'Miss Wonderful' Brings Retro Whimsy to Main Street Cedar Falls

For almost 20 years, Ann Eastman and her husband Barry Eastman have been collecting vintage and retro items. From couches, chairs and tables to lamps, dish sets and figurines, they've gathered it all.

Finally, their home and storage units overflowing, they decided to turn their collection into a business - and new downtown Cedar Falls store Miss Wonderful was born.

"We're practically hoarders," Ann Eastman said. "It was time to share it."

Vintage dresses, bejeweled purses, framed 1950s ads, flower-patterned bowls and light-up Santas line the walls of the shop, at 216 Main Street, the former home of Antiques and Stuff. The space has been transformed into one large, airy room filled with the Eastman's finds.

The couple is no stranger to the Cedar Valley business scene. Ann Eastman is the founder and former owner of while Barry Eastman is the owner of Rudy's Tacos and Lava Lounge.

Curating vintage items is a shared passion for them both - in fact, they first met while they were both combing the same Goodwill for treasures.

"When I saw his house for the first time, I thought, 'Oh my goodness, I wanted that pink ashtray!'" Ann Eastman said with a laugh. "It was definitely vintage love at first sight."

After selling Cup of Joe in 2007, she stayed at home with her children, but recently was ready to re-enter the small business fray. She said she's always wanted to open a vintage store.

"It's been great," she said of the time at home. "But I was itching to finally fulfill this dream."

She took the name for the store from a brand of shoes her grandmother used to wear. A "Miss Wonderful" shoe box sits proudly behind the counter.

"I started collecting because of her," she said. "And I think the dream of this store was the excuse for the collecting."