Inside Revival Room Resale!
There’s a certain kind of shop you walk into and immediately think, yeah… this is my place. That’s the energy at Revival Room Resale. Located on 14th Avenue, this curated vintage resale store is packed with 90s, Y2K, and one-of-a-kind pieces that feel anything but ordinary. It’s not just about shopping, it’s about finding something that feels like you.
And while the racks, textures, and throwback finds are what first pull you in, it doesn’t take long to realize what really makes this place stand out. Revival Room isn’t just built on great style—it’s built on a friendship that’s been nearly a decade in the making.
Before they were business owners, Madelyn Filippello and Sydney Van Kammen were coworkers who connected almost instantly. “We joked about going on a spontaneous trip during one of our first shifts together,” they said. “Two weeks later, we were in the car for nine hours heading to Canada—and we’ve been inseparable since.”
That kind of friendship, built on spontaneity, shared interests, and a little bit of “let’s just go for it”—became the foundation for everything that followed. Over time, their routine became second nature: pick each other up, grab coffee, and go thrifting.
Thrifting wasn’t just something they did, it was part of who they were. “Both of us were introduced to secondhand shopping at a very young age, going to rummage sales with our grandparents,” they shared. “We loved the thrill of the treasure hunt and finding unique items.”
That thrill never really went away. Even as they built their own style and worked in retail, they kept going back to it—digging through racks, spotting hidden gems, and finding pieces you couldn’t find anywhere else. What started as something fun slowly started to feel like something more.
“As we continued to thrift, we started finding pieces we knew would be appreciated by the right audience,” they said. “We both started selling secondhand items online and loved getting those pieces into a good home.”
That idea—finding something special and connecting it with the right person, became the heartbeat of what they would eventually build.
Like most of their story, the leap into opening a storefront came naturally, and maybe a little unexpectedly. One night, Sydney came across a listing for a small space on 14th Avenue. The next day, she brought it up, half joking.
Madelyn immediately saw something more.
They reached out that night, toured the space, and afterward sat down for what they now call their first business meeting—talking through everything from finances to timelines. And then they made the decision that changed everything.
Now or never.
“We didn’t want to keep dreaming and be left with ‘what ifs.’”
From the beginning, Revival Room Resale was built with intention. They didn’t want to recreate the overwhelming feeling of traditional thrift stores.
“Being thrifters ourselves, we know it can feel overwhelming to dig through a 10,000 square-foot thrift store,” they explained. “We wanted to change that feeling.”
So they did.
Every piece in the shop is hand-selected, cleaned, and chosen for a reason. No endless digging. No racks of worn-out basics. Just items that feel unique, wearable, and worth finding.
“When you come into our store, you know there’s no digging needed. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and brag-worthy.”
That level of curation takes time, more than most people realize. Their “treasure hunt” days often consist of long hours searching, sometimes traveling, sometimes spending hours to find just one standout piece.
“Coffee, comfy clothes, good music, and manifesting fire vintage items,” they joked.
And while it’s time consuming, it’s also what keeps them going.
“The joy on the faces of our customers keeps us motivated,” they said. “There’s no better feeling than knowing you found something someone is going to love.”
Some of their most meaningful finds come from even closer to home, family closets, passed-down pieces, and vintage items with history behind them.
“It’s special to see clothing from your family loved by new owners,” they shared.
That connection, past to present, old to new, is part of what makes the shop feel different.
The style itself is hard to define, but easy to recognize.
“Think of your cool older cousin… effortless, cool, and confident,” they said.
That energy shows up everywhere, from the racks to the music (except when they have Third Eye Blind playing) to the way the space feels when you walk in.
But more than anything, it’s the atmosphere that sticks with people.
“Simply put: like we’re besties,” they said. “We love a gossip-sesh. We want to hear about your day, your situationship, your vacation… basically your whole life.”
It’s not just about selling clothes.
It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable, seen, and connected.
That mindset extends to inclusivity as well. From sizing to style, they’re intentional about making sure there’s something for everyone.
“We pride ourselves on having a wide range of sizes, something for every size, body, and style.”
And that approach is part of what’s helped them build a loyal following so quickly.
“We are overjoyed by the amount of support and love our community has shown us,” they said.
From repeat customers to fellow small business owners, the support system around them has become just as important as the business itself.
They’ve also built strong relationships within the vintage and resale community, connecting with other shops, sharing customers, and learning from those around them.
“All in all, the small business community has welcomed us with open arms and we are eternally grateful,” they said.
And that sense of community is something they’re actively building inside their own space.
“Our store isn’t just about shopping, it’s about creating a community,” they said. “We love to connect and build relationships, and our customers keep coming back because of this.”
For shoppers, whether local or visiting, Revival Room Resale offers something that’s hard to replicate.
A curated experience.
Accessible pricing.
And a space that feels personal from the moment you walk in.
“We fully believe that our welcoming atmosphere, curated selection, stocked racks, and reasonable prices are what sets us apart,” they said. “We are small but mighty.”
Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the shop is constantly refreshed with new inventory, giving people a reason to keep coming back.
Even while balancing full-time jobs during the week, Madelyn and Sydney are focused on what’s next, expanding hours, growing their online presence, hosting events, and continuing to build something that reflects both their passion and their partnership.
“This has been our dream for many years,” they said. “It truly never feels like work… every weekend is another chance to hang out and do what we love.”
And on a personal note, this is the part where I step out of the writer role for a second.
Madelyn and Sydney are, without question, two of the coolest people around. The kind of people who are effortlessly themselves, who bring energy into a room, and who make you want to root for them from the start. Watching them turn something they’ve talked about for years into a real, physical space you can walk into, it’s impressive.
Because this didn’t just happen.
They’ve put in the time. The effort. The late nights. The early mornings. The hours spent sourcing, curating, cleaning, planning, and showing up weekend after weekend. And they’ve done it together—building not just a business, but something that reflects who they are and what they love.
And it shows.
You feel it the second you walk into Revival Room Resale.
This is exactly the kind of place that makes Kenosha special. The kind of shop that adds personality, creativity, and authenticity to the local experience. For visitors, it’s a chance to find something you won’t find anywhere else. For locals, it becomes a go-to spot, a favorite, a place you bring people when they’re in town.
And that’s what great small businesses do. They don’t just sell things, they create experiences.
Places like Revival Room Resale aren’t just good for shopping—they’re essential to the story of Kenosha. They’re what make exploring the city feel unique, personal, and worth coming back for.
And if you ask me?
They’re just getting started!
Shop at Revival Room Resale!
3417 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 236-5181
