Lesbian partners Heather Muenstermann and Christina Isperduli ( pictured ) have a standard morning routine. They walk together to Isperduli's job as a software engineer, where she starts every weekday at 9 a.m. Muenstermann then continues to Green Genes, 5111 N. Clark, where she opens the new eco-friendly boutique that specializes in green goodies for kids and adults. It's a business they co-own.
As they brag, 'We're pink and green.'
The store officially opened March 28 and had its grand-opening party on April 19, complete with green music, organic baby food testing, green book reading and green adult snacks.
'We just want to be able to provide products that essentially will make small changes in people's lives. Our long-term goal is to do good things for the earth,' said Muenstermann, 36, who is originally from Orange County, Calif. 'Yeah, green is trendy these days, but I don't think it's just a phase. Business has been fantastic so far; we've had a very, very good first five weeks.'
The 1,000-square-foot store is kid-focused, with about 85 percent of its goods geared for youngsters. There are clothing, greeting cards, toys and a snack-food section. Green Genes also carries flushable and biodegradable diapers, and bath and body products for kids and adults. Items range from $1 to about $150.
'We wanted to work for ourselves. We wanted something to call our own. We both love kids. I love retail,' Muenstermann said. 'At first, we were just starting to make small changes at home, to be environmentally-conscious. It's grown from there, obviously.'
Green Genes has attracted local customers and many from the suburbs, too.
'For the business, we sort of have defined roles,' Muenstermann said. 'I'm very into the customer service; she's very much the numbers girl and [ in charge of ] inventory. We're each in charge of our own area, yet we respect each other's opinion.
'Owning your own business is a lot of time, which everyone said [ it would be ] and I fully expected. We're pretty good about leaving it at home when we go home, which is really important.'
And, they plan a Date Night to happen once a week.
'People are finally seeing that going green isn't just a bunch of B.S.,' Muenstermann said. 'People feel as though they are making a small difference in some way by coming into our store. We want being green to be sort of second nature, so people don't even think twice about purchasing something organic, or something made locally, or something that's using an item that had a previous life.'
But a kids' store in Andersonville?
'Well, we've lived here for about 10 years and I've seen the neighborhood change over that period,' Muenstermann said. 'It was the women [ here ] for a long time, then the boys came in, and now there are tons of families, gay and straight families. I think it's a wonderfully diverse neighborhood; I'm so glad to live and work here. I think it's a perfect place for us to be.'
See www.green-genes.com .
