Katherine Kennedy and Taylor Logue always knew they wanted to do something big together. The couple, owners of a quirky new home goods store, Strange Bird Kennedy and Logue, who live in Jackson Ward, have been creatively influencing each other for years — Kennedy was a senior producer at the Martin Agency, while Logue was an artist and graphic designer. When the Richmond natives were forced to quarantine together during the pandemic, they realized the importance of shared space and the idea was born to spread their vision and vibe to a wider audience in the form of a retail store. The shop, located at 320 Brook Road, opened earlier this month.
Inside, Kennedy and Logue have channeled their home into the design, creating a sense of cozy continuity and familiarity: Their brand color, vibrant tangelo, is the same one that decorates their front door, and the black walnut planks that serve as the counters inside were cut from trees in their backyard.
“I don’t like spaces that are stark and intimidating,” Kennedy says. “I wanted to keep it cozy, so I wanted to bring in a lot of stuff from home so people could see it in their actual home and make it a little more accessible.”
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, Odd Bird’s growing pantry selection will help bring it to life. Currently, shoppers can find flavoring ingredients like Dove hot sauce, Aneto seafood and vegetable soups and Diaspora single-origin spices. There’s also canned fish, Olea Pia and Graza finishing olive oils, hibiscus tea and stir-fry sauces from Los Angeles Chinese restaurant Woon and Edmond Faro’s Dijon mustard, which comes in an authentic tin bucket imported from France. Kennedy says the store continues to develop its food offerings, working with makers like Ocean Moore, Richmond-based maker of Gun Bay chili crisps, to source locally grown ingredients.
Beyond the snacks and groceries, Oddbird also showcases some less obvious but more delicious foods, like candles made in the shape of pasta, green olives and chunks of Gruyere cheese – perfect gifts for the foodie in your cookbook pile – and the work of artist Jasmine Archie. Pretty awful cakeCreated exclusively for Oddbird, this gorgeous and unique layer cake is actually a storage box and tissue box holder. You’ll also find a pitcher with a scalloped handle. Sophie Lou Jacobsonan Instagrammable cutting board Fredericks & Mayand based in Paris Saber Create a table setting that will have you drooling even before the meal arrives.
Kennedy’s penchant for the sinuous, colorful, playful and fun is apparent in every corner of the store: when deciding whether an item is suitable for the store, she considers both form and function, as well as who made the object and where its materials come from.
“A lot of it was made by artists or at least very small brands, and I think that was important because it makes those things feel more special and more unique,” she says. “And, at least for me, it makes me feel good to use it. And when people ask, I really like being able to explain a little bit about where the piece came from and how it got here.”
Inspired by boutiques such as: Yowie In Philadelphia, long night and Little King At Odd Bird locations in Brooklyn and Beacon, New York, detailed notecards describing makers are placed throughout the store, creating an immersive, storytelling shopping experience. Taylor and Logue hope to strike a balance between celebrating Richmond and bringing in artists and brands the city hasn’t yet had access to.
The duo plans to evolve their selection of pantry items and hopes to host on-site workshops and pop-ups with makers—Logue is particularly excited about a collaborative project with Eli Gray, who made Oddbird’s woodwork, as well as friends and neighbors in the area. The Big Secrethas produced the acrylic frames used in the artist’s instructions, and is also planning to launch an online store in the coming weeks.
Kennedy said the response to Odd Bird has been overwhelmingly positive and welcoming, especially from fellow artists and business owners in Jackson Ward. “We feel like our job is just to welcome them back and celebrate Jackson Ward in any way we can.”
Store Score
Five Odd Bird Favorites
House Match — If you’ve ever wished your home was decorated with matches in a cuter way than matchboxes and books, you’ll agree with Athens, Georgia-based artist collective State the Label: This set contains 100 4-inch matches housed in adorable, hand-painted little houses.
Pepper Grinder for Everyone — Pepper grinders can be a statement piece, and this eye-catching grinder from Dusen Dusen is just that. Place one in the center of your table and your bold style will be on display for all to see.
Serve a friend — Wooden spoons are a cooking essential, but designer Serena Liu’s curved spoons add a playful twist that’ll make you wonder how you ever lived without them.
Build your own monster kit — New parents Katherine and Taylor created a lovely kids’ area with their kids in mind, including this free craft set by designer Donna Wilson.
Oddbird Shop Goods — Logue’s Odd Bird-branded merchandise is some of the freshest out there.
Strange Bird Open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm.
Source: Shopping & Style – richmondmagazine.com
