Modern Barnyard: St. Cloud’s Staple Switches It Up

“We’ve kind of been St. Cloud’s best-kept secret for the first couple of years. We were super busy, but a lot of people didn’t even know we were here because we kind of ran on social media alone,” Jim Beck, co-owner and operator of Modern Barnyard, a St. Cloud-based business, told Lavender Magazine.

Modern Barnyard’s motto is: “Repurposed. Restored. Reimagined.” With dedicated owners and devoted staff, the store continues to repurpose, restore, and reimagine its offerings.

Beginnings

The gay-owned and operated business emerged in 2017 thanks to Beck and his partner John. According to Beck, before Modern Barnyard, the duo ran a flower and gift shop business for 11 years but wanted to expand their ventures and expertise. Since they frequented auctions and got an idea of what the public searched for, they brainstormed the idea for Modern Barnyard.

“We saw a need in the area for a mix of new home decor with repurposed furniture. Vintage antiques and all kinds of everyday home decor combined so you could come in and you could shop for any room in your house and have something from new to old or vintage all mixed in to give you that cool look,” Beck shared.

The business opened its doors on April 1, 2017, to a 7,000 sq. ft. warehouse. Six years later, the warehouse has expanded to a 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse with even more furniture and goods for guests to peruse and purchase.

Repurpose

Why would you choose a more expensive, new couch with no personality or flair when you can enjoy a repurposed, budget-friendly sofa full of individuality? Modern Barnyard strives to give each and every customer a unique shopping experience and provide them with options they won’t find anywhere else, not even if they visit the store a week later.

“We have a mix of repurposed, old, good-quality furniture, vintage and antique furniture, and then hundreds of all real wood custom-built furniture. So it’s all about quality but at a better price than a normal furniture store,” Beck stated.

According to Beck, most customers come from the Twin Cities, and even though the drive seems daunting at first, customers are satisfied with the quality and selection offered at Modern Barnyard.

“It is definitely worth the drive, and they won’t be disappointed in what they find, that’s for sure. One of our biggest markets for our furniture is actually people from the Twin Cities that have discovered us because they can come up and get something that is better quality a lot of times for less money than what they pay there,”

Behind the Scenes at Modern Barnyard

“My job is to do the customer service and to greet and help everybody and help them put together things for their home,” Beck said. “I would say 70% of the store is run by my partner John and I, and then we have 16 local vendors that also bring in merchandise, and they’re the ones that do a lot more of the handmade/vintage/antiques mixed in. we’ve got vendors that make handmade, cool items out of all metal and people who make stuff out of driftwood, and custom made signs,” he said.

His partner, John, keeps the backend of the store functioning by repainting, staining, and repurposing all of the gathered furniture and goods that need a little TLC. The staff at Modern Barnyard have a knack for seeing the quality in discarded or disregarded household items like old clocks and mirrors.

“We’ll fix them up: old candlesticks, or jewelry boxes, paint them, give them a new life, and then put them out to sell,” Beck said.

The refurbished items correlate to various themes percolating through the store at any given time. For example, right now, the store’s seasonal collection features a swath of Americana-themed decor for the Fourth of July. You may spot a flag painted on one of the older clocks or candles throughout the seasonal room. Beck’s day-to-day responsibilities include staging and restaging each room to match the current theme.

Themes

Each room in Modern Barnyard’s expansive warehouse has a theme. Some of the designated themes include an everyday room, seasonal, and vintage.

Beck’s favorite themed room is the repurposed, vintage area. He adores the idea of adding a little flair and personality to your house through everyday repurposed items. He also enjoys the seasonal room, especially during the Christmas season.

According to Beck, last year, Modern Barnyard housed 25 themed Christmas trees and 10,000 Christmas items throughout the 7,000 sq. ft store. However, considering the recent 5,000-foot expansion, the store will gear up to transform into a Christmas superstore.

Never the Same Store Twice

Part of the appeal of Modern Barnyard is the constant change of scenery.

“There’s a good variety, and what’s cool about that is it’s never the same store twice. When we buy things, we buy everything in limited numbers so that when you come in, you see something you like, you buy it so the next time you come in, the store looks completely different,” Beck said.

In addition to modern and repurposed furniture, the store sells puzzles, soaps, candles, gourmet foods, and anything used as giftware. Beck suggests one of the store’s main focuses is making sure there is something for everyone.

“We love to give back, too. Every Mother’s Day weekend, we do shopping for a cause and donate proceeds to local charities. We donate tons of money and give back to the community and are very active because we’re appreciative of them supporting us, so we want to support them,” Beck said.

While Modern Barnyard gears up for summer, visit them at www.modernbarnyard.com/repurposed/ or 7285 Co Rd 75, St Cloud, MN 56301.