New Washougal shop brings classic vibe to downtown

Get look, sound of bygone eras at Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl

By Dawn Feldhaus
August 9, 2018 5:30 am
Business

Tracy Lanciault, of Camas, sells vintage dresses, dating back to the 1930s, at Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl, 1887 Main St., Suite D, Washougal. She also has vintage-inspired jewelry and classic men's clothing.

Tracy Lanciault’s dream of owning a vintage clothing and vinyl record shop in her 20s has mostly come true. The shop is a reality, just two decades later than planned.

In July, Lanciault, 46, opened Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl at 1887 Main St., in downtown Washougal.

Prior to opening this — her first business — she worked in the restaurant industry for 28 years, followed by time spent as an optician and an administrative assistant for a contractor.

Lanciault and her husband, Eric Lanciault, have a blended family that includes six children.

Lanciault said she is nervous, but more excited, about the opening of Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl.

“Life was busy with kids and work, and I did not have the opportunity (to open a business),” she said. “(Now), the kids are older and independent.”

The new shop sells women’s and men’s clothing dating back to the 1930s.

The current selection includes dresses, blouses, skirts and pants, as well as bowling shirts and clothing popular during the ’70s disco era.

Lanciault, of Camas, shops for her store’s inventory at estate sales and vintage stores in Portland.

“Some pieces, I’ve been collecting since high school,” she said. “I had a very full closet. Now that the store is open, I just want someone else to enjoy them.”

Lanciault likes when people find their own individuality and wear clothes that put a pep in their step.

As a high school senior, she wanted one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing rather than new clothing.

“I’ve always had a very unique style,” Lanciault said.

She said she hopes to hire an employee in about a year, and to eventually shop for vintage clothing in Paris, London and Italy.

Lanciault sells “vintage-inspired jewelry,” including necklaces made by Deborah Funches, of Camas, and rings by Amy Leistiko, of North Bonneville, Washington. Lanciault’s husband also has added to the store’s vintage vibe, providing two painting — depicting picnickers and antique cars — for the interior.

The music selection at Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl ranges from the Beatles to Johnny Cash. There are albums in various musical genres — blues, jazz, funk, classic rock, alternative, country and easy listening.

Here, customers will find everything from the easy sounds of James Taylor and Jackson Brown to the country tunes of Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings to the more classic rock of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones.

Lanciault has seen her all-time favorite band, the Rolling Stones, perform live in concert 13 times. At home, she and her husband like to listen to a lot of jazz, blues and classical music.

“Vinyl has made a huge comeback during the past eight to 10 years,” Lanciault said. “People are gravitating toward vinyl rather than iTunes.”

And the shop owner isn’t just talking about people in their 40s, 50s and 60s, who grew up with albums in their homes, even teenagers are looking for vinyl these days, Lanciault said.

The store offers a listening station with a record player and headphones, so customers can listen before they buy an album.

When determining the location for her business, Lanciault said she fell in love with the space in the 1887 Main building and with Washougal.

“It is a great community,” she said. “Everyone has been so welcoming — the landlord, all of the businesses and people who live in Washougal and Camas.”

Lanciault attributes much of the foot traffic on Main Street to the busy OurBar restaurant, which is located in the same 1887 Main building as her new vintage shop.

“Downtown Washougal is very up-and-coming,” Lanciault said. “There are the nicest people. It is close-knit. They take care of each other.”

Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl, located at 1887 Main St., Suite D, in downtown Washougal, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.

For more information, call 708-362-8698, email chameleonvintageandvinyl@gmail.com or visit Chameleon Vintage & Vinyl on Facebook.

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