Inspiring Conversations with Deserae Minor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deserae Minor.

Hi Deserae, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
What I do now is not what I had planned to do years ago. I have two undergraduate degrees: one in Mathematics and one in Middle School Education, with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.  I taught Algebra and Geometry and coached the Drill Team in the Olathe School District for several years before I became a stay-at-home mom.  While at home with my children, I taught a Mommy and Me class, was a Girl Scout leader, a Room Mom for both of my children, coached the cheerleading team, and eventually started my own dance company.  As a busy mom with two children who have severe health issues, I also started painting furniture, which I found to be very therapeutic. I decided that I would try my luck selling furniture in a booth in the West Bottoms and, a year later, opened my own store in the West Bottoms called The Dusted Attic. I have 40 amazing vendors at The Dusted Attic, some of whom have been with me since Day One, and we just celebrated our 6th anniversary. As the West Bottoms store became successful, I recognized the need for a similar store in south Overland Park. I started looking for retail space soon after opening the Dusted Attic. In 2017, I found the perfect location. Although it was a dilapidated storage building, I saw a lot of potential. It took me two years to get the building ready to open, and The Corner House Furniture and Boutique finally opened its doors in November 2019. In 2020, The Corner House was nominated as one of Kansas City’s Top 5 Best of KC Home Furnishing Stores (Boutique) by the readers of the Pitch magazine, and are currently nominated as one of the Top 5 Best of KC 2021 in the following THREE categories:

• Best Boutique Store
• Best Home Furnishings Store
• Best Home Furnishings Store (Boutique)

The Corner House now hosts 25 incredible vendors with a variety of merchandise. Although most of our merchandise is handcrafted and hand-painted, we try our best to keep our prices reasonable and competitive. We are looking forward to many more years at both locations!!!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Opening The Corner House was a struggle with city permits and guidelines that had to be followed. It seemed like it was one setback after another and it pushed our opening date further and further down the calendar. Even with the tremendous struggles we encountered, we finally opened in November 2019 only to be shut down due to Covid a few months later. When the Covid shutdown hit, it was extremely difficult, but it forced me to start online sales at both stores and they have continued to be successful. Thankfully, I have very loyal and supportive vendors at both stores who stuck it out with me throughout the shutdown. We remained profitable despite the shutdown and reopened our doors at both locations once the shutdown orders were lifted. Having two stores has its share of ups and downs, but I am blessed and very thankful to work with so many amazing vendors. It makes this feel more like a family than a job!

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Kansas City! It is a big city with a small town feel! Kansas City residents are very loyal, not only to our sporting teams, but also to small businesses. We have so many residents who support our small local businesses, with many returning customers, and for that I will always be extremely grateful.

Contact Info:

• Email:thecornerhousefb@gmail.com and [email protected]
• Website: www.thecornerhousefurnitureandboutique.com
• Instagram: thedustedattic and the.corner.house.fb
• Facebook:The Corner House Furniture and Boutique and The Dusted Attic
• Other: TikTok the.corner.house