The WC Press Holiday Issue 2023

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Letter

from the

Editor

Kate Chadwick shares some personal insight into this month’s theme

Once upon a time (summer of 2015, to be exact) a magazine contributor pitched a story idea to her publisher about clothes shopping at thrift stores around West Chester. To her surprise and delight, he approved that story, gave her a budget, and best of all, allowed her to keep the clothes. Given that said contributor is a consignment shopper from way back, this was most excellent.

Fast forward to the present day, the contributor is now the editor and sourcing a charitable organization to feature in our annual holiday shopping guide. (The editor-contributor is me, hi.)

I was a bit taken aback when Woman’s Exchange showed up in my search for local charitable organizations. I’d never visited this consignment shop before, but not because I was intentionally avoiding it. I often park on Church Street—but often when the store is closed, apparently. Further, my primary consignment shop goal is clothing, and, judging by the window displays, this one carried home décor, jewelry, accessories, and the like. But as you’ll see in our story, it’s so much more than that, from its history, to its mission, to the day-to-day operations. Please add this worthy little shop to your regular borough shopping rotation if it isn’t already on it. The best part about charity is its ripple effect, and a visit to Woman’s Exchange is a pebble in a pond of positivity.

Given that editors/contributors sit in front of computers reading and writing all day, it’s easy for us to fall into the trap of doing everything online—including shopping. The convenience provided by our devices can make our lives and tasks feel streamlined. But can you really streamline…joy? There’s something about the tactile, visual, aural, and in some cases olfactory experience of shopping—especially for others—that makes what could be considered an errand or even a chore a more joyful experience.

We visit with a couple of newer businesses in town, The Green House and Solome—two buzz-worthy new additions to the retail scene here. It’s easy to take for granted the basic houseplants that inhabit our windowsills and the sweatshirts in our drawers. That’s why a visit to a shop where plants are front and center, and inhabit artful, handmade pottery, is so refreshing. And what if you knew— really knew—who made that outfit hanging in your closet? Would your daily ritual of getting dressed be richer and more meaningful? Isn’t this time of year when the little things are supposed to become the big things?

What if, like me, you’re not particularly into and/or good at shopping? We’re here to save the day, and you’re welcome. If you’re Santa, consider us your trusty elves; if you’re Ebenezer, consider us your trusty…ghosts. And when we say “trusty,” we mean it. We’ve been at this shopping guide business since 2012, and we are fairly confident that you’ll find something for at least one someone on your list in these pages (even if that someone is you).

At the very least, you’ll find a whole lot of inspiration.

See you out under the festive lights—have a healthy and happy holiday season, and thank you for reading The WC Press.

The

Press

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” –JFK

PUBLISHER Dan Mathers dan@thewcpress.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Erik Weber @westchesterviews

MANAGING EDITOR Kate Chadwick kchadwick@thewcpress.com

COLUMNISTS Becca Boyd bboyd@thewcpress.com Andrea Mason amason@thewcpress.com DJ Romeo romeo@thewcpress.com Kate Chadwick kchadwick@thewcpress.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nick Vecchio nick@thewcpress.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jesse Piersol jpiersol@thewcpress.com Danielle Davies ddavies@thewcpress.com We’ve hidden “A Few Of Our Favorite Things” (think The Sound of Music) throughout the magazine. Find all 12 icons, and you could be the winner of a Saloon 151 gift card by emailing your answers to contests@thewcpress.com.

The first one is a freebie:

Published By...

Mathers Productions 1271 Phoenixville Pk West Chester, PA 19380 mathersproductions.com 610-299-1100 The WC Press is a monthly magazine mailed to more than 3,000 homes throughout West Chester, as well as being dropped off to about 100 locations in and around the borough.

For a free subscription — digital or mailed — visit thewcpress.com.

Worth Our no-nonsense

Noting

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table of contents

@TASTEWC Tag our instagram account with your best food pics

11 MARKET FORECAST

Your planetary predictions with a particularly local twist

13 THIS WOMAN’S WORK

80 years of Woman’s Exchange, quietly being awesome

23 DESIGN DILEMMAS

Andrea Mason Design wants to help you upgrade your space

25 A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Inspirationf for shopping locally this holiday season

49 HOME BECCANOMICS

Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking

51 NEW IN TOWN

These new businesses are elevating our collective sense of style

59 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD

We spotlight citizens for doing something swell

61 PHOTO HUNT

Spot the five differences and earn a Saloon 151 gift card

63 HOLIDAY HITS LIST

The best tuns to usher in the season of giving

HOLIDAY 2023 THEWCPRESS.COM

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@thewcpress #thewcpress Like and follow us on social media, then tag us in your posts for a chance get your work published here.

