Downtown Belleville welcomes new home décor and design business this weekend
Downtown Belleville will welcome a new retail business when Blush Home Décor by JSB Designs opens its doors Saturday.
Moving from a previous — and much smaller — space in Smithton, the shop offers gifts, furnishings and accessories, all selected by owner Jill Geoppo.
Geoppo is also the owner and lead designer of JSB Designs. Blush originated after she finished a living room project for a client that included acquiring a selection of accent pieces and accessories. Unused items from this and other projects were stored, as Geoppo often finds attractive pieces while shopping for clients or at markets, some of which end up in her own home.
As her inventory accumulated, Geoppo realized she needed a dedicated storage space. She asked Papa Vito’s about using the location next to the Smithton restaurant.
Initially used for storage, people started stopping by to look for gift ideas and Christmas decorations, Geoppo said.
“They both go hand in hand,” she said of her design firm and the side business it generated.
Blush typically carries a variety of everyday decorations and other merchandise.
The current focus is on holiday and Christmas decorations. After the holidays, Geoppo plans to carry "more everyday, all-the-time stuff," with spring merchandise available starting in February.
Bigger and better in Belleville
On Oct. 16, the evening of the Downtown Belleville Witches Brew Walk, the public got a sneak preview of what would soon occupy 132 W. Main St. when Geoppo set up tables and shelves filled with fall and Halloween decorations.
At the time, she said she would not have access to the new location until early November. Updates and improvements were underway at the 2,500-square-foot Belleville shop, more than three times the size of the Smithton location.
The renovations included a new drop ceiling, refinished flooring and a completely gutted back office, which now features a new kitchenette, she said.
When Blush has open houses and other events, a sink and fridge will be handy, she said.
The Smithton location’s last day was Oct. 25. The shop’s contents were then packed and ready for moving day to Belleville on Nov. 1.
“I hope to have more walk-in traffic,” she said, admitting that attracting shoppers to the Smithton shop was a challenge.
About Blush Home Décor by JSB Designs
Blush first opened in Smithton in November 2022 and was located at 101 N. Main St.
The business is now located at 132 W. Main St. in Belleville, the former site of Cosmic Comics Games & Collectibles, which closed in August 2024 and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona.
Blush Home Décor celebrates its Grand Opening and Holiday Open House 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15.
For more information, call 618-641-9550 or visit facebook.com/blushhomedecorbyjsbdesigns.
