Before Spinsters Row was a company, it was a wish.
Two of our founding members, Angie Fryer and Teresa Pham-Carsillo, frequented several blocks of Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, California, because it had all the things they loved: an independent movie theater, a used bookstore, a bead shop, a yarn and textiles shop, antiques to sift through, and small cozy restaurants to share a meal. We jokingly called it Spinsters Row and wished they could build their own neighborhood around that name.
With Spinsters Row, we imagined going back in time and living an Emily Dickinson inspired lifestyle —decorating a modest attic apartment, discovering oddities and treasures in dusty shops, chatting with neighbors and strangers alike, and dedicating time to a wide-ranging assortment of hobbies. Thus, the concept of living spinster was born.
Before it was a derogatory term for the unmarriageable, unwanted woman, the word “spinster” entered the lexicon in the mid-1300s to describe a woman who spun thread and yarn for a living. Even the original meaning of the word referred to a woman who supported herself through her own labors — a feat that should be celebrated rather than derided.
Today, we’re reclaiming the term and expanding it to include anyone who is led by their own opinions and values, charting their own fearless path in the world. We don’t consider spinsterhood to be dependent on marital status, parental status, socioeconomic situation, or career. We embrace all those who take time to nurture curiosity and a life of the mind — whether through books, hobbies, travel, or unique experiences — to be spinsters at heart.
This orientation to the world guided us to 2025, when our six founders came together to craft a shared vision of an online destination that puts women and other underrepresented voices at the forefront. Spinsters Row is a virtual town square that blends e-commerce, original content, community, and narrative world-building. We hearken back to the olden days of the Internet when intimate, authentic online communities reigned supreme, while providing shoppers with the option to spend their money with a small business run by real people who are unafraid to shout their values.
Welcome to Spinsters Row, a place for the rest of us. Let’s build a world together.