Becky Mingle had long searched for the right warehouse space to house and sell her prized antiques, but she struggled to find the right fit.

Her business, Davis Vintage Decor — Davis is her maiden name — was growing quickly, and she needed more space for a showroom. Davis also wanted the flexibility to set her own hours and travel to find merchandise, which meant she couldn’t afford the expensive rents of some of the city’s lofty retail addresses. Mingle’s search came to a halt when she found a warehouse at 7375 W. Vickery Blvd., and, in early December 2023, she moved in.

Mingle has been sourcing and selling antiques since 2017. Hunting for fine vintage decor had always been a hobby, but after working in apparel retail for much of her career, she leapt and made a change.

“I always say, if you don’t take a risk, you’ll spend the rest of your life working for someone who did,” she said.

Mingle started small with booths at a local antique mall and her business has grown steadily.

“I’m an old soul and have always been drawn to old things,” she said. “When I got married, almost all our furniture was antiques I had collected over time. I have always believed that your home should be a reflection of you, and the trick to that is making your home look collected.”

Through her travels sourcing vintage goods, Mingle had seen antique dealers use a pop-up model — hosting temporary sales events, often in spaces leased on short terms.

Davis Vintage Decor hosted its own version of a hybrid pop-up in early March. It was a hit and Mingle followed that up with a Spring Shopping Shindig in April and Pop-up and Popsicles in June with even more success, she said.

Mingle, who operated by appointment-only when she opened on West Vickery, began opening the store on specified days and times as announced on her Instagram account, @davisvintagedecor.

“Our shopping experience feels special because we’re not open all the time,” she said.

Mingle puts a great amount of effort into the store’s appearance. She rearranges and remerchandises before each pop-up, bringing new items to the floor.

“I want the store to feel like a fresh experience each time people come in,” she said. “You never know what you’re going to find. It’s the thrill of the chase.”

Mingle gets giddy when talking about sourcing her antiques. She shops locally through estate sales and private appointments, visits the Round Top Antiques Show in January and October every year, and makes an annual summer family pilgrimage out of state via what she calls the “longest yard sale.”

Mingle has been attending Round Top for about 50 years. The show is going into its 56th year.

“Back then it was just the Red Barn,” she said. “It’s gotten pretty extensive in recent years, but it’s fabulous and I have a lot of friendships there.”

Her annual road trip is more than 3,000 miles and goes through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.

Mingle feels sourcing items out of state is imperative. “Each state has a different flavor of antiques,” she said. “Especially the Deep South.”

Mingle admits that getting all her treasures back home and ready for the showroom is no easy feat.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” she said. “It’s a real labor of love to figure out how to get the items back to Fort Worth, cleaning, repairing them if necessary and then styling it. My husband is the person that does all the heavy lifting. Literally and figuratively.”

Her customer base is high-end, but Mingle wants her finds to feel accessible. She has even noticed an influx of millennials who love the sustainability of decorating with vintage furniture and decor. Because of this, she tries to stay well-stocked with lamps, artwork and rugs.

Mingle says she’s been in the business long enough to understand what her customers want, which narrows her search.

“I follow my customers’ cues.” she said. “I’m not buying what I bought seven or eight years ago. I’ve evolved and so have my customers.”

Mingle also loves to be tasked with a search for specific things requested by her customers.

After her return from her summer sourcing road trip, Mingle said she intends to schedule her pop-ups through the first of the year. Her next one will be in September.

Mingle is also looking at adjusting the days and times of her pop-ups to capture more prospective customers. She hopes to offer an evening option or extend the time of her Saturday morning pop-ups.

She also has a few collaborations in the works going into the holiday and rodeo seasons. Mingle said she would love to showcase local artists and vintage cars, furs and jewelry.

“I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with what you love,” she said. “If you love something, you will find a space for it.”