Charlotte boutique Homewurk hits the road because of rising rent prices

Instead, Johnson, now 24, bought a van and opened a mobile boutique. It’s mostly based in Charlotte, but she has plans to travel to Jacksonville, Miami, Charleston, Wilmington and Chicago by the end of the year.

Why it matters: Johnson found a way around a problem grappling local business owners.

• Soul Gastrolounge is the most recent example of a local favorite closing due to rising rent prices. Owner Andy Kastanas told Axios’ Katie Peralta Soloff that the rent hike was what “broke the camel’s back.”
• Before that, Central Coffee owners told Axios’ Ashley Mahoney they were priced out of their South End shop.

Zoom in: When comparing costs, Johnson said it made more sense to buy the bus rather than to anchor herself to a shop.

• She says spaces in South End and Plaza Midwood “were going for around anywhere from $4,000 to $8,000 a month.” It cost her the equivalent of about two months’ rent to refit the bus she owns now.
• Plus, she has control of her schedule and the flexibility to travel — something few 24-year-olds, heck, even 44-year-olds, can say.

Between the lines: Johnson got the bus on Facebook Marketplace. “I literally just typed ‘bus,'” she said. What she found was a former #vanlife vehicle, fitted for a husband and wife who traveled across the country with it.

• With the help of her 22-year-old brother, who knows cars well, Johnson gutted the bus and turned it into a mobile boutique. It took about two months to fix up and wrap.

The shop: Johnson describes the boutique as “versatile, neutral and trendy.” She’s catering to women in their 20s who want to elevate their wardrobe without contributing to the fast fashion problem. “I really want them to feel like what they’re buying they’re able to get use out of,” she said, adding that her clothes are meant to be worn on a date, a night out or at work.

• Prices range $36-$64 for tops, bottoms, dresses and athleisure apparel. “I understand ballin’ on a budget,” she said, adding that she tries to keep the items at $65 or less.
• You can shop Homewurk online or in person at pop-ups. Johnson posts the bus schedule on the store’s Instagram.

Take a look inside: