Furniture store, coffee shop and more coming to old post office

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The old Hudson post office building at the corner of Locust and Third streets will soon be back in use.

Julie and Joel Marvin of Hudson have leased the building and will be moving their furniture consignment business, Piece By Piece, into it.

Julie Marvin said they’re planning to open in the new location on Oct. 1.

The building, owned by Maysack Holdings Partnership, hasn’t been used for retail business since the former Café La Poste closed in 2006.

Marvin said she’ll open a new coffee shop along with her furniture and home décor store. Like the popular Café La Poste, the coffee shop will occupy the old post office lobby, which features marble floors, rich mahogany woodwork, a 15-foot ceiling and 12-foot windows.

“It’s just a gorgeous space,” Marvin said.

The building’s outdoor patio also will have seating for customers.

The coffee shop furnishings, like the furniture and accessories in the large space behind the lobby, will be for sale.

Marvin said she’s looking for someone to take over the coffee shop, but will operate it herself until that happens.

The shop will serve baked goods, soup and sandwiches in addition to coffee and espresso drinks.

Penny Godbout of Hudson has sub-leased space on the main floor for a new Penelope’s Hand & Foot Spa that she is opening.

Marvin said she’s had conversations with photographers and artists who are interested in displaying their work in the building.

A licensed real estate agent, Marvin started the furniture and home décor consignment business last March. It has operated out of rented warehouse space in the St. Croix Valley Cabinetry building on County A under the name Global Home Furnishings.

Marvin expects the new downtown Hudson location to give the renamed business considerably more exposure.

She said 90 percent of the furniture and décor comes from private parties, but she also gets nearly new pieces from model homes and refurbished furniture from a Stillwater, Minn., woman.

“My (furniture) buyers have turned into sellers,” she says of her clientele.

Piece By Piece will offer an eclectic mix of furniture and décor, according to Marvin.

“We bring in new inventory every week and rearrange the entire shop, so it looks like a completely new store every week,” she said.

You can learn more about the business online at www.shoppiecebypiece.com.

Tags: new business, piece by piece, coffee shop, business, furniture, spa