Abernathy's Bump and Grindhouse 12-Year Birthday Bash at the Capitol Theatre -- November 8.
Saturday, November 8, 7 p.m.
Capitol Theatre, 330 West Third Street, Davenport IA
Celebrating a dozen years of business and their status as an iconic downtown-Davenport venue, the handmade and vintage outfit Aberbathy's will hold its Bump and Grindhouse 12-Year Birthday Bash at the neighboring Capitol Theatre on November 8, the suitably eclectic night featuring live music by the One Night Standards, a screening of Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, and burlesque inspired by the film performed by artists Catty Wompass, Drop Dead Red, Mae Golightly, and Kitty Pardot.
As stated at the shop's Web site, Abernathy's specializes in "true vintage clothing for men and women from the 1930's to Y2K, modern vintage reproduction clothing sizes ranging from XXS-6X, alternative and gothic styles, handmade jewelry and art, antiques, oddities, and home decor.
"Abernathy's was a little dream that could, thought up by two small town girls from rural Eastern Iowa. Becca Nicke and Red Perez both grew up with a love for creating, recycling, and re-imagining old things into new, creepy, and beautiful creations.
"The two met while working in tiny, dirt floor boutique in LeClaire at the age of 19, peddling handmade coasters, jewelry, purses, and vintage clothing. When the boutique closed, the two went their separate ways, Red, perusing a career in hair as a cosmetologist, and Becca, working corporate retail at the mall. Their paths crossed again in 2011, when both Becca and Red were working for local antique shops that were both part of the History Channel TV show, American Pickers. They both learned a lot about buying and selling antiques, consigning handmade goods from local artists, and managing a small business.
"When a store front became available in their home town, the two saw it as an opportunity to strike out on their own, and create their own brand of vintage and handmade. Becca and Red worked diligently, while both having full time jobs, to shape their vision for Abernathy's. A long evening at Red Lobster, and many cheddar bay biscuits later, the two had formulated a working business plan for their planned retail takeover in LeClaire. Weeks later, Becca and Red received devastating news, that their proposed business plan was not selected to rent the available space. It felt like the end of the line for their future boutique, but the partners carried on.
"Moving forward, Becca and Red, met with representatives from the Downtown Davenport Partnership, to explore their options in the Quad Cities. After touring many spaces, one that was so small that it was slated to be turned into a stair case, Becca and Red found their first space in a retired mental health office building, on the east side of 2nd street in downtown Davenport. The space was a sea of beige colors that the two quickly transformed into a colorful spattering of vintage clothing that Becca had hoarded in her home over the past five years, Red's handmade jewelry, and macabre decor, skulls, and antiques. Starting with their artist friends, Becca and Red, recruited local artist to showcase their work at Abernathy's, giving the store it's eclectic, one-of-a-kind feel.
"On Saturday, November 9th in 2013, Becca and Red opened Abernathy's to the Quad Cities and started their voyage in entrepreneurship. Over the next seven years the partners continued to grow their empire by expanding their boutique into modern and vintage inspired products, traveling the country selling at punk rock music festivals, farmer's markets, oddities conventions, and even driving through the mountains to get to Vegas, to sell at a rockabilly weekender. More experience brought more local artists, their first employees, and the ability to participate in tons of local events that made Abernathy's more than a place to shop, but a piece of their local community.
"In April of 2019 when the levee broke in downtown Davenport, Abernathy's took on almost four feet of flood water from the mighty Mississippi. The damage to the building was so extensive, that the building was sold, leaving Becca and Red without a place of business. This nexus of events and experiences created yet another opportunity to rebuild and reimage the next chapter of Abernathy's. Their new location re-opened in August of 2019, in a beautiful historic building on the corner of Scott and West 3rd Street, back in their home of downtown Davenport. Their new location has allowed them to feature more new products than ever and expanded their reach to find new customers in the Quad Cities, and worldwide."
Abernathy's Bump and Grindhouse 12-Year Birthday Bash will be held in downtown Davenport \'s Capitol Theatre on November 8, admission to the 7 p.m. celebration is $34.18, and more information and tickets are available by visiting FirstFleetConcerts.com/first-fleet-venues/capitol-theatre and ShopAbernathys.com.
