Ballardite Nicole Miller is passionate about her business. She owns Blackbird men’s shop, Birgitta women’s shop, the new candy shop just off Bergen Place and now the newest Ballard mercantile, The Field House.
Located just off Bergen Place on Leary, where Art By Fire vacated this summer, this new shop is near and dear to Miller’s heart. With brands like Pendleton, Filson, Stanley and Woolrich, this isn’t your average trendy boutique. “I think we’ve gotten too much into this modern thing,” Miller says exclaiming, “What’s new!? What’s new!? What’s new!? I need to upgrade my iphone!” Slowing down and grabbing a red flannel shirt she says, “What’s wrong with a shirt that’s been around a long time? There’s a reason it’s been around.”
Inspired by her grandparents, she says this is a mercantile and will sell a little bit of everything: clothing, Stanley lunch boxes, Filson dog coats, Townsend Bay soaps, eggs and milk to just name a few of the items. The name was inspired by where her grandmother grew up in the South Park neighborhood and some of the decor, like the piñata dangling from the ceiling, came straight from her grandparent’s house.
Miller has the lease on the space for a three-month trial run and hopes the concept will stick. “I’m not trying to do an era, I’m trying to do a feeling.”