Very rarely is a store’s vibe so inviting that I feel magnetized to it, as if I can’t help but walk inside and see what exists beyond the window. On a particularly crisp afternoon in Ridgewood, I happened to walk past FEELS for the first time, and was drawn in like a moth to a flame. The store, all bright white and boldly designed, seemed like a curious mix of things: vintage clothing, quirky housewares, niche magazines. Turns out I was right, but there was even more to the sunlight-filled space than what immediately met the eye.

FEELS, a concept store dreamt up by husband-wife duo Patrick Noecker and Christine Costello, opened in late December of 2018. Prior to setting up shop in Ridgewood, Costello sold her vintage finds at places like the Hester Street Fair, Queens Flea Market, and at various pop-up events. It was during this experimental stage that her vision for FEELS began to sharpen. Costello knew her future storefront would be more than just a vintage clothing shop, but a branded lifestyle store filled with “well-made, interesting things.”  

Costello and Noecker’s interest in developing a curated space for unique and high-quality objects came from a desire to create an extension of their home, which holds several pieces of art made by their friends. “Pat and I wanted to bring all our interests into a store,” Costello said. “We essentially brought our house [to the public.]” Between her interest in books and Noecker’s love of music, it’s safe to say they brought bits of their individual selves—in the form of rare texts and vinyl records—into FEELS as well.