New downtown store carries furniture, home decor

Owner Becky Althoff brings a background in real estate and retail to new venture

A new store, Painted!, has opened in downtown Elk River.

Owner Becky Althoff said the store carries furniture with a farmhouse distressed feel as well as home decor.

“It’s that ‘Fixer Upper,’ Chip and Joanna Gaines-type of feel,” she said, referring to the hit HGTV show.

So far seven vendors provide the inventory, such as one-of-a-kind hand-painted and finished furniture pieces as well as signs, mirrors and other home items. The store also carries some new items ordered from a wholesaler. Althoff intends to eventually offer classes at the store as well.

A native of Delano who now lives in Ramsey, Althoff has worked in real estate since 2001 and has experience in all aspects of retail. She worked in the human resources department at Target’s headquarters, was a manager at the Mall of America’s Express store and traveled extensively while working for another shop.

Althoff also painted furniture for a store in another city before opening Painted.

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