A golden crane adorns a vintage desk at T. Weid Co., a new shop in the East Village.  Writer: Kendra Esau Photos: Paige Peterson The East Village has no shortage of vintage shops and eclectic boutiques, but one of the newest storefronts offers something a bit different. Teresa Weidmaier opened T. Weid Co. in late March after years of collecting vintage items and perfecting the craft of curation. It’s at 500 E. Grand Ave., in an 1881 building that originally housed Cottington’s furniture store. Teresa Weidmaier “I’ve always loved the East Village for its historic architecture, walkability and mix of independently owned businesses. There’s a real sense of character and community here that felt aligned with the kind of shop I wanted to create,” she said. “When my friend Carol Wyckoff decided to close Reclaimed after 12 years in this location, I jumped at the opportunity to carry on the next chapter of the space.” Weidmaier has always loved history and architecture. She has a master’s degree in historic preservation and architecture from Goucher College in Baltimore. Her training taught her preservation is about more than saving old buildings; it’s about adapting them for modern use in ways that maintain the character and history that give communities a sense of shared space. That’s exactly what she’s done with T. Weid Co. “Being part of a historic building with such a layered history felt like the right fit both creatively and personally,” she said. She also appreciates how the building’s owner has made the space accessible for small businesses, especially those owned by women. “Some of Des Moines’ most loved shops, like Eden, got their start here, and it’s meaningful to be part of that continuation,” she said. The vision for T. Weid Co. began to take shape years ago, when Weidmaier had her own booth at Found Things, a curated secondhand shop that Marsha Steele owned and operated in the East Village from 2005 to 2015, before it re-emerged for a few years in the Western Gateway. Found Things serves as ongoing inspiration. “Marsha’s eye for layered, collected interiors and the way she mixed history, character and unexpected pieces left a lasting impression on me when I rented a room in her shop,” Weidmaier said. “Marsha passed last year, and there are parts of this process where I can’t help but feel Marsha somehow nudging things along.” Weidmaier largely credits the support of those around her for making T. Weid Co. a reality. In fact, the “Co.” in the store’s name represents the friends and family who made it possible. Those friends and family helped paint and transform the space into what you see today. “Spaces like this are built through community, generosity and people believing in what you’re trying to create,” she said. Browse the thoughtfully curated collection of secondhand and modern treasures at T. Weid Co. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Contributor Kendra Esau is a copywriter in Des Moines. When she’s not writing you can often find her at a thrift store or checking out new businesses around the city. ...read more read less