The Cultivated Chameleon on North Monroe blends hand-curated, sustainable fashion with fresh bites | Arts & Culture | Spokane | The Pacific Northwest Inlander

Some coincidences are too strange to ignore.

It wasn’t all that unusual when Sarah Wolfe and Sarah Washburn both showed up at the same last-chance sale for the closing of Apricot Lane Boutique in River Park Square almost a decade ago because, at the time, they were total strangers. After bonding over a pair of cute bellbottoms, they went their separate ways.

But things got curious when they met again at a costume party that same week. And even more peculiar when they found out they share a first name.

“We were both dressed the most insane at that party,” Wolfe says.

“She was painted green like the Wicked Witch of the East,” Washburn adds. “And I was a bloody unicorn.”

After one too many coincidences, the pair became friends and bonded over their shared love of fashion and all things vintage. After slinging clothes and food out of Tazza Bistro, which Wolfe owned and operated inside the Rock Pointe Corporate Center, and at various local vendor fairs, the duo decided that 2025 was the year they’d team up to open a brick-and-mortar storefront for their vintage clothing outlet.

Blending Wolfe’s prior foodie venture with the pair’s passion for fashion, Cultivated Chameleon boasts a curated collection of vintage clothing, accessories and furniture along with fresh, made-to-order food in the same space.

“We decided to dream up the biggest dream we can and just go for it,” Wolfe says. “The moment felt right and we went full send.”

Since the store’s grand opening in January, Wolfe and Washburn have garnered a batch of regular customers who pop in for lunch or to browse its vintage offerings. Others discover the Monroe Street shop as they pass by on foot and peek inside.

The space, which was previously occupied by Mayor Lisa Brown’s campaign offices as well as Giant Nerd Books, has been completely transformed into a charming, captivating boutique with rolling clothing racks, antique furniture and warm, glowy lighting. It’s also accentuated by a mural painted by the duo’s friend, Joshua Martel, of foliage in gold paint.

“Every detail that we talked about when we were dreaming this place up has come to life,” Wolfe says. “From the mural to the opposing eclectic wall on the side, all of the little things came to fruition and make it that much more perfect.”

Each piece on Cultivated Chameleon’s racks was handpicked by Wolfe and Washburn. They focus on finding garments in a multitude of sizes, aiming to cater to plus-size individuals who want to wear vintage pieces. They also keep prices as low as they can. The store has a $1 bin and a $1 rack featuring continually rotating items.

“Hand curating everything adds an extra layer of fun,” Washburn says. “Sometimes, there are specific pieces we want for the store, but we don’t know when we’ll find them or when they’ll show up. So when they do, it’s that much sweeter.”

From a bright blue, fringe-laden cowgirl dress to vibrant floral ’60s mumus and trunks full of porcelain clown dolls, the racks and shelves are filled with vintage gems. (And if you venture to the bathroom, you’ll be met with more vintage clowns than you can count.)

The two pride themselves on offering more than a typical vintage store.

Cultivated Chameleon’s bistro menu features small bites like pastries ($3) and matcha clusters ($5), breakfast paninis ($7-$10), a variety of sandwiches ($8-$11) as well as smoothies ($8) and smoothie bowls ($11).

“It’s been nice having the food with it,” Wolfe says. “The food draws people in, but while they’re waiting, they can get their cute weekend outfit, get the little piece they don’t normally have time to shop for.”

Additionally, the store has already hosted a handful of events in the six months it’s been open, including an open mic night, a visual arts showcase, a local music showcase and a Pisces dance party. Wolfe and Washburn look forward to amping up the shop’s event schedule now that they’re settled in.

“We want to do a soundbath, pop-up shops for local vendors,” Washburn says. “Anything can happen.”

Throughout their friendship, Wolfe and Washburn have used the phrase “For every version of you” to guide them through each venture, which, they say, perfectly translated into the vision for Cultivated Chameleon.

“We’re chameleons,” Wolfe says. “We’re down for whatever. The name stays true. Every time you come in here, it’s going to be new and different. We want to have an item for everybody.”