We were lucky to catch up with Adriana Alyk recently and have shared our conversation below.

Adriana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

In 2024, I found myself at a crossroads after spending two decades in the dog boarding and daycare industry, where I had risen to the position of General Manager of my own facility. Feeling burnt out and struggling with a non-existent work-life balance, I recognized in January that I needed a change, though I had no idea how transformative that decision would be.
I began searching for new job opportunities but felt disheartened by the job market and the lack of appealing options.
Having invested so much time in corporate America, I was certain that another corporate role wouldn’t bring me happiness.
This led me to consider entrepreneurship and ponder what type of business I could start.
With a penchant for the unusual and a fascination with the darker aspects of life, I decided to explore the realm of oddities and curiosity shops. Through my research, I discovered that online sales were essential for success unless one had a physical storefront. In today’s digital age, online sales require a robust social media presence to thrive.
I spoke with many small business owners to learn about their challenges and aimed to create something better. A significant hobby of mine had always been collecting unique items, often accompanied by my mom, Mary Lou Campbell, who had previously sold at a local antique store that unfortunately closed during COVID. I realized that she had amassed a treasure trove of vintage and antique items stored away in her barn, which sparked my entrepreneurial spirit.
By February, I began developing my business plan, including the name, logo, and thorough research on running a business.
My vision was to create a welcoming space for vendors and artists to sell their creations.
My best friend Kelley, who felt unfulfilled in her role as an apartment leasing agent, showed interest in joining the venture. With around ten years of experience as a custom framer, she loved the idea of owning her own shop. I thought combining a framing shop with an antique/oddities store was brilliant; customers could purchase unique items and have them framed to complement their home aesthetics.
We consulted a family friend in commercial real estate about the City of Brighton’s market. Initially, we considered building a pole barn on a plot of land, but our searches yielded little within our budget. We then explored leasing or buying an existing building and found a recently remodeled space on Main Street in Brighton that was beautiful but priced just under two million dollars—way beyond our means.
In March, our realtor Chuck contacted us about a property that needed significant TLC but was a fantastic deal. We visited the building and were captivated by its potential. At 5,800 square feet, it was slightly smaller than the first option and nearly 1.5 million dollars cheaper. Given the market conditions, we decided to seize the opportunity, submitted our offer, and it was accepted.
My mom purchased the building outright in cash, using funds from selling my grandfather’s farm.
She then secured a $200,000 loan to cover the remodel, which began with asbestos mitigation and hiring an architect for the design—both costly endeavors.
Around this time, I submitted my three-month notice at work to leave on good terms and give the facility time to find my replacement. I initially planned to open on September 13, 2024, but unforeseen challenges arose.
We quickly learned that construction costs were significantly higher than anticipated, especially for a building constructed in 1917, which required extensive updates, including new electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and a new roof. Working closely with the architect made our vision come to life, but we needed a general contractor to start demolition and quote the construction.
As June approached, I was nearing the end of my job, and we had exhausted our funds after demolition. To apply for funding, I had to estimate our costs. This led me to the Colorado Enterprise Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting small business startups with funding that isn’t typically available through standard SBA loans.
I started the application process, navigating various requirements to prove we were a worthy investment. By August, we received a construction quote just over one million dollars, which was a tough blow since the CEF was only comfortable offering $500,000 with the building as collateral. They suggested we seek another contractor for a second opinion, which led us to Nate with Mendel and Company, who provided a more favorable quote of $650,000 that the CEF accepted.
By September, we hoped to start construction soon, but I learned that “almost funded” meant an additional five-month wait. Those months were arduous, filled with more hurdles and waiting. To alleviate financial strain, I took a part-time job at a small kennel in Commerce City, where I could indulge my passion for caring for dogs.
Finally, in late February 2025, we received the green light. We secured a loan of $930,000 to cover construction, a 20% contingency, and opening costs. We utilized every penny and completed construction by May 28th, opening our doors on June 13th. Today, we proudly host 25 vendors alongside the framing shop, marking the successful realization of our dream.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We are a Collaborative Community of Creative Curiosity. An eclectic store brimming with antiques, vintage items, oddities, and curiosities. It also features custom framing services, engaging workshops, and a photography studio. Additionally, vendors have the opportunity to rent space to showcase and sell their products.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

A manager of mine once gave me a book called “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck”. When I first read it I think it went over my head, yes I understood the message, but I though I already lived by that philosophy. The book’s author, Mark Manson, argues that the key to a good life isn’t about avoiding negative feelings or trying to be happy all the time. Instead, it’s about becoming better at handling adversity. Manson challenges the modern self-help culture that emphasizes constant positivity and feeling good. He suggests that this approach is counterproductive and that it’s okay to feel bad sometimes. The main idea is that we only have a limited amount of energy to give a “f*ck” about things, so we should be careful about where we direct that energy.
Manson encourages you to embrace your flaws and limitations, to understand that life is full of problems, and to choose which problems they are willing to deal with. He argues that happiness comes from solving problems, not from avoiding them. The “subtle art of not giving a f*ck” is not about being indifferent or apathetic (which is what I got the first read), but rather about choosing to care deeply about what truly matters to you and letting go of the rest. He uses humor and personal anecdotes to make his points, often telling stories of his own failures and missteps to illustrate the concepts.
Ultimately, the book is about taking responsibility for your own life and choosing your values wisely. It encourages a more honest and realistic approach to life’s challenges. Manson’s core message is to stop caring about things that don’t matter, so you can start caring more about the things that do.
The second time I read this I was in a place mentally where I was able to receive it and it made a huge difference in my life and inspired me to get out of corporate America.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Well my Mom obviously I’ve known since birth, and have always know but she was a big inspiration for the shop.
Kelley was my best friend(Emily)’s, best friend(Jessa)’s sister. Who just happened to need a room mate when I was looking for a place to live in my early 20’s now 15 years later we are pretty much inseparable. We had gone to the same high school but were in different grade, had a lot of the same friends but had never met each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://odd-aly-kat-emporium.odoo.com
• Instagram: @odd.aly.kat.emporium
• Facebook: @odd.aly.kat.emporium
• Other: Tik Tok: @odd.aly.kat.emporium