On some mornings, Bonnie Penet and Leslie Leland argue about who gets to go to work.

But the co-owners of downtown Ypsilanti’s Mix say that’s a good problem, and their passion for their growing shop and performance venue is helping to drive its success.

In the coming weeks and months, Mix will double in size as Penet and Leland join the neighboring storefront at 132 W. Michigan Ave. to the current store at 128 W. Michigan Ave. The new section could open within the next month.

With the addition of new merchandise and clothing lines to the business' resale stock, monthly sales have jumped since last Christmas and doubled since April.

Mix is also gaining a reputation as a performance venue after hosting live opera, R&B and play readings. Leland and Penet also recently helped coordinate a fashion show at which some models wore Mix outfits.

The store is becoming a place to socialize with occasional book signings, parties, networking discussions and other events. Mayor Paul Schreiber joked with the audience at the fashion show about how he never shops for himself at Mix, but always enjoys going there.

Leland said they are gratified that the shop has seen so much success so quickly.

“I think we had a feeling we had a tiger by the tail,” she said. “It’s a work in progress, but it makes us want to get up and go do it in the morning.”

Prior to opening Mix, Leland and Penet were acquaintances on the national art show circuit where they both sold their art. For a short period in 1998, Penet worked at one of Leland’s Ann Arbor clothing stores before Leland and her husband moved it to Key West, Fla. They lost touch until Penet bumped into Leland’s husband on the street in Ypsilanti in 2008.

Penet said she and Leland immediately discussed opening a store, but they never really got to know each other before Mix. Partnering for the store was the first of several risks they would take that would eventually help the store thrive.

Mix originally stocked only resale clothes, housewares and jewelry. Both owners attribute their success in that area to buying Mix’s clothes “with an artistic eye.” Their choices fit a particular Mix style and have been worn only lightly.

Leland underscored that one won’t find the same or similar clothes at the mall, and customers don’t need to sift through dozens of garments to find something attractive like at some resale shops.

“I’ll tell you who our customer isn't — our customer isn’t the person who wants to do what we do, which is find all these gems,” Leland said. "They want us to do it for them.”

Despite strong resale success, Penet and Leland wanted to offer a broader selection of gift ideas for the last Christmas season. A subsequent trip to New York City for one of the nation’s largest merchandise shows brought a heavy investment in new jewelry, bags, hats, scarves and knee-high socks.

Expanding beyond resale and clothing was a risk, Penet said, but the move proved to be a smart investment.

The striped and polka dot knee-high socks made out of recycled materials sold particularly well, as did colorful anime bags — also made out of recycled material — designed by the French company Deco Delire. Mix was Deco Delire’s first American customer.

In April, a friend suggested Leland and Penet consider new clothing lines at a Chicago clothing show. Again, they hesitated at adding a new dimension to the store because it was already doing well with resale and the new items added over the holidays.

But they took a chance, and, again, it paid off. Penet said Mix’s monthly sales are doubling last year’s average since introducing the new clothing line by Chalet, which Penet described as lightweight crinkly knit garments.

“Basically, we sold (the new clothes) as they were coming out of the boxes,” Leland said.

At the same time, Mix broadened its customer base. The store originally attracted a demographic between 35 and 55 years old, but they now see an equal amount of customers in the 25- to 35-year-old range.

Leland said resale shops and smaller boutiques usually don’t cater to women who are sizes 18 and up, so she and Penet look for clothes that will fit those sizes when buying for the store.

Because of the store's broad appeal, Penet said Mix enjoys a loyal customer base. Even if a shopper doesn’t find something that fits or suits her tastes, that person returns because of how quickly merchandise is replaced, Penet said. She added that their storefront is unique in downtown Ypsilanti and attracts a steady stream of new customers.

“More and more, every week I hear someone say ‘I drive by here all the time and couldn’t wait to stop,’” Penet said.

Leland and Penet are starting to work on a third storefront unrelated to Mix in an adjacent space on Washington Street. They declined to provide details or a timeline, but promised another idea unlike anything else in Ypsi.

Even opening the first store in Ypsilanti seemed like a risk, but that decision also contributes significantly to the store’s success.

Rent here is much cheaper, which Penet and Leland said saved them while opening the store on a shoestring budget. They also highlighted the synergy between Mix and other stores with similar demographics, such as Beezy’s Cafe and The Rocket.

Leland initially opposed opening a store in Ypsilanti, but is now enthusiastic over what she called the most tight-knit and supportive business community she has experienced.

“This wouldn’t have worked anywhere else,” she said.

Penet is optimistic about how well it has worked and what the future holds for Mix.

“I said to Ed (Penet) yesterday, ‘You know, it feels like we’re in the flow,’” she said. “That’s how I can best describe it. We’re making all of these decisions from our gut … and trusting our gut and it’s working.”

Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at 734-623-3530 or news@annarbor.com.