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Business & Tech

Undiscovered Vintage Treasures on 16th St.

Black Bear Vintage & Handmade opened last May, bringing fun shopping to Windsor Terrace

Brooklynite Julia Duncan-Roitman, co-owner of Black Bear Vintage & Handmade in Windsor Terrace, has had a keen business sense since elementary school — not to mention a knack for all things crafty and fashionable.

That’s when she started crafting brooches out of papier-mâché and selling her creations at her local Denver bookstore. She named her first grown-up business, an online store that sells her handcrafted felt pillows, Pink Baby Mouse after another childhood venture selling her pet mice’s babies to her local pet store. And recently, she ran a business buying pieces of clothing that she reconstructed and then sold as her own creations.

Last year, with fellow craft/fashion aficionado Michelle Ferrara, Duncan-Roitman opened her own vintage clothing and gift shop. It is the first clothing store on the block spanning 16th Street from Prospect Park West to 10th Avenue, and keeps easy company with other hip, new businesses nearby such as Dub Pies and The Double Windsor.

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Since quietly opening Black Bear in May 2010, the pair — who met while working as bartenders at Park Slope’s — have stocked their intimate boutique with well-made vintage clothing, shoes, belts, purses, jewelry, and unique gifts. 

“I always wanted to go into fashion and have always had an interest in having my own business,” said Duncan-Roitman. “We’re providing something that this neighborhood doesn’t have.”

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The store is a labor of love, but so far, not necessarily one that will pay the bills. The two still work part-time at Union Hall and Duncan-Roitman used to tend bar at on Fifth Avenue to help out.

The welcoming, crowded shop sells a mix of gently worn clothing brought in by locals, clothes from vendors in Pennsylvania, and knit goods and jewelry made by Brooklyn artists. Heels and boots go for about $20 to $30. On a recent shopping trip, a Vera Wang silk dress was a steal at $23.99.

The shop also has a small rack of men’s clothing — a Banana Republic plaid button down for $15.99 — as well as baby clothes and accessories.

In addition to wearables, the store stocks its shelves quirky gifts such as 100% Vegan Dirty Ass Soaps — a Nintendo controller-shaped soap bar will run animal-loving nerds $10. Conversation-sparking terrariums line one shelf in the back. One piece, called “Sunday Morning,” depicts a man mowing his lawn. 

Duncan-Roitman sells her plush pillows at the Black Bear as well. A standout is a blue pillow printed with a Minotaur wearing a black cap and holding a red flower, for $50. The bulk of the pillows she creates feature dogs wearing cone collars. 

Duncan-Roitman said the most challenging aspect of opening the store was negotiating with the landlord and renting the right space for the right price.

“The store is going to take time to get established,” Duncan-Roitman said. “It’s been a bit of a struggle to get people to realize that there is shopping here.”

The two are hoping their eye-catching window displays will help to lure in customers — Ferrara plans to craft a new display every few months and is currently working on a special Valentine’s Day design.

Duncan-Roitman hopes that once they settle in a bit she can dedicate more time to her own crafts, expanding her pillow line, creating new designs and launching new products, perhaps her own line of tea towels.

Until then, the duo just hopes locals might walk far enough past the alluring scent of Dub Pies on the corner to realize there's a cute little vintage boutique on 16th Street, with equally appealing treats inside.

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