their foot traffic,” Austin said. They believe that as the rising tide raises all ships, their business model will help all Fredericksburg businesses.
Products and displays will change constantly. “You’ll never know what you’ll find here day-to-day,” Austin said. “You can expect the unexpected. We’ll be constantly evolving and revolving.”
Found in Fred will also feature special events, classes and chair rentals. “We have 60 stacking chairs, in neutral and eggplant, that are available for rental,” Austin said.
The shop will be open daily, with longer hours on weekends to cover for the downtown stores open shorter hours or closed on Sundays and Mondays. “We see ourselves as a guest center on this end of Caroline St., opposite the Fredericksburg Visitor Center on the other end,” Austin said.
The shop will also serve as the headquarters for A Modern Chair, Austin’s chair remodeling and vintage repurposing business, and Jeffries’ Ventures Marketing.
Austin will present Friday’s free puppet show with Amber and Mattie Grenke of The Toy Store.
Will’s Place Catering is providing food for the First Friday Fredericksburg open house. Guests can enjoy homemade bruschetta, chilled tomato soup, Italian flavored turkey sliders, and lemon thyme bars. Agora Downtown Coffee Shop is providing beverages.
Found in Fred Hours
Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, opening day 12 to 10 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday
10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday
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Januray 2015 Ribbon Cuttings in Downtown Fredericksburg
2014 Comings and Goings in Downtown Fredericksburg
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