Reclaimed Rebel

I want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to the incredible friends, customers, and fellow vendors who dropped everything to rally and help me get packed up this morning.

Looking at this completely empty, clean booth space today fills me with so much gratitude. You turned an incredibly high-stress situation into a beautiful reminder of what a supportive small business community looks like.

I’ve recently been told that speaking up on my own social media is "contributing to the problem." But let’s be entirely clear: I have posted exactly three (now four) times over the last few weeks.

Every single post was direct, factual, and a necessary response to actions taken against me or false narratives being spread. I will always stand up for myself, and I refuse to sit quietly while my character and work ethic are questioned behind closed doors.

When a narrative is built on vague accusations it can be tempting to engage, argue, and get defensive. I am not going to do that. Instead, I want to challenge anyone hearing the rumors to pause, think for themselves, and look at the facts.

Ask yourself a simple question: Who have I known Chrissie to be over the last year or more?

You know my character. You know my work ethic. You know the hours I poured into building data infrastructure, troubleshooting behind the scenes, and protecting vendor payouts. My values have been on full display every single day I stepped into that building.

Integrity isn't defined by the rumors whispered when you walk out the door; it’s proven by how you showed up every single day you were there.

If the narrative being spun is that I am a "toxic menace" whose contract had to be abruptly ended due to "conduct," I ask you to consider a timeline that simply doesn't add up:

➡️ The Conversation: I believe in transparency. When I was approached by an outside entity and began preliminary conversations regarding a potential future opportunity I didn't hide it. On June 28 I picked up the phone and verbally informed management that I was having those discussions.

To be entirely clear, no formal position has been offered or accepted—it was simply an honest, professional conversation about my future.

➡️ The Silence: If a business truly values a manager, a data operator, or a top-performing vendor, they have an adult conversation when they find out you are being courted elsewhere. They ask what it takes to keep you. They make a counter-offer. In this case? There was no conversation, no counter-proposal, and zero interest in retaining me.

➡️ The Escalation: Instead, the moment I responsibly resigned from my contract to ensure a clean transition, the narrative flipped. I was cut off from communication, my vendor lease was terminated, and by this morning, I was sent a legal notice threatening me with trespassing charges just for trying to retrieve my property.

That is why moving trucks were there today. That is why we had to clear out.

To the vendors who know my heart and my work ethic—thank you for standing by me and seeing through the noise. To those throwing stones—I still genuinely wish you and your businesses success.

This chapter has closed, the page has turned, and my focus is 100% on what’s ahead.

I am walking away with my head held high, completely focused on the future and excited to share some incredible things very soon.

Thank you all for having my back today! 🚀✨

URGENT UPDATE: Emergency Move-Out Today (Help Needed!) 🚨

To my local vintage family, customers, and fellow vendors:

I need your help this morning. As many of you know, my time with VA Vintage was cut short, and I was given until Friday to completely clear out my booth.

However, I received a legal notice from ownership at 7:59am stating that effective immediately, I am banned from entering the premises to manage my sale or retrieve my property without written management approval—all while the General Manager is currently out of town on vacation.

I have movers scheduled to arrive at the store THIS MORNING to retrieve my large fixtures and inventory, but I am facing a total lockout and being threatened with trespassing charges just for trying to comply with their demand to vacate.

I have done absolutely nothing wrong, maintained total professionalism, and am simply trying to peacefully collect my personal assets.

If you are a friend, a loyal customer, or a fellow small business supporter in the Virginia Beach area who is free right now, please come to the store this morning to help us safely and quickly load my trucks.

More than anything, I just need friendly faces, extra hands, and witnesses to ensure we can get my property out peacefully and safely.

I will be there with my head held high to get my things. Let's stick together and get this done. 💕

Show this at the register to receive 75% off!

A quick update for my local vintage and small business community:

As many of you know, my time on the management and data operations side at VA Vintage recently came to a close so that I could step into an incredible new role of a beautiful, upcoming 50,000 square foot dual-concept marketplace in our community.

When I resigned on June 29, I voluntarily stepped away from my operations contract effective immediately to proactively protect the store’s data integrity and ensure absolute professional boundaries from day one.

My intention was to quietly finish out my standard 30-day notice as a vendor and run my booth through the end of July. However, I received an email from ownership today accelerating my timeline and terminating my lease effective next Friday, July 17th, due to my new role.

While I am disappointed to have my time as a vendor cut short so abruptly after a year of being a top-performing booth, I understand that industry competition can be intimidating for a business. I truly wish them the best.

Honestly, the accelerated timeline is great timing and I hold absolutely no hard feelings. I’ll pack up my booth this week, head out of town for a much-needed vacation, and come back ready to pour 150% into our massive launch.

To my fellow vendors: I woke up last week to find I had been completely removed from our internal groups and blocked from the public facing business page, but please know I did not abandon you.

I spent the last 10 days actively answering backend questions to ensure your June payouts and loyalty reward credits were fully accurate and protected before I left.

I will always have your backs.

To my customers: Thank you for an incredible year. Come grab the last of my inventory this week before July 17th!

This definitely isn't a goodbye —it's just a massive step forward. And I can't wait to welcome you all into a spectacular new space very soon.

Stay tuned for the official reveal! 🤍✨

🎸 THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! 🎸

Join us for the very first VA Vintage After Dark: 80's Night!

Saturday, June 27 from 7 PM – 11 PM, we're bringing the 80's back with live music, classic hits, trivia, giveaways, complimentary snacks & drinks, and family-friendly fun.

🎤 Live Music by SALT
🎧 80's DJ Crystal Painter
❓ 80's Trivia
🎁 Giveaways
🍪 Complimentary Snacks & Drinks
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All Ages Welcome

The entire event is INDOORS, so rain or shine we're ready for a great night!

Come dressed in your favorite 80's attire and enjoy an evening of music, memories, and treasure hunting with 200+ vendors under one roof.

📍 VA Vintage – Virginia Beach
🗓 Saturday, June 27
⏰ 7 PM – 11 PM

What's your favorite 80's song? Tell us below! 👇

I’m begging you. Please do not give that man another generic "Best Dad" mug.

…. Unless he’s like, really into coffee.

If you are currently panicking about a Father’s Day gift, the booth is stocked with 19th-century prints, heavy brass, and industrial smalls that don't feel like a last-minute drugstore run.

Whether you're shopping for your dad or just escaping your family for an hour to buy yourself something weird—the doors are open!

The good stuff is in the front corner.

VA Vintage | Front Right Corner
Open until 9 tonight & 6 tomorrow

If you haven’t stopped by VA Vintage to hunt for treasure, you’re missing out!

My kids had a blast this afternoon looking for eggs (and Father’s Day presents)💕