Jesse and Gary Halpern-Robinson proudly welcome customers to Valley Vintage & Variety as they work to create a welcoming and memorable customer experience.
WHEN HUSBANDS JESSE AND GARY HALPERN-ROBINSON opened their charming Valley Vintage & Variety store in the Lost River Valley, they knew they wanted to create a unique shopping experience for future customers beyond typical vintage fare. “We want them to be really surprised by the wide array and mix of things we have to offer,” Jesse Halpern-Robinson says. “We love the idea of providing a place where people can find something memorable to take home with them to remind them of their visit.”
The pair didn’t want their customers to walk away with only their bags full of goodies, though. They prefer for shoppers who visit Valley Vintage & Variety to have a more well-rounded—even emotional—experience rather than simply a transactional one, cultivating an atmosphere where customers feel warmly welcomed as soon as they step in the door.
“It’s not entirely about finding something to buy—it’s more about evoking a feeling of welcome and memories,” Halpern-Robinson explains. “We have a large selection of nostalgic candy, things to remind you of when you were a kid. It’s all set up with an oldfashioned cash register, and some of it is just 15 cents a piece.”
Each item Valley Vintage & Variety has to offer is carefully chosen. If they don’t love it themselves, they don’t stock it. While Halpern-Robinson primarily does the buying, his husband takes care of the majority of the displays and oversees the daily operations of the store, working to ensure the customer experience is one of acceptance and delight, with many discoveries to be made while exploring the shop. “We have a lot of vintage things that are fun and kitschy,” Halpern-Robinson says. “And we also have a lot of unexpected finds our collectors go wild for.”
Although Valley Vintage & Variety heavily features vintage items, the “variety” piece of the name is well-earned, with everything from funky stickers and cards to traditional furniture and eclectic homewares available. The store prioritizes American-made products—the Halpern-Robinsons prefer to avoid the kind of cheap fare often found on Amazon and similar sites. Instead, they like to purchase from companies that are owned by women and members of marginalized groups.
Symbols of pride and inclusivity are heavily featured throughout the store to cultivate that sense of acceptance they strive for. “We are most proud of being authentically ourselves,” Halpern-Robinson says of himself and his husband. “We don’t shy away from the fact that we are gay-owned and -operated, and we always take the opportunity to welcome anyone and everyone into our store.”
The two look forward to the future of the store they’ve created with love and intention—an online shopping experience is in the works, for one thing. But they’re having a wonderful time as things are, especially with their neighbors, the Artists Marketplace at the Lost River Educational Foundation and sister business Guesthouse Lost River, there to help round out the area’s offerings. “The best days are when we meet someone who had no idea we existed and we’re able to share with them some of the awesome things happening in our little Lost River Valley,” Halpern-Robinson says. “And when they leave with something they can take home to remember their visit, that is even better!”
8937 State Road 259, Lost City, valleyvintagelostriver.com, @valleyvintagelostriver on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SPRING 2025 ISSUE
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