Whispers from the past

By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | August 2026

Stepping into Joey Mansion is like walking back in time, and you never know what you’re going to find. One is immediately engulfed in a world where nearly everything has a deeper story behind it, whether it’s the helmet of a Vietnam war veteran, historic St. Paul maps and gangster artifacts, or a mint condition Edison phonograph complete with vinyl records containing songs lost to the ages. The store, which specializes in furniture, recently opened in the former Needels building at 444 Wacouta St. A grand opening celebration will be held in August.

The husband-wife duo of Brad Ireland and Cicely Davis-Ireland own the shop and are eager to be part of downtown’s resurgence. The back story for their business comes from the owners addressing the romantic notion: “If you could do anything you want in life, what would it be?”

The venture combines Brad’s insatiable, lifelong passion for collecting and Cicely’s experience in sales and eye for design. They enjoy helping people customize their homes with unique items not mass produced in the modern era, and which represent each person’s flair and personality. Want a museum-quality replica of a tyrannosaurus rex skull? They have you covered. Looking for furniture from the James J. Hill House? They have that, too.

“Very often in marriages, the husband has his man cave, and the wife loves her flowers, and they don’t know how to actually pull that together,” said Cicely, who works in real estate and is planning to launch an interior design business. “Joey Mansion gives individuals and couples an opportunity to figure out ways they can match their styles – and love their space. You should be able to walk from the front door to the back [of somebody’s home] and really get a feel, in my opinion, of who people are and what they’re about.”

Brad has spent his professional career as a business consultant, helping with everything from concept development to interior design. He has a vast network of people who tip him off to rare finds, and as a true story-keeper at heart he isn’t afraid to drive through the night for something he deems worthy of being preserved.

“There was this guy who had a wooden gun that his father handmade for him as a kid in the 1950s and he was afraid that it would just be thrown away when he passed,” he recalled. “I thought it was such a cool story and had to have it. Those are the kinds of things that are special to me.”

The duo also finds antiques and oddities at estate sales. Among Brad’s currently most prized collectibles are a still-boxed and fully operational Mattel Fanner toy cap gun, and a Johnny West action figure.

The building dates to 1895 and was long home to Needels Janitorial Supply, which closed during the pandemic. Reviving the storefront required only cosmetic work, as a commercial inspection found the building was structurally sound, and may in fact outlast even newer buildings around it, Brad said. It has its original hardwood floors, and the air is permeated with the timeless aroma of leather and wood. The couple, now empty nesters, plan to refurbish the upper floor and move there in the next year, further demonstrating their love for downtown St. Paul and commitment to the city. Cicely, a New York native who moved to Minnesota in her youth, has fond memories of visiting downtown malls like Galtier Plaza, and Brad is from Sauk Rapids, Minn.

“I remember as a kid, when my parents brought me down to St. Paul for the first time, and I couldn’t believe it,” said Brad. “We had such a wonderful day just walking around and seeing all the buildings. It was one of those memorable things that you never forget as a kid. I love the history of St. Paul…. It’s [Needels building] a cool building and it has so much character, and it’s nice to be able to revive that, and hopefully try to revive some sense of that historical St. Paul. That’s a big part of what we’re doing here.”

Just like the building itself, many of the products found at Joey Mansion were made during a time when things were built to last. And while the owners aren’t against online shopping, they say it’s a stark comparison to the experience of viewing something in person, like an aged desk from Minneapolis’ historic lumber exchange building, tarnished and seasoned with years of untold work. There was no question they wanted to open a brick-and-mortar shop.

“It’s [the desk] not refinished or reconditioned, and I love it that way,” said Brad. “I like things that were lived in, that were touched, owned, cherished and loved…. People who bought one of our couches sent a video of their dogs playing on the furniture and just loving it, and it was so funny because that’s what it’s all about. If you don’t need to worry about everything or having everything stay perfect, you can just enjoy what you have.”

The store’s name was inspired by the moment in Brad’s childhood that sparked his love for collecting. His uncle had purchased an old mansion in rural Minnesota at an auction, and when they arrived to help him move in, it still had everything in it from 40 years prior – décor, silverware, and even journals and diaries. Exploring the huge property was like digging through treasure for him. And the rest is history. “Joey” was added simply to give the name a more lighthearted nature.

Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday. A website is coming soon. Find them on Instagram at joey mansion1 and on Facebook at Joey Mansion (Cicely Davis-Ireland).

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