Coping With Quarantine: Thrift shop owner Ted Stewart 

Coping With Quarantine is a recurring feature that examines how people across Greater Lansing are being affected by the coronavirus. City Pulse aims to interview a diverse cast of residents as they adjust to a new lifestyle under the measures taken in Michigan to curb the pandemic. If you are interested in being featured, please contact ashleycitypulse@gmail.com

MONDAY, April 20 — Ted Stewart, 52, Lansing, is the owner of Metro Retro, a punky thrift shop in Old Town that specializes in vintage clothing. Stewart closed down his shop shortly after dining rooms closed at restaurants and bars across the state.

Luckily, a strong first quarter has provided the revenue for him to stay afloat. 

“I was doing great. I was able to tackle a bunch of things I needed to take care of in terms of business obligations. I was making it happen, though I had some setbacks — I had a dog with an $8,000 vet bill,” Stewart said. “But business was great. I was 40 percent over what I was doing this time last year. I think I am fortunate enough to weather this.”

As specific coronavirus mandates spread across several industries, Stewart experienced many feelings of sympathy and solidarity. Most of his friends work in food service and various forms of entertainment, and Stewart witnessed them inherit the towering struggles of unemployment and the dark cloud of financial uncertainty. 

“All of my friends just got laid off. They’re all going to be broke and hurting. I was worried about how these people were going to survive or eek out a living to keep food on their table much less than how they were going to go shopping. Yeah right, with no income?” Stewart said. “I could’ve stayed open a little longer, but I didn’t feel like it was worth it. At a certain point, there are more important things than making money.”

Though his shop is closed, Stewart is still making some dough through various side hustles on social media. He’s selling eCards, stickers, pillowcases, baseball caps and other little things he’s “trying to pimp on Facebook.” Stewart has applied for grants and loans, but has been denied for every single one. Metro Retro isn’t accepting donations, as Stewart deems them unnecessary. 

“I have food in my fridge; I feel pretty lucky,” Stewart said.

In terms of maintaining his sanity while locked up inside, Stewart turns to cuddling with his cat and his five dogs. “I have a zoo,” Stewart laughed. He avoids news on television, but still avidly scrolls through Facebook. Stewart is also obsessed with the alternative country musician Orville Peck. 

Stewart, a master in the art of thrifting, said he really misses spending entire afternoons perusing Lansing’s many thrift and consignment shops in search of the perfect vintage piece to flip at Metro Retro. 

“I don’t want to sound like one of these ladies that can’t go buy their seeds, but being unable to thrift is a huge deal. That’s my whole life,” Stewart said. “I joke about being a grave robber. Being unable to do that has changed how I go about my day. I’m a creature of habit. It’s hard to know what to do.” 

Stewart believes the biggest silver lining is the shared hardship uniting various communities within Lansing. 

“There’s a flipside to the grotesque selfishness. In spite of all those people, there’s that other side.” Stewart said. “People are stepping up; learning how to make masks; helping first responders and delivering food. There are many more important things than the almighty dollar. There’s a community level of support that’s going to help us navigate through this.” 

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