New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
SPRINGING BACK TO LIFE
After trying year, seasonal gift shop reopens at time of renewal
WEST HAVEN — A year ago, Tyler Newkirk was about to put the finishing touches on his Easter/ spring gift shop when the state closed nonessential businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But this spring season, Tyler Newkirk Craft Co. is open again and was busier than ever in its first week of business, as people feel renewed because of the threat of the virus subsiding with multiple vaccines available, Newkirk said.
“I think there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Newkirk said. “People are excited to get out again and get back to normal life.”
One of his early customers was a woman who hadn’t been out of the house in a year – he considers that a compliment.
To honor that renewed feeling, shared by
Newkirk, he’s made some changes in arrangement and brought in new products and crafters. He also sells his own handmade items and this year has plenty of his popular, handmade decoupage eggs.
Newkirk’s shop, offering seasonal decor at Christmastime, spring and fall, is situated on his grandfather Bob Newkirk’s popular B&B Farms at 668 Jones Hill Road. The farm, one of West Haven’s local gems, is visited by thousands in spring, summer and fall who feed the horses and sheep, buy flowers, eat ice cream and bask in the spectacular views and warmth of the Newkirk family.
Newkirk, 21, said many already are coming by the farm looking for ice cream, but that won’t be available until the first week in May.
In this year of continued new protocols — masks, social distancing — Newkirk went over the top with Easter plants and annuals, rearranging the furniture in the shop and opening up the space to hold them all.
The tiny shop is blooming with daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, ferns, succulents and cactuses.
“It’s very welcoming and very cozy, a lot brighter and more open,” he said. “It’s very spring-like, a breath of fresh air.”
Longtime customer Kathy Shea, Newkirk’s art teacher in middle school, said “the community really loves” Newkirk and his shop and he has a ‘cult following.’”
“It (the shop) gets better and better every year,” she said, noting numerous former teachers of Newkirk among his regular customers. “You can’t just look straight ahead. You have to look up, down, in every corner, nook and cranny.”
Another customer, Ginny Lynch, said it was “nice to see a young kid find his way,” and meet a goal largely on his own.
“It’s kind of a small place, but you find lots of little goodies in there,” said Lynch, who buys Christmas gifts, wreaths and Easter flowers at the shop. “It’s a nice little place.”
Alyssa Golde said she loves Newkirk’s store not only because she’s “surrounded by so many beautiful arrangements and trinkets, but you are also absolutely engulfed by his energy and passion.”
“Tyler pours his heart and soul into everything he does within his store & it shows,” Golde said. “I've seen first hand how Tyler's store has cheered people up throughout the pandemic. Everyone cracks a smile the moment they step into his store.”
This year in a season extra-charged with renewal, Newkirk is carrying new items, including incense sticks handmade in Washington state and honey made locally in New Haven. He also is selling the work of eight new crafters, including candles, cutting boards, handmade pouches and bags, and face masks in a variety of prints.
“I always like carrying other people’s work,” for variety and providing an outlet for other crafters, Newkirk said.
Newkirk has said the shop is for him and others to enjoy, and less about making a buck.
The shop is open from Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.