Norwegian Wood is bringing more fashion and fashionable records to downtown Wausau
Gabrielle Shier started the shop in a former jewelry store on Third Street
A guy might find it a little uncomfortable to walk into Norwegian Wood for the first time, since the first floor is largely a women’s clothing shop.
But don’t worry - there’s something for you in the basement.
Gabriel Shier and her husband Tristan opened Norwegian Wood in early September at 525 N Third Street in a building that formerly housed a jewelry store. The top floor focuses primarily on women’s fashion. That fashion ranges in style and price, from Boho, comfy over-sized items to fancy dresses and skirts. Shier says there are items like a basic shirt for $20 all the way up to a $150 sweater.
“We really wanted a store where a granddaughter can come shopping with her mom and grandma,” Shier says, “and they all have fun here.” Customers have included women in their 20s to their 60s and 70s, Shier says.
But sprinkled throughout the first floor, just to give a hint of what lies below, are small collections of records.
For lovers of vinyl, the basement is where the treasure is. (And if you love fashion and vinyl, well then you’re really in the right place.)
The room in the record room feels like a friend’s basement, with chairs and lamps out of That 70s Show, but with rows and rows of vinyl.
Many of them came from River District Antiques, which had been located on the west side of the Wisconsin River in a building near where The Milk Merchant and October Guitars are located. When River District Antiques closed, Shier said she and Tristan showed him the basement and now the records are down there. “It’s become a bigger part of the store than we initially planned,” Shier says. “It was our five-year plan to have records at the store, but it happened right away and we’re excited about it.”
The space needed a lot of work when they decided to open Norwegian Wood there, and they spent months renovating the space.
While the store is drawing a crowd, Shrier admits sometimes men are a little confused or disoriented when they walk in. She says she guides them to the records right away to assure them.
Right now, it’s just run by Gabrielle, Tristan and their daughter, and are open every day but Sunday. Shier still worked as a hair stylist when I interviewed her, but planned on retiring by the time this story came out. Tristan works for UPS she says. Right now the shop is open Wednesday through Saturday, but once she retires from hair styling, Norwegian Wood will be open Monday through Saturday (10-5 during the week, 10-4 on Saturday). But they will be open Sundays too 11-3 during December.
Shier already worked downtown and says her family spends a lot of time downtown for leisure too, so it seemed like a good choice for their clothing and vinyl business. And Shier says she feels like she’s in the right place, as downtown is poised for growth in the near future.
“I wanted to get in on it before it got too crazy,” Shier says.
Check out Norwegian Woods’ Facebook and Instagram pages.
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