In a space off Johnson Drive that previously housed an alterations shop, something new has arrived — bringing a dose of nostalgia with it.
Rob Brinkley and Cody Joray have long had an affinity for all things retro. Now, as of July, they’re sharing that affinity with Mission residents.
Their new shop, Runny Top Retro Shop, recently opened its doors at the Mission Mart shopping center, offering vintage clothing and collectibles.
Runny Top opened at 5411 Johnson Drive
- The shop occupies a space at the Mission Mart shopping center, just off Johnson and Martway streets.
- Locally owned tailor shop Laura’s Alterations previously occupied that space.
- Runny Top’s regular hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Runny Top offers a blast from the past in various forms
Customers browsing at Runny Top can find a wide variety of “retro” pop culture memorabilia, from Y2K-era T-shirts and sweatshirts to an extensive collection of Pokemon trading cards.
It’s a “buy, sell, trade” operation, so customers can also bring in their vintage clothing and trading cards to part with.
The idea for the shop, the duo said, is that people can find a valuable piece of their past without breaking the bank.
“I think we really put a lot of heart and soul into providing things that people can actually use,” Brinkley said. “Not just things to look at and be like, ‘Man, I wish I could get that, but I can’t afford it.’
The shop’s name is a nod to pandemic-era Instagram auctions, where sellers would show off rare vintage shirts and collectibles to live virtual audiences.
“People would bid, and the host would state the phrase, ‘run it up,’ and then it just kind of turned into ‘Runny Top’,” Brinkley said. “We just really thought it was funny because it just kind of flowed off the tongue. It kind of brings a curiousness to it.”
Runny Top started as an on-the-go venture
Though the Mission space is the first brick-and-mortar storefront for Runny Top, Brinkley and Joray have spent years building a following through online sales and pop-up events.
It was ultimately the challenge of on-the-go operations (including the weather and logistics of outdoor markets) that played a large factor in their finally pursuing a storefront.
“We’ve been collecting for many, many years, and it’s just been a passion of ours,” Joray said. “We just decided we want to actually settle down and start to build something new for us.”
When it came time to decide where that new home turf would be, the duo said, Mission felt like an easy choice.
“It has an old-school downtown, but it’s a walkable area with lots of local businesses,” Brinkley said. “Just being surrounded by other business owners that are not huge national chains, it’s a really nice community to be involved in.”
In part, the nostalgia extends to the city itself; Joray grew up in the area, and Brinkley’s first job out of school was at the nearby now-closed Mission Center Mall.
“It’s the perfect distance for being in the city within like 10 minutes, but you’re not in the hectic nature of the city,” Joray said. “And Mission’s just such a perfect community of people, the vibes are lovely here.”
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