Walking the streets of downtown Bellingham, it’s possible to overlook a new store when it opens. But a glance through the window of Mo’s Parlor gives a glimpse of something different, and stepping inside transports the passer-by into another world. Mo Green has been vending on sidewalks and in parks, at cooperative art shows and at community events, on folding tables and inside a vintage bus since 2016, but this is the first time the Parlor has had a street address, and Green has pulled out all the stops to make it something special.
“At first it was going to be a collaboration of a few different ladies. Woman-owned, gay-owned, POC-owned—it was a whole thing,” Green says. But after promises had been made and agreements were in place, the person on the lease had to back out of the plan. “So, I just decided to step up, and got the store opened in six weeks, just in time to catch the Christmas sales, right before the snow hit. I’m super grateful that we opened on time. It was a whirlwind, but we did it.”
While fewer business owners are involved, there is still plenty of collaboration going on. One corner of the store is devoted to the products made by Sacred Roots. “Maia has been my friend since high school. She has also been my massage therapist, and I’ve been using all of her products for four years,” says Green. Described as aromatherapy and therapeutic-grade infused oils made with the body in mind, it was an easy choice to include them in the store. “When the shop came along, she was the first person I came to, to sell all these amazing products.”
Green has a knack for finding the stuff that fits with the flow. There are a few paintings that seem custom made for the shop, but are the work of like-minded artist Derek Albert. “Derek is a good friend of mine and I’m carrying his art here because we have the same style,” she says. “None of it was planned; he just painted these things and I thought it was going to work wonderfully.”
The unique and immersive look of the space is also the result of a collaboration with a friend. “I have some art from Taj Williams in here, and the whole shop was done by him.” Green’s vision for the store was beautifully executed, from clouds on the ceiling to the vivid color scheme. Bold outlines and details on the walls, shelves, displays, and even outlet covers welcome the shopper into a comic book environment.
It’s only fitting, then, that the large central display is covered with actual comic books. “I thought it was important to have the comics in here to support Black artists,” says Green. “I feel like Black people are very underrepresented in the comic book world, so I wanted to have a space where we could be represented.” She’s happy to guide customers through the different titles, and the artists that created them, since she’s cultivated personal relationships with them as well.
Although Green is happy to support her friends and fellow artists, a quick look at the other displays will show that she keeps herself busy creating her own products, as well. Her colorful cast resin jewelry has been popular for years now, and it’s not unusual to find earrings and necklaces in the shape of fruits and video game controllers, as well as Star Wars characters.
One of Green’s more recent ventures includes body-care products that she’s created herself. “The new products are really important to me because it’s skin and hair care stuff aimed at POC, so I made everything with Blackness in mind. I’m really happy to be able to be providing people with things like sunscreen and lotion and body butter and loc twisting wax,” says Green. “I started doing this when I figured out that all the products I was buying for my hair and skin had terrible things in them. And also, the Black companies weren’t even owned by Black people. It was a shock to the system, so I started making my own stuff.”
Even newer projects include a heat press that allows her to custom-make a variety of clothing and other products emblazoned with her designs. And, since Green is a veteran of cosplay competitions where fans create costumes inspired by movies, comics, anime, and more, she’s identified another need she can fill. “I’m working on a makeup palette,” Green says. “As a cosplayer, when you’re doing a makeup look and you need some really bright green or you need some bright blue stuff, most of the time you’re opening up eight different eye shadow palettes, just to get the one color that you need.”
If it seems like all of these pursuits keep Green busy, you’re absolutely right. So far, she’s been able to keep Mo’s Parlor open from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, but plans to expand those hours as she gets settled in. Although this latest transition has been a lot of work, it’s also offered plenty of rewards. “I vend so much, so it really helps to have a permanent spot,” she says. “It’s not something I thought I wanted, but now that I’m here, I’m super grateful.”
