Copyright M Live Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Rebel Nell, a women-owned social enterprise based in Detroit, has opened its fourth retail location in downtown Grand Rapids. The new store at 96 Monroe Center spans 750 square feet. It celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 23 with a ribbon-cutting and open house, months after a long-running coffee shop, Local Mocha, closed its doors after 17 years. “Our goal is to build spaces that celebrate creativity and community,” said Amy Peterson, founder and CEO of Rebel Nell. “We’re so excited to be part of the Grand Rapids community, which has welcomed us with open arms.” The Grand Rapids retail location will feature jewelry made from locally sourced materials, a custom jewelry design bar where customers select their own Grand Rapids graffiti fragments, and a commissioned mural by artist Quinn Faylor. The store will also serve as a community hub for corporate mural-making experiences. These team-building events allow businesses to create collaborative artwork that can later be transformed into meaningful employee gifts or client keepsakes. Peterson, a former associate counsel for the Detroit Tigers, said she chose Grand Rapids as the next stop for a new store because of the area’s robust support of the arts, vibrant small business scene, and deep sense of community and values. “This store is extra special — it’s not just a place to shop, but a place to create. Everything we do is about connecting people, place, and purpose,“ she stated. ”We want everyone who walks in to feel special and inspired. And we mean it when we say we want to host you.“ From Comerica Park dugout vinyl and Fox Theatre seats to records from the Motown Museum and wallpaper from Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel, Rebel Nell has built a reputation since 2013 for creating wearable art that tells Detroit’s story. Over the years, Rebel Nell has partnered with major brands, including the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Detroit City FC, and the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic. The company’s signature process begins with graffiti fragments—layers of spray paint that have peeled away from Detroit’s abandoned railroad corridors, designated art walls and infrastructure. They stabilize and treat the material, revealing vibrant layers of color underneath, then cut unique shapes and set them in sterling silver. Peterson said her dream is for every business in Grand Rapids to create its own Rebel Nell mural that can later be repurposed into meaningful gifts. “We did our first one with the building owners at Independent Bank, and it turned out absolutely beautiful,” she said. But what also sets this women-owned business apart isn’t just the art, it’s the artists. Much of the jewelry and custom designs are created by women who were once living in shelters. Each purchase at the Grand Rapids retail location directly supports employment opportunities for women overcoming barriers to traditional employment—from homelessness and domestic violence to incarceration and substance abuse recovery. To date, Rebel Nell has employed 49 women transitioning out of homelessness, and not one has returned to the shelter system — a 100% success rate that has impacted more than 400 family members and community members. “We’re always thrilled when businesses from beyond Grand Rapids choose to grow here, and even more so when they’re mission-driven, like Rebel Nell,” said Richard App, retail retention & attraction specialist for Grand Rapids. “We’re grateful to Amy and her team for believing in our city and joining our vibrant downtown retail community.”
