After two decades selling vintage clothing and guitars and drawing local art students and vintage enthusiasts, Glue Clothing Exchange is closing its doors on Oak Street this Halloween. Owner Jeff Nelson says he's ready to trade the shop counter for a tour van and focus on music again.
Glue Clothing Exchange has operated on Oak Street for 20 years, selling vintage clothing and guitars to local shoppers, according to NOLA.com. Nelson said he is closing the shop because he wants to move on.
From Touring Musician to Shop Owner and Back Again
Nelson came through New Orleans in 2002 and moved to the city the following year, according to NOLA.com. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed his guitars, cars and motorhomes in 2005, he shifted into retail, encouraged by Denice, who runs Buffalo Exchange on Magazine Street.
Nelson is now preparing to focus on Lunar Butterflies. He has written 50 original songs for the project, which plans to record 20 in the coming months. After Glue closes, Nelson and the band plan to tour across the country in a van.
A New Clothing Line Even as the Store Shuts
Even as he exits brick-and-mortar retail, Nelson isn't done with apparel entirely. He plans to launch a clothing line in November featuring shirts, hats and mugs stamped with the fleur-de-lis, the report notes.
Elizabeth Ahlquist, owner of Blue Cypress Books, told NOLA.com that Glue had been a cornerstone of Oak Street. Her bookstore has been on the street for 18 years.
Oak Street's Shifting Storefronts
Glue is not the only Oak Street business facing a change. NOLA.com reported that 14 Parishes announced June 20 that its 8227 Oak St. location would close after five years. The same outlet reported that Banh Mi Boys’ owners plan a restaurant in the building that formerly housed PrimoHoagies.
NOLA.com Gulf Coast Reporter Poet Wolfe's report on the closure says Mary’s Rack, a nearby secondhand clothing boutique, will move into the Glue storefront.
