If you’ve been searching to find a style that fits your life, there’s this little gem of a shop that’s owned by partners Miranda & Jo, and is bursting with creativity. Alt Haus is new, colorful, stylish, trendy, creative, fun and oh so personable. Offering interior design, murals, goods, and furniture are just a few of the fab things Alt Haus provides. Check out what else they can do for you….
Photo credit: Molly Schikosky
REALTOR® /Mortgage Associate
Describe your business: Alt Haus is located in the Broadway area of Saskatoon. Owned by Miranda Young and Jo Van, the store has blossomed into a colourful space filled with unique goods, furniture, prints from all around the world, local original art and so much more. This ever-changing space also serves as an alternative music venue and hosts performances from wonderful local artists. Alt Haus is also the home base for their interior design and mural practice.
What drives you to do what you do? What motivates you? We want to create a safe space that people are inspired in, and leave feeling happy. Creating interesting and beautiful spaces for our clients motivates us as well. We want to make our clients lives easier, and make homes that reflect who they are as people, and how they want to feel.
What has surprised you most when owning your own business? How much the community has rallied for us, and how many people are looking for something unique.
What was it like when you first started? We managed to get by with the support of the community, but it wasn’t easy. We opened our first shop in Riversdale just weeks before the pandemic shut us down. It was so challenging because the shop was brand new, and we had to create an online store in order to survive. We had no support from the government because of our opening timeline and just had to make it work. The people of Saskatoon, showed us such immense support during that time, and we were so lucky to have our design work and murals to fall back on during those tough times, but we really had to hustle.
What is something people don’t know about your business? We are so much more than just a physical store. Our interior design and mural practice is a huge part of what we do. We do both residential and commercial interior design and murals, creating cool spaces all over the city.
A lot of people also don’t know about all of the great furniture we have access to, that isn’t shown on the floor. We are constantly updating our website to reflect our great product offerings, but if you’re ever looking for something specific, we’d love to help you find it.
What would your customers say they love most about doing business with you? We often do full furniture packages, and interior design for our clients, making the whole process seamless and easy for them. Our clients love getting that kind of service and having the peace of mind that their home is going to look great at the end of the day.
How do you motivate and encourage each other? Yourself? or Staff? We have a lot of dance parties. We try to have a very positive and friendly environment, and always have the good tunes going.
Where do you see your business in the next years? We are loving our new location on Broadway, and hope to expand the artists, and makers we carry on our shelves. We also want to expand our online presence, and the clientele we serve.
What are your greatest challenges? Managing our three businesses, the shop, design and murals, can be a bit overwhelming at times. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the help of our great staff.
What is something most people don’t know about you? Some people don’t know that Jo and I aren’t just partners in work, but also in life. We are lucky to have such an incredible relationship, that we can be supportive for each other in all elements of our lives.
What do you love most about your town/city? We love how the river flows through the city and gives it such life. We also love the community, and how folks are generally so friendly and supportive.
Why do you think it is important for people to support local? In order to keep the businesses you love going in your community, you have to support them. Ordering online from big retailers, or shopping big box, doesn’t give back to your community, or help your neighbors pay the rent. You can find anything you need, from local shops, and keep in the money in your community.
What are your favorite restaurants? We love Amigos, Japa Bowl, Cohens, Hometown, The Bagel Shop, and 13 Pies.
What are your favorite things to do locally? Going to the Remai, playing scrabble at the park, thrifting, seeing movies at the Roxy, and checking out shops on Riversdale and Broadway.
Miranda Young & Jo Van Lamblagen
Phone: 306-612-3310
Address: 617A Main Street East Saskatoon SK S7H 0J8
Email: hello@althaus.ca
Website: www.althaus.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/althausyxe
Instagram: www.intsagram.com/althausyxe
