Tag Archives: Nest Things

A fond farewell to Nest Things

30 Aug

We’ve been seeing a lot of business news from the Village of Webster these last several months. New businesses opening, others leaving the village. But through all those comings and goings, one business closing has been kind of flying under the radar.

Nest Things, that adorable little second-hand boutique at 11 East Main St., is on its way out. For many months now, owner Gail Maier has been trying to sell the shop, and when that happens, Nest Things will close after almost 20 years in business. 

Gail and her husband Bob bought the historic storefront in 2004, and opened Nest Things the following year. From the very beginning, the shop reflected Gail’s love of second-hand items. She only dresses in second-hand clothes, and only sells previously-loved clothing and housewares, most of which she discovered at garage sales. 

But not just anything made it onto her shelves. 

When she was still on the lookout for items to sell, she said “I would go between here and Honeoye Falls every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and purchase for the store,” stopping at garage sales in every town in between. “I like only things that I think are perfect and wonderful. … They had to be beautiful or very useful and perfect.” The result, for almost 20 years, has been a shop that feels more like a beloved grandmother’s attic than a store. 

Bob passed away in 2013, but Gail has kept the shop running since, driven by her passion for beautiful things and her love for the village and the people in it. But the time has finally come to take a step back. 

So Gail is looking for a serious buyer for the 1906-era building, which includes a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment which has been beautifully renovated but still reflects the building’s rich history.  

To reduce her inventory while she looks for a buyer, everything in the store is 50% off. There’s still plenty to choose from, and Gail is regularly pulling new items up from her basement or down from her apartment, “Things that I’ve loved and cherished but know I can’t use.” 

Rest assured they’re all perfect and wonderful. 

Nest Things is located at 11 East Main St. in the Village of Webster. For more information, check out their Facebook page here or call 585-265-9240.

Here’s a look inside the store and second-floor apartment:

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(posted 8/30/2023)

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The village is open for business!

13 Jun

Things are far from being back to normal, but our village businesses are showing some signs of life.

Especially now that we have reached Phase III, village businesses are beginning to open their doors to retail sales again. What’s different is that staff members will be wearing masks (and customers should be as well), and there might be one-way tape marks on the floor and in front of the registers encouraging proper social distancing.

However, what hasn’t changed is that the same friendly owners and staff members will be there to welcome you, and they’ll be very happy to see you.

Frankly, I’m relieved to see that most of our village businesses were able to weather the pandemic. The one notable exception is The Pickled Paintbrush, which closed for good about a month ago. (But even that unfortunate news has a happy upside, which I’ll mention later.)

You, the loyal customers, are the main reason these businesses are still here. John Bucci, owner of The Music Store, 18 E. Main St., was blown away by the support his shop received while he was closed, making purchases via email, phone calls or online.

John Music Shop

John Bucci behind the counter at The Music Store

“Everybody was just being amazing,” he said. “People who needed a set of guitar strings, buying three or four, saying ‘We gotta keep you here, I gotta do what I can.’ Whatever they wanted, if I was even close to what they needed they were fine.”

He’s been in business for 31 years, he added, and always wondered “Does it matter? Then to hear the phone calls and the people going ‘Yeah, we got to keep you in business.'”

I also stopped by Nest Things, 11 E. Main, where owner Gail Maier took a few minutes to show me the beautiful garden she’s created behind her shop. Stop by for yourself and she’s be happy to give you a tour.

The Village Quilt Shoppe, 21 East Main, one of Webster’s newest shops, is also back in business after staying busy helping craft thousands of face masks for healthcare workers and social agencies.

Working on projects at the Village Quilt Shoppe

Chandeliers and Performance Hobbies are also up and running again, and I’ve seen people popping in and out of The North Bee on North Ave.

Staff members of Chandeliers Boutique

But probably the most exciting news comes from LaLa of Webster, at 38 E. Main. After only a little more than a year and a half in business, LaLa not only weathered the storm, but is expanding.

Owner Lisa Schlonski will be expanding into the former Pickled Paintbrush space, which is right next door to her current shop. It will more than double the floor space she already has, including adding a third floor, which will become a clothing boutique.

Lisa hopes to finish renovations in just a few weeks, so watch for notice of a grand reopening party.

It doesn;t look like much now, but this is going to be LaLa’s new clothing boutique
The first floor of the former Pickled Paintbrush, soon to be the expanded LaLa.

Plus, of course, the restaurants are opening up. I saw some brand new, beautiful patio seating at The Filling Station, and Barry’s outdoor patio is getting so busy that they’re taking reservations.

So let’s keep supporting our local businesses and show them how much we appreciate them.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram

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