From book lovers to fashionistas, The Lady Jane in Downtown Harrisonburg is open for everyone. Owner Sara Christensen has transformed her shop into a place full of handmade gifts and home goods where small and local artists are supported and promoted.
The shop’s name is a nod to Christensen’s favorite author, Jane Austen. After opening in July 2011 as a vintage store, the store slowly changed throughout the years into the hub of many local artists’ creations. With the small size of the building comes a small staff. Only four employees tend the store including manager Mary Hairston, a long time friend of Christensen’s.
“We’re all really good friends,” Hairston said. “We love to just spend time together, especially when we were in the middle of the move.”
The shop has recently faced some obstacles with having to move locations in October 2023 after finding damage to the foundation of the building. After an unplanned move to Agora Market, the shop was finally able to move back into their building seven months later in mid-May. Along with moving back, they had to repaint and clean in order to reopen the store June 1st.
“Although it was incredibly stressful and sad to leave our space for an unknown amount of time, I felt incredibly lucky to quickly find a space inside the Agora Market,” said Christensen. “Moving back also gave us a chance to reimagine the space to fit the needs of our vendors and customers in a new more streamlined design.”
Along with opening the store for customers, Christenen also opened her store back up for her foster cats. In collaboration with the local animal shelter Cat’s Cradle, The Lady Jane often has cats fostered by Christensen wandering the shop. She has fostered cats for about eight years and has adopted out over 40 cats from the shop.“We wondered if they would consider foster homes that were non-traditional like a retail space,” Christensen said. “It’s been a wonderful experience, giving all of us a greater sense of purpose for the space.”
Hairston says one of the main goals of The Lady Jane is to make sure customers feel loved and appreciated within the space. By displaying diverse, locally created pieces, Christensen hopes to create a welcoming environment for everyone.
“A lot of people are lonely, so I think having a place that’s more than just a shop, a place where you feel welcomed and accepted, is really important to all of us that work here,” Hairston said. “I wouldn’t wanna work anywhere else.”
