Vision to vibrant retail hub with Elevate Hennepin

Vision to vibrant retail hub with Elevate Hennepin

When Marsha Magdalene opened the doors to Shop My Closet this summer, she wasn’t just launching a store — she was introducing a new way to experience retail in Uptown Minneapolis. Her innovative thrift and resale concept has become a vibrant hub for small business owners, creatives, and curious shoppers alike.

Sellers rent “closets” to showcase their goods — everything from outgrown clothing, upcycled jackets to curated vintage finds. Shoppers browse these mini boutiques in a beautifully designed space that feels more like a gallery than a traditional thrift store. But what sets Shop My Closet apart is its mission: to create low-barrier opportunities for entrepreneurs and creatives to gain visibility and grow their brands.

Behind the scenes, Marsha credits much of her momentum to the support she received from Elevate Hennepin. She began with a business navigator and then connected with several advisors across various areas, including accounting, branding, legal, and marketing. “Every single person I worked with was amazing,” she says. “They helped me think through everything — from internal processes to marketing strategy.”

One of her most impactful connections was with Kat Polivoda, owner of Cake Plus-Size Resale and an Elevate advisor.

“Kat gave me so much insight into running a resale business,” Marsha says. “Even a short conversation helped me avoid mistakes and think more strategically.”

Marsha’s journey to Shop My Closet wasn’t linear. She previously ran two retail incubators called Bread, a unique pop-up market located at the Maplewood Mall and Northtown Mall. It started as a weekend pop-up and quickly evolved into a full-time storefront. Without the right support at the time, the business eventually closed. But the experience laid the groundwork for what would become Shop My Closet.

“I’m not the average entrepreneur,” she says. “I’ve worked in the ecosystem. I credit a lot to Y. Elaine Rasmussen at ConnectUp! Institute. I know the resources, and I’ve built relationships with people who are doing this work.”

The store also features two “mini studios” designed for content creation and live selling — tools that Marsha hopes will empower sellers to build their digital presence. While the studios haven’t been fully activated yet, she envisions a future where sellers go live from the space, modeling their items and engaging with online shoppers in real time.

“The most satisfying part has been seeing people from the neighborhood come in and say, ‘This is exactly what Uptown needed,’” she says. “Even if they don’t buy anything, they come in, look around, and say, ‘Wow, this is beautiful.’ That means everything.”

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Marsha has one message: “Take advantage of Elevate Hennepin. There is no cost. It’s powerful. And it can change your business.”