FIVE YEARS OF FASHION: Seven Suns Vintage Looks to a Future of Innovation
Savannah Smith reflects on the road behind her and the ‘chosen family’ her vintage shop has fostered
After years of dreaming and determination, an Eau Claire native’s vintage shop, Seven Suns Vintage (305 S Barstow St.), proudly celebrates its fifth anniversary of business.
From its humble beginnings as a vision not yet realized, Seven Suns Vintage has blossomed into a cherished local establishment; a testament to the owner's unwavering commitment to curate authentic vintage wares and foster a welcoming space for local enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
“It's so important to me that people don't feel intimidated or out of place — and I think that’s exactly what the shop is,” Savannah Smith, owner of Seven Suns Vintage, said. “I want (Seven Suns) to feel like a second home to people.”
For five years, Smith, the sole owner of Seven Suns Vintage, has shared her passion for true vintage and the stories within its fabrics and threads from her downtown Eau Claire storefront in the South Barstow district.
Before opening the Eau Claire storefront in 2020, Smith already possessed a deep vocation for finding timeless clothing items. It was through the eyes of her mother, growing up alongside thrifty and stylish women, and flipping her own clothes at age 16, that invigorated her personal calling to source and share.
“(My mother) had a lot of fun with our clothes when we were little, and she always encouraged us to wear what we wanted,” Smith said. “I was able to decide for myself what I really loved, and in that, I found that vintage styles were what I was really drawn to.”
Fast forward to today, Seven Suns Vintage carries inventory spanning decades from across the twentieth century. Smith holds a particular fondness for western memorabilia and artifacts from the 1960s and 1970s, which is largely reflected in the store's inventory.
Looking back on the early days of Seven Suns’ soft opening, Smith said she sought more freedom and color in the vintage clothing available for purchase around her. Having amassed a collection of archival dresses, jackets, and other accessories over two decades, her commitment to retail inclusivity significantly boosted her business's visibility.
“I was hoping to bring something that was a little more colorful — a little more fun — to downtown Eau Claire,” Smith said. “So much of what the shop stands for is weaving in storytelling — and personal experience — into (the retail).”
Passersby of the vintage shop are witness to the colorful stylings and curation of Smith’s collection, through the ever-rotating front window display. Smith’s displays often coordinate with seasons or timely events — catering not only to her personal story but also to the stories of the Chippewa Valley.
Inside the storefront, patrons are greeted with foliage and plants from out West on the left, and a floor-to-ceiling display of cowboy boots and vintage Eau Claire memorabilia.
Further exploration of the store reveals sections neatly categorized by vintage button-ups, T-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, blouses, pants, and skirts. Hidden treasures are also interspersed throughout the displays, particularly near the register.
"So much of what the shop stands for is weaving in storytelling — and personal experience — into the retail." – Savannah Smith, owner of Seven Suns Vintage
“(Customers) have the accessibility to feel (the clothes), touch them, try them on, and really get the whole vintage experience,” Smith shared. “I think that’s how you fall in love with vintage clothes.”
Seven Suns Vintage has fostered a collaborative spirit, evidenced by partnerships with tin type vendors such as Silver Graphic, and collaborations with downtown women-owned businesses for International Women's Day; Smith has also hosted vintage children's clothing pop-ups with Planette Kids (100 N Farwell St., Suite 116, Eau Claire).
Beyond the storefront, Seven Suns has extended its reach by vending at events like Blue Ox Music Festival, Boats and Bluegrass, and Midwest Vintage Flea — allowing attendees to take home a unique souvenir from their weekend adventures.
The Second Fiddle Vintage market, an event ideated and hosted by Seven Suns Vintage in 2022 and 2023, welcomed other vintage resellers from across the state and Minnesota to the heart of Eau Claire. “Our first Second Fiddle Vintage Market was a dream lineup of Midwestern vendors,” Smith shared. “It was something I had wanted to do for such a long time; I wanted to show off my vintage friends and saw an opportunity.”
Like many small businesses, Seven Suns Vintage has also faced its share of challenges.
Throughout 2024, Smith operated the storefront independently as staffing ebbed and flowed, while simultaneously observing a decline in purchasers' habits. Her abundance of inventory — while a positive problem — led Smith to reflect and ultimately pivot in a new direction.
“There was an element of scarcity when it comes to vintage that I struggled with,” Smith said. “I had to really sit down with myself and crack down on what I was buying.”
Even amidst challenges, there is not a day where Smith doesn’t express gratitude. Whether her sales total $10 or $1,000 for the day, the interactions with customers who have supported her mission from the beginning make her dream feel achievable.
In these times of uncertainty, customers found joy in the unexpected retail offerings beyond vintage wares. Seven Suns Vintage quickly discovered a best-seller in their low-cost, miniature cowboy hats for cacti and other plants. “Things like (the mini hats) constantly catch me by surprise, but it is so much fun,” Smith added.
Smith shared that many Seven Suns employees were first customers, drawn to the mission of reselling before joining the team. Bailey Schmidlkofer, Seven Suns’ newest hire, embodies the same thrill for vintage stories and memorabilia, modeled by Smith’s mentorship.
“I was looking to start something new that aligned with (my values),” Schmidlkofer said. “I knew I wanted to continue supporting local, and expressing myself through clothing is a part of life I wanted to continue exploring.”
Schmidlkofer expressed enthusiasm for Seven Suns Vintage's future, hinting at upcoming surprises and further celebrations of Smith's achievements with the shop.
"The vibes (Savannah) brings as the store owner is so important — it sets the tone for how people feel coming into the store." – Bailey Schmidlkofer, employee of Seven Suns Vintage
To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the vintage shop held a weekend-long sale beginning June 6. The event featured never-before-seen discounts — 50% off items and bargain bins — on its inventory, aiming to make one-of-a-kind items more accessible while clearing space for new inventory directions.
The five-year anniversary will also bring a mid-summer refresh. On July 19, Seven Suns Vintage will be re-arranged and refocused from its former aesthetic, also welcoming new vendors into the storefront.
“We’re so excited to see the shop continue to grow,” Schmidlkofer said. “The vibes (Savannah) brings as the store owner is so important — it sets the tone for how people feel coming into the store.”
Regular patrons can expect even more plants and foliage, the incorporation of local artisans, home decor, crystals and memorabilia focused on mind, body and spirit, and more yet to be revealed, Smith said.
Ultimately, Smith has abundant pride in the "chosen family" that has supported her and all that will come — no matter where the vintage shop takes her.
“To be able to come to work — and work for myself — selling old clothes and keeping history alive is just amazing,” Smith said.
Stay up to date with upcoming announcements for Seven Suns Vintage’s five-year celebration, this July, online through their social media platforms (@7SunsVintage) • Seven Suns Vintage, located at 305 S Barstow St. in downtown Eau Claire, is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11am-6pm, and Sunday, 12pm-5pm.
