Vintage clothing is a bit of a niche interest, but it felt perfectly at home in the 1980s. There was something about the broad shoulders and thin waist of a double-breasted suit that, in that era, just fit. Sioux Falls art teacher and Sioux Falls College graduate Deb Mayer saw this, and in early July of 1984, opened Garbo’s, South Dakota’s only vintage store, at 41st and Norton.
Garbo’s initially carried clothes from the 1930s, ’40s, and ‘50s, though fashions from the ‘20s and ‘60s could also occasionally be found there. At the time of opening, the store had 500 items curated over the course of the previous three years. Mayer started at rummage sales, Goodwill, and at vintage clothing stores she encountered in her travels. Estate sales were another good source. Mayer hoped to rotate the stock every two weeks or so. Items could be found for as little as 50¢ and as high as $50.
Mayer cited childhood experiences playing dress up with her mother’s clothes as the origin of her interest in vintage clothing. Her interest turned into more of an obsession during times when she couldn’t afford new clothes. She’d hit rummage sales and marvel at the workmanship put into the older clothes as compared to today’s fashions.
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“Older clothes are made better than clothes anyone can find in a department store,” she said at the time. “The lines are nicer, and the fabrics are better than those used today.” Of particular interest were designs featuring beading, rhinestones, or sequins, as well as decorative seams, covered buttons, or a catching line. Meyer knew what she liked when she saw it.
On July 1, 1985, Garbo’s Vintage Apparel moved to 1107 S. Minnesota, next to the Dixie Bake Shop. On August 11, new ownership was announced. Debra Jordan and her husband, Jim, took over the business and hoped to expand its offerings. They began selling vintage items to similar stores on the east and west coasts as well as their local clientele. They also put a lot more money into promoting their shop.
In March 1986, the store employed a kissing bandit. The well-dressed masked man would arrive in a limousine accompanied by bodyguards, glide up to his intended target, and plant a kiss on her cheek, leaving again with a tilt of his top hat and a flourish of his silken cape. All that was left behind was a single rose and his calling card. The kissing bandit’s exploits produced some buzz for the store and provided some unexpected fun for area residents. Gladys De Vaney of Dell Rapids, who was in town for a rainy St. Patrick’s Day parade, was pleasantly surprised by a peck on the cheek and a rose. “Thank you for making the sun shine through the rain.” she wrote in her letter to the editor of the Argus Leader.
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Halloween was an especially busy time of the year for Garbo’s. The Jordans leaned into this aspect of their business by adding costumes to the their stock, both for purchase and for rental. In April of 1989, Debra Jordan registered the name AAA Awesome Costumes with the county. The ads read AAA Awesome Costumes by Garbo’s. Meanwhile Deb Jordan received accolades for her costume designs for Worthing’s Olde Towne Theatre.
Garbo’s went out of business in late 1992. It was a difficult business that the Jordans were able to improve on, but ultimately, the year’s costume holidays are few, and Halloween can’t pay the rent for the year. Garbo’s was open for less than a decade, but for such a specific niche, it had a very good run.
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Looking Back: Garbo's served a niche by selling vintage clothes - Sioux Falls Argus Leader
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