Roz's Place history 1975-present
A customer shops at Roz's.
"Who is Roz?" That's a question Roz's Place owner Denise Miner hears often. When as an art student she first opened the shop in 1975 on Russell Street in Hadley, MA, she chose the name for its vintage-y sound. Initially selling antique clothing, Denise describes the earliest version of the shop as a kind of 'salon' where she sold Victorian gowns and laces and welcomed her friends to visit and enjoy a glass of champagne. One of her early consignors was Judith Fine, of The Gazebo in Northampton, who made camisoles from antique laces supplied by Denise.
While visiting family in the UK in the mid-70s, Denise discovered Crazy Color hair products and began to sell them at Roz's Place. Roz's Place subsequently began to sell Manic Panic and has carried the line for 33 years.
One of the friends hanging out with Denise at Roz's was fellow art student Timothy Saldo. Denise and Tim soon became partners, in all senses of the word, moving in together and re-locating the shop to Northampton, MA in 1980. They happened upon an available location at 6 Bridge Street which was a rougher part of town in those days but the couple sensed its promising future. Business grew in Northampton, a small city which is home to Smith College. Northampton experienced a gentrification boom after Thornes Market was established by Brinkley and Gordon Thorne and Mazie Cox and Anne Woodhull. The city boasts numerous landmarks, old and newer, such as the Academy of Music, the Calvin Theater, Iron Horse and Pearl Street and many landmark shops and restaurants. Roz's Place is certainly one of the institutions of Northampton MA. For over 30 years, the shop has been at the Bridge Street location, servicing generations of students, glam rockers, punks, artists, fashionistas and tourists.
"Initially I did not "get" that I was part of a small group," says Denise. "I thought everybody was into vintage like I was. The 70's were full of polyester -- to me, vintage clothing offered better quality and more style." Business grew slowly but the 1980s brought a surge of interest in 1950s fashions, more creative dressing and wild hair color. Denise and Tim developed their networks in the wholesale fashion and accessories industry and began to carry new clothes and accessories along with vintage, used and collectible items. Friendly with other Northampton entrepreneurs like Ken Reed and Anne Marie Lucey of Main Street Records, they referred business back and forth, and began to see the shop thrive. Of the decades that Roz's Place has been in business, Denise thinks the 90's were the start of a broader acceptance of vintage fashion. "That's when everybody else got it finally" she laughs. "People began to understand recycling, they embraced vintage and doing their own thing." In 2011 Tim and Denise are seeing a resurgence of interest in 80's fashions. Roz's Place continues its successful retail offering to thriving student, creative and tourist populations and remains also an ultimate destination for party and holiday clothing & accessories, including Halloween, one of their favorite times of year.
While visiting family in the UK in the mid-70s, Denise discovered Crazy Color hair products and began to sell them at Roz's Place. Roz's Place subsequently began to sell Manic Panic and has carried the line for 33 years.
One of the friends hanging out with Denise at Roz's was fellow art student Timothy Saldo. Denise and Tim soon became partners, in all senses of the word, moving in together and re-locating the shop to Northampton, MA in 1980. They happened upon an available location at 6 Bridge Street which was a rougher part of town in those days but the couple sensed its promising future. Business grew in Northampton, a small city which is home to Smith College. Northampton experienced a gentrification boom after Thornes Market was established by Brinkley and Gordon Thorne and Mazie Cox and Anne Woodhull. The city boasts numerous landmarks, old and newer, such as the Academy of Music, the Calvin Theater, Iron Horse and Pearl Street and many landmark shops and restaurants. Roz's Place is certainly one of the institutions of Northampton MA. For over 30 years, the shop has been at the Bridge Street location, servicing generations of students, glam rockers, punks, artists, fashionistas and tourists.
"Initially I did not "get" that I was part of a small group," says Denise. "I thought everybody was into vintage like I was. The 70's were full of polyester -- to me, vintage clothing offered better quality and more style." Business grew slowly but the 1980s brought a surge of interest in 1950s fashions, more creative dressing and wild hair color. Denise and Tim developed their networks in the wholesale fashion and accessories industry and began to carry new clothes and accessories along with vintage, used and collectible items. Friendly with other Northampton entrepreneurs like Ken Reed and Anne Marie Lucey of Main Street Records, they referred business back and forth, and began to see the shop thrive. Of the decades that Roz's Place has been in business, Denise thinks the 90's were the start of a broader acceptance of vintage fashion. "That's when everybody else got it finally" she laughs. "People began to understand recycling, they embraced vintage and doing their own thing." In 2011 Tim and Denise are seeing a resurgence of interest in 80's fashions. Roz's Place continues its successful retail offering to thriving student, creative and tourist populations and remains also an ultimate destination for party and holiday clothing & accessories, including Halloween, one of their favorite times of year.
Ad from 1991, Valley Advocate
"If I can give people any fashion advice, I want to encourage them to be individuals, to have some fun with it. Dress for yourself and express your creativity. Recycle, mix up decades and styles. Wear old with new. You'll never really be out of style because everything just keeps coming around!" xo, Roz
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