The Rusty Flamingo
Hi, I am Kris Henry, and I established The Rusty Flamingo in Oct of 2018 in the building on Hwy 60 next to Mama’s Mercantile, formally Greenwald’s Greenhouse. I have always wanted to own my own store and have admired the building for a long time. One day, I was on vacation with friends when my Fiancé sent me a picture of a leasing sign on the front of the building. I just had to inquire and with literally $50 in my bank account I made it happen.
The name “The Rusty Flamingo” was inspired by my love for flamingos, anything rusty, crafting, and repurposing/refurbishing scrap items. It is not a boutique but what I call an eclectic collection of new, used, repurposed/refurbished, antique and handmade items. As a small business that just barely got its start when COVID-19 hit, I can proudly say that the store is a survivor! I never in a million years would have thought that with such a rough start it would still be open today.
In July of 2021 with help from family and friends I made the move to Main Street. This was a huge undertaking turning what was used as a home into a store. The store has such a quaint, homey, small town welcoming feel. There is also an outdoor area under the carport that is stocked full of goodies and a lot of sale items. Items change weekly as new things are being added and changed for the seasons. I can’t even begin to list all the items that we sell, anything from homemade canned jellies/salsas, soaps/lotions, rag rugs made from old jeans, trinket boxes made from license plates, jewelry, fun insulated cups, and handmade games. You have to come check it out for yourself.
There are currently 23 vendors that sell on consignment, 3 of them being my own parents, brother, and myself of course. We sell unique items that are either handcrafted or are from small businesses mostly from the southern MN area with quite a few from right here in Elysian and surrounding towns. I love the small town feel and pride myself on keeping it local. I could not have made this dream come true without these vendors. They all take great pride in where they sell their items as well as how much I care for them and what they do. My customers… what can I say, I have the best customers around that come from all over to see what is new or sometimes just to see me. Great friendships have been made. My family and friends have also been a huge support system.
The Rusty Flamingo is open on weekends seasonally from April to December (closed January, February, & March). Hours are Saturday’s 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Sunday’s 10:00 am– 2:00 pm & occasionally other days for special events or holidays. Keep your eye out for more information on possibly extending the hours in the future. Follow us on Facebook for hours (usually posted on Thursdays) and events or items coming into the store.
