Embrace all things colorful and creative at Not Beige

Mary Grace Soper is on a mission to make the common more colorful by celebrating small businesses, fair trade practices, and a lifestyle rooted in intention through her new shop, Not Beige.

An artist and photographer by trade, Mary Grace comes from a family of creative entrepreneurs, taking inspiration from her mom and sister who both have owned their own creative businesses.

“My family, and especially my parents, have always fully supported my passions, and without that, I wouldn’t have been able to open the shop,” she shared.

Mary Grace had the idea for Not Beige while working on her own art at a local coffee shop. That’s when she stumbled upon the available rental space next door and began to dream of a place where she could share her love of nature, art, and all things sustainable.

“The vision was to create a cozy space focused on uplifting makers,” she said. “I’m not a fan of convenience culture when it comes to shopping, so I really wanted to stock goods that are ethically and locally made.”

The name “Not Beige” came out of a running joke between Mary Grace and her best friend. 

“I always tease her that everything she owns is beige, so the name was a play on that,” she explained. “The name has evolved to be more about a movement—where intentional living happens to be a bit more colorful to me.”

With the help of her family, the shop quickly went from a dream to opening day in just three months, and Mary Grace is excited for the growth in the new year—including a line of her own custom greeting cards as well as hosting art lessons for kids in a new art studio at the back of the store.

As Mary Grace expands her offerings, she is connecting with more vendors to add to her collection, which she says represents all things good, true, and beautiful.

“I’m really impressed with all the resources available for new entrepreneurs and with the community of makers we have,” she added. “Everyone wants each other to succeed, and I’m excited to give people a happy place to shop.”

Find something intentional and beautiful at 920 Columbia Avenue.

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