M&M Vintage Providing Quality One-of-a-Kind Finds

Specializing in quality vintage clothing from the 1940s to the 1990s, M&M Vintage is a refreshing step back into time. The shop, owned and operated by Monique Morris, is located in the former Ropers building at 7 N Main Street.

Morris, along with her husband Charlie, a general contractor, purchased the historic piece of Whitehall's history earlier this year and have been working to revamp all of the spaces into something fun and functional for Whitehall. Currently, only the M&M Vintage space is completed; the couple, along with their daughter CJ, is renovating the apartments on the second floor of the building for living space for themselves, currently traveling back and forth between Whitehall and Belgrade until their former home sells. Morris hopes to be in Whitehall full time once school begins, as CJ will be enrolled at Whitehall Elementary.

"I have family here in Whitehall, my husband lived here...this is where we want to be. I've always wanted to move to a small town where there is that sense of community," Morris said. By fixing up the building, piece by piece, Morris' plan is to create event space, business rental possibilities, and more. But for now, M&M Vintage is Morris' passion and main focus.

"I want the community to come in, tell me what they want to see vintage-wise, and then let me bring it to them," Morris said, who has been a vintage clothing picker for decades, working with both movies, and individuals as a stylist.

"I have clients from all over. A lot of my western snap-up shirts are on their way to Nashville for a client. I have people who followed me after I closed my shop in Bozeman and continue to shop with me via Facebook and online.," Morris said, explaining that Whitehall is where she and her family want to be, not where they just landed, and they are excited about this next chapter.

"I have a talent - I don't know where it came from - but I can look at someone and say, "you're a 33-33" and they are surprised when I am right on."

Morris finds her wares everywhere, whether it is an estate sale, auction, storage unit sale, or individuals. She prides herself on having an eclectic mix of quality Made in America vintage clothing that is both functional, immediately wearable, and with a western flair. She stresses that she is a vintage store, not a thrift shop.

"I'm not competing with any other business in Whitehall, because I'm not a thrift store, what I have is all vintage. I have a specific set of qualities that I look for in anything I bring in - it has to be made in America, it has to be in a certain time period, stuff like that. But yes, occasionally I may have a cheaper rack of non-vintage clothing for the high schoolers to be able to find something fun to wear without going out of town. But the majority? It's vintage 40s - 90s.

Morris is looking forward to the future when she isn't traveling back and forth to Belgrade and when her family can finally call Whitehall home. With a true love of the historic buildings found in Whitehall, she would love to buy them all up and restore them - but for now, the old Ropers building has her full attention.

Visit M&M Vintage on Main Street Tuesdays through Friday, 10 AM - 6 PM. Check out http://www.facebook.com/moniquesvintageboutique for new merchandise, updates, and more.