Small Shop Big Heart - The Coop These days, as the City of Peekskill continues to grow and develop its identity through large-scale construction projects, there’s one retailer in town that appears rather content keeping her tiny shop “just the way it is.” For Deb Guiffré, owner of The Coop, located at 103 South Division Street (next to the Peekskill Coffee House, and just around the corner from the venerable Paramount Theatre), finding the right spot for everything she sells, seems to be half the fun -- and it shows. “Nearly every inch of the store is spoken for” I recently overheard Deb say to a customer when asked about storing some of her inventory. And it’s true, from ceiling to floor, there’s nary a square of unoccupied plaster, that either Deb, or her long-time assistant Flo, haven’t already decorated with items from one of the many artisans represented in her shop.  This time of year, the two large display windows facing the street are beautifully decorated for the holidays, one with a turn-of-the-century scrolled New England mantel (ready to accent a real-life hearth), the other, with stacked decorated boxes and colorful lights. Everywhere you look, hand-crafted Adirondack and original vintage furniture (most of which is acquired on roadtrips to upstate New York and beyond), is strewn with kidswear by Robeez, handbags by Holly Aiken, or beautiful jewelry by Teddy Leveille and Denise Soto among others. An eclectic offering of whimsical toys, body products from Burt’s Bee’s, and fair trade items from Tom’s Shoes, Gecko, and Serrve, fill in many of the nooks and crannies throughout. Because space is at such a premium in this shop, it’s easy to find yourself taken in by the cozy spirit that envelops the entire place. But fundamentally, as with any successful business or service, it’s the people behind the products that have customers returning, time and again. Deb is no exception, and it’s obvious by the amount of time that her regulars spend in the shop with each visit. Her witty, sometimes sardonic sense of humor, and a willingness to share conversations with her customers, rather than dominate them is what initially draws you to Deb – but it’s her big heart that keeps you there, never wanting to leave. Personally, it was some three years ago, long before we discussed doing business together, that I felt a kindred spirit in my presence. Maybe it was finding out that both of us worked with others in a special needs capacity that initially had me hooked. Or possibly it might have been a similar desire to create a business that amplifies the works of other creative, independent artisans – who knows? What I am sure of, is you’ll have a hard time finding a more honest, genuine, and engaging business owner in the Hudson Valley that truly knows what it takes to become a respected, independent retailer, despite having little or no room to work with. Big things really do come in small packages!  It is with great pleasure that I celebrate Deb Guiffré and The Coop for this next installment of Season of the Sol. A donation to the Head Start organization has been made in Deb’s honor.
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