Flower Friends is a new video series we’re trying to help highlight the communities of Missoula and Kalispell. We know how important the small-businesses and artists are to the fabric and culture of both Missoula and Kalispell, so we thought it would fun to show off the people who love what they do.
Whether they’re painters, artists, craftspeople, chefs, brewers, or just someone who helps out the community, we want to talk to them and show them some love.
Know someone in Missoula or Kalispell who should be featured? Let us (and them) know!
For our first episode, we spent some time with Betty Venom of Betty Venom Vintage in Downtown Missoula.
Located near the intersection of Main and Higgins, Betty loves fashion, especially from the 1940’s and ’50’s due to their silhouette and overall fit for “regular” people.
“Clothing that are made from older decades,” she said, “are made more purposefully and have higher quality than what we get now.”
Largely self-taught, she’s been a part of Missoula’s vintage community for the better part of ten years. Though it could be argued, she really got her start at a young age when her grandmother owned an antique shop in Philipsburg, Montana.
“She had always been kind of a collector,” she remembered, “her house was always full of antiques and vintage stuff and she would always give me things. I think I just carried on that part of the family.”
When you first go in her shop, it’s apparent how curated her collection is (virtually every piece has a story) and how much enjoyment she has in the stories behind her finds.
“[People] can bring their stuff to a place where it will live on and have a life again,” she said, “instead of just being donated to a thrift store where you’re not really sure what’s gonna happen to it or if it’s gonna end up in a landfill somewhere. So it’s kind of like, more love in the store here than in a cold thrift store.”
There’s a plethora of choices from shoes, to gowns, to flannel shirts scattered throughout her store.
“I love things with a lot of personality,” she said, “I mean, you can’t go wrong with having sneakers on your tie.”
From a 60’s dress a teacher wore with Go-Go Boots to handmade bolo ties, Betty’s shop has plenty of personality and plenty of stories.
She even has a wall dedicated to local artists, something she says benefits the artist community, especially on Missoula’s First Fridays.
If you happen to be in downtown Missoula on a Friday night (or any other night, really), check out Betty’s shop and make sure to say hi to Wolfie, her fluffy and chill shop cat.
To see what Betty has in her store you can check out her website or any of her social media pages.
When you are done looking at the gorgeous items she has in her downtown Missoula shop, give us a follow on our social media accounts:
Instagram: @flower_montana_
YouTube: @FlowerMontana
Facebook: @FlowerMMJ
TikTok: @flowermontana
Flower Montana is dedicated to quality, Montana grown products. All Flower-branded products are grown just down the road from our Missoula dispensary on Brooks Street. We are truly thankful to be a presence in Missoula and we hope to continue to be a part of it for years to come. Thank you to the members of Missoula’s small-business and artist communities. You are truly the backbone of this community and we love celebrating your successes.
If you or someone you know wants to be featured on our next episode of Flower Friends, please don’t hesitate to send an email to marketing@flowermontana.com