When Kara LaFleur and Rebecca Moore bought Roulette Vintage in 2005, all they had was five dollars and LaFleur's collection of vintage clothing.

"We had to make our first month's rent that month," LaFleur says with a laugh.  "We are definitely the original do-it-your-selfers."

Located in a brightly lit storefront on East Main Street, Roulette specializes in wearable vintage clothing from the 1930s to the 1980s, and also carries clothing and accessories created by locals.

Roulette Vintage hasn't been always been a main street attraction.  The store was originally located on the second story of a building on the same block, just above the Orange County Social Club.

"Bless all those people who climbed up that shady staircase and walked down that random hallway," LaFleur says.  "Everyone that walked through the door was fabulous. We only ended up moving because we ran out of space."

Roulette's new home formerly housed an architectural firm, but had been empty for quite some time.

After putting down a cheerful blue tile floor and giving the walls a fresh coat of paint, LaFleur, Moore, and their collection moved into their new space.   The lettering on the two street-facing windows was hand-painted by Moore's mother.

LaFleur attributes much of the store's early success to word-of-mouth, which she believes more valuable than advertising in a town like Carrboro.

"Everyone seemed to be a friend of everyone else," LaFleur says.  "It was just this wonderful atmosphere of vintage clothing lovers."

LaFleur's own love of vintage clothing evolved as she played among her mother's and aunts clothing as ayoung child in Louisiana. She learned to sew from her mother, who made clothes for LaFleur and her three sisters, including their prom dresses.

That same sense of thrift led to the evolution of Roulette Vintage as it is today.

"We wanted to create a store that we wanted to shop at," LaFleur says, of her and Moore's inspiration.  "We created our collective ideal."

The store opened as a vintage store, and though that spirit has remained, Roulette has expanded into more of a boutique.  LaFleur and Moore handpick every single item, foregoing quantity for quality.  They have also begun carrying work by local artists, designers and bands.

"Carrboro is all about the locals," LaFleur says.  "It tends to be very community-oriented."

Though LaFleur says that they try to be selective about what is sold, not every item in need of mending is discarded.  At the end of April, Roulette will hold a DIY/Craft sale to clear out part of the inventory.

"There are buttons, patterns, zippers, fabric, and all kinds of stuff," LaFleur says.  "If you know how to sew or if you're crafty, this sale is for you."

"Carrboro is a great place for a vintage store because it has a lot of people who like to recycle and re-use," LaFleur says.  "Recycling is the best way to combat industry."

Roulette Vintage is open Tuesday through Saturday. Hours are seasonal, so check out www.roulettevintage.com for more information