DOWAGIAC — Some things just go harmoniously together. For O’Larry Collins, his store, Art Enuh Suit, combines art and fashion. The same can be said for Collins’ working relationship with Shannon Lyons. The two  said they have worked harmoniously together to bring Collins’ business and gallery into a new space.

Lyons, who owns the building at 115 S. Front St., Dowagiac, renovated the downstairs space that Collins’ store has now accompanied for the past three weeks. When Lyons renovated and designed the space, she went for a neutral palette. At the time, she did not know what would inhabit it.

“We always knew this space was going to be a business,” she said. “We just wanted for whoever to be able to come in here and let whatever they brought in shine.”

Lyons’ long-term plan is to have the Heddon Museum, currently located in the former Heddon manufacturing facility in Dowagiac, move into the space. Lyons said that will not happen for another two years, as her parents, Joan and Don Lyons, who founded the museum in 1996, want to redo the layout and how the fishing items are displayed.

“We didn’t want this to sit empty for two years,” Lyons said. “That’s not good for Dowagiac.”

Upon hearing that Collins needed a new space for his store, Lyons reached out and offered to let Collins use her space. For the past three weeks, Collins has filled his new location with art, music and vintage fashion.

Just moving a block away, Collins’ store now has one side designated for his pre-owned suits, hats and other men’s items, while the other side of the building is a designated gallery space to showcase his wood burning artwork.

Lyons, who bought the building in September 2017, first renovated the upstairs space. Upstairs renovations were competed in June 2018. The downstairs renovation began in April of this year.

Since the move-in, Collins and Lyons have developed a friendship. Lyons grew up going to school with Collins’ daughter and is no stranger to his family. Once she moved back to the area, she would pop into his shop and say, “hi.”

“We are so happy to have him in here and have the livelihood and the art. Having the art in our building, we are really happy about it,” she said.

Collins is already noticing how the larger space better suits his business’ needs. 

“The old space was tight,” he said. “You really couldn’t relax like you can in here. Here, you can try on a pair of shoes and look in the mirror and see what you look like.”

Collins also plans to start offering a larger selection of items within the next few weeks, including more hats, scarves and gloves.

When Collins first opened his store at 135 S. Front St., Dowagiac, in October 2015, he noticed a lack of stores selling men’s fashion. He has since filled that need by offering his collection of suit jackets, shoes and vintage ties.

A larger space also allows Collins to have more room to exhibit his wood burning pieces which depict events such as the civil rights movement. Collins has been practicing the art for more than 40 years.

“The art, I’m always doing that and offering that at all times,” he said.

Overall, the move benefited both Collins and Lyons, they said.

“[Lyons] came down to the other store and told me that I belonged here,” Collins said pointing to the walls of his new space, now filled with artwork. “It was really nice of her to let me use this.”