Window Shopping

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Fashion

by Brooke Williams

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High Street through the Short North is always bustling. The alleys that flank it, however, can be remarkably secluded. Many shoppers might not realize that some of the district's best offerings are but a few steps off the beaten path.

In the case of new lifestyle boutique Tigertree, that slightly lower profile (but larger square footage) makes for a delightfully decongested shopping space. High ceilings, plenty of natural light and an uncluttered retail area make Tigertree the perfect peaceful alcove for effortless perusing.

The owners aren't concerned that a lack of initial walk-in traffic might affect them. In fact, according to Tigertree co-owner Josh Quinn, the store hopes to thrive from living on the periphery of Short North life.

"We were very thoughtful in putting the store in the alley," he said. "It was an intentional choice, something we wanted to do. We like that it's a little bit more peaceful."

Their back-alley neighbor, popular bakery Pistachio, is proof that such businesses can thrive without being on the main drag.

Tigertree takes many of its cues from Los Angeles' hippest style destinations. Quinn and co-owner Niki Cagle (his fianc?, an OSU grad) recently moved to the area from L.A. after launching their own line, called Maxine, Dear. Including leather wallets, change purses and other accessories, the items are constructed in an on-site workshop, fabricated from vintage leather book covers. Maxine, Dear's first client was (and still is) celebrity shopping hotspot Fred Segal.

Tigertree stocks everything from casual men's and women's clothing from emerging designers to what Quinn refers to as "quirky little Asian toys" and other personal and home accessories.

Many of the lines Tigertree carries can't be found elsewhere in Columbus; the price points range from $2 greeting cards to $250 dresses, with most items falling in the thriftier half of the spectrum. That—along with their 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven-days-a-week schedule—makes it the ideal place to pick up unique gifts.

"Nearly everything in here has a story," said Quinn. "We like sharing that with clients, giving them a little more attention and customer service."

After only two weeks in business, Tigertree has all the right material to add many more chapters to their own story.

May 3rd, 2007

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