Local vintage boutique partners with national brand

Northern Nevada business owner Tessa Dee Miller calls Reno “a hidden hotspot” when it comes to vintage clothes and furniture.

Miller is the owner of The Nest, a vintage urban boutique that offers a variety of furniture, clothes and many other one-of-a-kind items. The business has partnered with the national brand Anthropologie and products from The Nest will be featured as props in the August catalog.

The retailer hand picks all of the merchandise for her store locally to keep the revenue in the northern Nevada community. She goes to yard sales and thrift stores to find the best and most unique items for her store.

“A lot of people think that they have to go to places like the Bay Area to find vintage items,” said Miller. “However, they don’t realize that many dealers from San Francisco come to Reno to find items for their stores.”

Miller opened The Nest in 2009. Prior to opening her current store, she owned a used furniture business in Reno, which she bought when she was 21-years-old and a recent graduate of Santa Clara University.

“I graduated with a degree in Spanish and Philosophy. When I came back to Reno, I didn’t know what to do with my degrees,” she said.

Her father encouraged Miller to go into business for herself. She saw an advertisement for a used furniture store for sale in the Big Nickel.

“Owning a small business sounded like a daunting (challenge),“ Miller said. But as she became more invested in the store she felt, “I can totally do this. Something just felt right.”

The furniture store gave her the opportunity to learn how to run a small business. And over the course of four years she discovered her passion for vintage clothing and furniture.

“I felt limited by the used furniture store and wanted a place that was more reflective of my personal style,” said Miller. “It took a few years to figure out my style and that is when I transitioned to The Nest.”

While owning her own business has many challenges, Miller finds The Nest rewarding.

“Even though (owning a small business) is a lot more work, the rewards are tenfold,” Miller said. “I can step back and see and feel proud of what I’ve created and get so many positive responses to the store and the projects and collaborations that I dream up.”

The Nest’s partnership with Anthropologie started after Miller worked on a video for a denim line in collaboration with a business in Truckee, Calif., called Bespoke where she met the creative director of Anthropologie. When Miller learned that the company was planning their photo shoot for the August catalog, she offered to hand pick items from her store that would enhance the company’s products.

“I am a huge fan of the brand,” said Miller.

The Nest is located on 201 Keystone Ave. The shop is open Monday through Saturday between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers can also shop online through the Web site.