After closing its century-old St. Paul factory and Seventh Street showroom, the leather goods company J.W. Hulme has opened a new flagship store on Grand Avenue.

They opened their doors to the 880-square-foot store officially on Friday in the old Garden of Eden space at 867 Grand Avenue.

“We’re open. We’re excited,” said CEO Claire Powell. “We’re just thrilled to continue to be part of the community.”

The manufacturing firm closed in October when its 28 employees were notified that the company would outsource operations to Softline Brand Partners, a Minneapolis-based firm with plants in the U.S. and overseas.

Founded in St. Paul in 1905, J.W. Hulme had produced an exclusively American-made product, which Powell said had become unsustainable.

Since the downsizing, Powell said they’ve been settling into their new space.

“It’s very different in the type of area,” she said, comparing it to the former West Seventh Street space. Grand Avenue “is a retail and social area with all the restaurants. Now we’re right in between places that have true retail traffic.”

New at this location is a monogramming machine so customers can have their handbags customized in the store. There’s a coffee bar for shoppers needing a shot of caffeine and customers will find products from other local companies alongside the familiar leather totes.

Items from Faribault Mill and from Minneapolis-based Wit and Delight, along with fragrances and candles fill out the selections.

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With its manufacturing days behind it, Powell said she looks forward to expanding the brand through retail.

They’ll be celebrating with a 20 percent off discount through the middle of May.

RELATED: St. Paul leather handbag brand closing its local manufacturing facility