By Robin Jovanovich
“We’d been thinking about opening a store for a long time,” said Bets Miller, one of the “three chicks” at Nest. Her partners are Wendy Williams, her neighbor in Greenhaven, and Aly Drew, a fellow Westchester Children’s Museum board member who lives in Harrison. Before having children, Ms. Drew, who has an M.B.A. from NYU, worked at Maidenform, on the manufacturing side. She handles finances for the business. Ms. Williams was a stockbroker who got interested in design and studied it. When she lived in Arizona, she had a retail store. She does most of the buying. Ms. Miller, who worked at Pepsi, handles public relations and marketing.
Some of the pieces are new from Los Angeles or North Carolina; others are vintage or from estate sales and have been reupholstered, restored, or given a fresh new look.
The three owners have given the old Sam Goody space on Purchase Street, which was vacant for five years, quite a new look. In fact, they’ve transformed it into a beautiful retail loft. For months, they sat around Ms. Williams’ kitchen table ordering furniture. That was fun. So was refashioning the interior, which they did with the same contractor/carpenter who did the build-out at Angela’s down the street.
“We may not be your traditional shop,” said Ms. Drew, “but customers like the instant gratification we offer.” If you like one of the sofas, rugs, cocktail tables, chairs, posters, lamps, or mirrors on display, you can pick it up (or use their white glove delivery service) and take it home.
Many of the rugs are from Carpet Trends, one of Rye’s oldest businesses. “They’ve been great to work with,” said Ms. Miller.
Their plan is to showcase the work of as many local artists as they can. Limited editions of large black and white portraits by Cathrine White of Rye are already on display.
All three women say the best part of the job is talking with customers, meeting new people. “Everyone who comes in says they’re happy to see another home-grown business open.”
With Nest, Rye is truly on the map as a home shopping destination.
Nest Inspired Home, 20 Purchase Street, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m-5:30 p.m., and Sunday by appointment. You can reach them at 921-NEST.
The artificial turf and drainage installation will transform an 82,000-square-foot athletic field on 6.75 acres…
The Rye Record is looking for a talented advertising sales director.
The new owner of G. Griffin Wine & Spirits plans to continue the business as…
County Executive George Latimer maintains a substantial fundraising lead over his Democratic primary opponent --…
If you live in the Rye City School District, you may find just what you…