Half a mile down E 13th Ave. from the west edge of campus sits a cozy thrift store crammed with clothes from floor to ceiling. Above the store entrance is a red banner that reads, “BUSINESS FOR SALE $40,000.”
Kehan Syed, owner of Kehanovich’s Clothing Emporium, said the sign is entirely misleading because the store is not for sale.
“It’s like a going out of business sale sign that’s always up,” Syed said.
This banner, the eclectic selection of clothing, a mishmash of goods and charismatic employees give the store its charm.
After a brief closure in August, Kehanovich’s Clothing Emporium is back in full swing. The location is popular among college students and locals who come in to hang out in Syed’s store.
The store has built itself up quite a community since its opening two years ago. One of the many regulars is UO junior Henry Stewart. Stewart has been coming to the store once a week since he was a freshman.
“I enjoy the folksiness of it,” Stewart said. “I enjoy being able to walk in and know the owner and put a face to the store.”
Many people come into the store just to see Syed. The store has the same atmosphere as a New York bodega or a local bar during off-peak hours, where everyone seems to know each other.
“I feel very blessed for that, you know,” Syed said. “People just want to come in and say hello. You know, just spread good energy.”
Running a store seems like a natural fit for Syed, as he has “merchant blood.” He has been a salesman since he was 10 years old when he took things from around the house and sold them in a yard sale, he said. In middle school, he would sell candy in the school bathroom.
Syed’s methodology for sales is loose, he said, always looking to strike a deal and have a customer leave happy.
Before the “business for sale” banner was put up, a sign in the window used to read, “Will Trade For Food.” Syed said this was his way of getting himself to eat.
“I just have a hard time eating,” he said. “In the beginning it was all work, and I wouldn’t even stop to use the bathroom sometimes. I thought, ‘Okay, how do I fix this? I can get people to bring me food and I’ll trade them stuff for it.’”
Syed takes pride in his store and the community it has created. He feels it is a “physical manifestation of my identity.” The store is more than just a business — it feels like a social hub.
“That’s an important thing that stores should provide to people. Not just an item, but you know, a medium for social connection,” he said.
Beyond helping with the labor, his employees also assist with the social aspects of running the store.
“I tell Kehan all the time that me working here, this goes for my other coworkers to what we’re doing and it’s taking some of the pressure off of Kehan. Because it’s hard to do this by yourself,” Kendall McKone, assistant manager of the store, said.
The store will host its second annual Halloween party on Oct. 28 from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. This year’s party will have a costume contest and the winner will receive $100 of in-store credit, Syed said.
Kehanovich’s Clothing Emporium Clothing and Thrift is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The store is located at 365 E 13th Ave. Check out the Halloween party Saturday, Oct. 28, for a better sense of the Eugene thrifting community.
