Downtown St. Joseph has lost a retail store.
Lee & Birch, a women’s clothing and accessory store at 214 State Street is apparently gone on relatively short notice. Shoppers, many of whom claim to have loved the store, are mourning its passing in online posts on social media. Several said they were looking forward to shopping the store during the upcoming ‘Women’s Weekend’ organized by St. Joe Today. Others wondered if their gift cards could be used at other Lee & Birch locations.
Lee & Birch is based in Rockford, north of Grand Rapids. At its height, it operated stores in Rockford, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Grand Haven, Saugatuck and St. Joseph. It appears from online research that only the Rockford and Grand Haven stores remain open year-round, with Saugatuck a seasonal operation. The St. Joseph location opened in 2023.
Lee & Birch is described as offering ”curated clothing and accessories”, with a personalized shopping experience in a boutique atmosphere.
A call to Lee & Birch’s Rockford store for comment on the reasons for the closing has not been returned.
The 214 State Steet location has a rich downtown business history. For decades it was the home of HI’s Saloon and The Pumphouse, two popular bar & restaurants. You can explore that history in our 2023 story announcing the Lee & Birch arrival:
‘Lee & Birch’ Boutique Reveals New Store Coming to Downtown St. Joseph
