Patience Pickner and Chelsea Tracy are the owners of Conversation Piece.

By Jodi Schwan

When Chelsea Tracy opened a boutique in Chamberlain, she cut a hole through the wall to connect to her mother’s home decor store.

“And then when I moved (to Sioux Falls), we were kind of sad we didn’t get to see each other every day,” said Tracy, the owner of Chelsea’s Boutique on Phillips Avenue.

They will reunite this week in the form of Conversation Piece, a new store they are opening in part of the former Zing building on the southwest corner of 11th Street and Minnesota Avenue.

Tracy’s mother, Patience Pickner, who owns The Picket Fence in Chamberlain, had thought about expanding to Sioux Falls for several months. A conversation with her daughter one recent Sunday afternoon sealed the decision.

“As soon as Chelsea said, ‘Mom, let’s do it together,’ I felt comfortable, and we jumped on it. Our strengths and weaknesses feed off each other, and it works really well,” Pickner said. “And it’s just a really cool location — high traffic but easy access.”

The grand opening is Thursday, June 15, and will include extended hours until 7 p.m.

The merchandise complements what Tracy calls the urban farmhouse design trend.

“A lot of people think it’s repurposed, and it’s not,” she said. “Maybe 5 percent is repurposed because of the doors we display on and some vintage things, but most of it looks antique or used or refurbished, but it’s actually new.”

The options are intentionally eclectic, Pickner added.

“I don’t like just one look. I like to mix it, and I think that’s kind of the look of home decor now.”

They also are planning to hold events for customers to create centerpieces or accent pieces and will do some custom pieces.

“It’s about home decor and accent furniture,” Tracy said. “We’re not going to have huge love seats but more like little pieces here and there, a really cool piece you build around or if you’re looking for that one piece to finish it off.”

Hence the name of the store – Conversation Piece.

They are leasing the south portion of the space, and the north end is still available.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and they plan to stay open late with other downtown events.