Popular local leather goods brand Glad & Young Studio recently opened its first standalone shop at Ponce City Market. Located on the Central Food Hall’s second floor, the 1,000-square-foot space is stocked with the brand’s vibrant handbags, wallets, and accessories, with enhanced, in-store personalization options like build your own one-of-a-kind fanny pack, foil letter stamping, and limited edition colorways.
Founders Anna Zietz and Erica Tankesley, who started making their high-octane leather line in the basement of Zietz’s Cabbagetown home in 2015 and opened their first brick-and-mortar location inside Ponce City Market’s Citizen Supply in 2019, jumped at the chance to open their own shop when the current space became available in August.
“We’ve been daydreaming about that specific location for about two years, and we’ve been working really hard over the past few years to grow our brand and be ready to have our own retail space,” says Tankesley.
With a bubblegum pink display wall and shelving in shades of lavender, lime green, and turquoise, the new space matches the brand’s bright and colorful aesthetic and also features interactive elements like custom stamping and a vintage photo booth—the latter of which drew crowds on opening weekend.
“We’ve been able to curate something we’re really proud of, that’s really vibrant and super experiential and feels really on brand for us, where customers can have a unique experience,” says Zietz.
“And as a small local business, to have the opportunity for a Ponce City Market storefront and the audience it brings is huge,” adds Tankesley.
In addition to Glad & Young Studio’s signature leather goods, the store will also stock clothing, accessories, and gifts from local and regional makers like Native Maps and Atlanta designer Megan Huntz. The pair eventually hope to host pop-ups, workshops, and other community events.
Glad & Young Studio is open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.