It’s been roughly three months since Painted Tree Boutiques closed all of its markets across the country.

The closure left hundreds of small business owners across the country without a place to sell their goods, including dozens in Overland Park. But soon, the former Painted Tree space off 135th Street and Antioch Road will once again be abuzz with local makers.

The Collective Boutiques, a brand new concept launched by five former Painted Tree vendors and company leaders, will open in the Overland Park space later this year.

The Collective Boutiques is opening at 8500 W. 135th St.

• The market will occupy a space just off 135th Street and Antioch Road, near Sam’s Club and breakfast eatery The Big Biscuit.
• The Painted Tree occupied that space for roughly five years before closing earlier this year.
• Once it opens, the Collective Boutiques will operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The Collective Boutiques will offer a variety of locally-made goods

Though the new brand is unaffiliated with the Painted Tree, the concept will be very similar: a large brick-and-mortar space divided into booths rented by individual shop owners.

The team behind the Collective Boutiques is currently working to open 12 to 13 new boutiques out of former Painted Tree locations across the country.

“We believe in this concept, and we wanted to save it and do what we could for shop owners,” said Melanie Greer, one of the five partners with the Collective Boutiques. “The Overland Park (Painted Tree location) had great success, and was a great store with great shop owners and great vendors.”

Though the opening timeline is tentative, Greer said the Overland Park space could open its doors as soon as next month.

The ownership group is in the process of reaching out directly to the vendors who were in the Overland Park Painted Tree when it closed, giving them the opportunity to get first dibs on their old booths.

As far as merchandise goes, shoppers at the Overland Park space can expect to see a similar mix from before; home décor, clothing and other boutique items.

“A lot of the shop owners and vendors have brought back in some of their merchandise that did really well,” Greer said. “Some of the shop owners are bringing in completely new items and freshening their spaces, really just taking this opportunity to refresh, revamp, restart.”

So far, Greer said 65% to 75% of former vendors across the country have signed on to return to their former spaces. As the new brand has begun launching stores across the country, she said, it’s been a profound experience to see those vendors embrace this next chapter.

“The most exciting thing for me is just the excitement, and the breath of fresh air and relief from all the shop owners coming back and having a place to go and call home again,” she said. “I’ve seen shop owners go and hug each other and start crying — not crying in sadness, but crying in happiness and tears of joy, because they’ve got a home again.”

Another similar concept is coming further north

In Mission, another multi-vendor concept will open later this year too — this one locally owned.

Husband-and-wife duo Tyler and Lindsey Bodine are launching their new market, 913 Mercantile, at the Mission Mart shopping center.

Pending renovations, 913 Mercantile may also open in August, around the same time as the Collective Boutiques.

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