Our favorite image each month () will earn its photographer a gift card to @saloon151.

@chef_jdish

@giuntasfurniturewestchester

 @pineandquillshop

@wc_hiddengems

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Market Forecast

Resident astrologer Kate Chadwick provides your planetary predictions with a particularly local twist Aries (3/21-4/19): After a full year of going at 110%, December will force you to slow down a bit. Schedule some time off if you can, then kill two birds by booking a double spa day at La Difference with your bestie — a gift for you both.

Taurus (4/20-5/20): The holiday spirit suits you right down to the ground; no one likes to eat, drink and be merry more than you.

While it’s good for the heart and mind, rest the body, would ya?

Invest in a new comfy couch from Giunta’s.

Gemini (5/21-6/20) Friends and family are what it’s all about during the holiday, twin stars, but don’t forget about your special someone or there may be consequences. Things are tenser than you realize there, so schedule a date night at Spence, stat.

Cancer (6/21-7/22) You’re sensitive and sentimental 365, crab darlings, and especially at the holidays—always attuned to others as well. See someone overwhelmed while posted up at the Bierhaul bar? Take them outside for some air and a chat... or to the fireside.

Leo (7/23-8/22) If you don’t have children, borrow some — you’ll need your faith in mankind restored by year’s end, and nothing does it like wide-eyed kids at Christmas time. Take a kiddo or two to a December movie or event at Uptown.

Virgo (8/23-9/22) Stay close to home this year, Virgo. You’re not feeling the big, blowout party vibe, and despite what your overthinking says, no one’s taking attendance. Beautify your space at Pine & Quill and invite your faves.

Libra (9/23-10/22) You’re in the holiday spirit like Ebenezer on Christmas morning—dressing up, socializing, and all the pretty things. Circumvent post-holiday blues by signing up for a rejuvenation sesh at Renew Laser and Aesthetic Medicine.

Scorpio (10/23-11/22) Mars will have a hold on you all month. The good news: you’re energetic and ready for family and friend gatherings. The bad: Jealousy. Slip away from the social scene with your special someone, even for a coffee at Turks Head.

Sagittarius (11/23-12/21) Yes, you will go to all the gatherings. No, you shouldn’t stay all night. You need to relax—not your natural state of being, but the tension will settle in your body. Get thee to Goshen Chiropractic before you snap.

Capricorn (12/22-1/19) Big holiday events are not typically your cup of tea, so go ahead and take the reins and have your own cup of tea with a little party of your choosing. And book it at Mimi’s Tea Cottage, obviously.

Aquarius (1/20-2/18) Go to the events, even if they feel compulsory. Smile, have a beverage, have a nosh, and maybe bring along some flowers or a festive potted plant for the host or hostess from Kati Mac. You’ll be an instant VIP. Pisces (2/19-3/20) This sounds counterintuitive, sensitive fish, but don’t neglect your alone time during the holiday madness. If people are getting on your nerves, focus on pets—even if they’re not your own! Hit All the Dogs to fill some canine stockings.

–kchadwick@thewcpress.com

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THIS WOMAN’S WORK

80 years of Woman’s Exchange, quietly being awesome story KATE CHADWICK Photos ERIK WEBER

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here is an unassuming shop on Church Street—a quaint consignment spot with charmingly decorated windows framing the front door. Perhaps you’ve gone inside to browse or purchase something. Perhaps you’ve only noticed it during your travels around town. But we’re guessing you don’t know the backstory of this place, and it’s a fascinating one.

The Woman’s Exchange of West Chester just marked 80 years at the same location at 10 S. Church Street in the borough. It is part of a nationwide network of such shops, which today, according to the Federation of Woman’s Exchanges’ website, counts 15 shops across 10 states, spanning from Greenwich, Connecticut to St. Augustine, Florida. The Woman’s Exchange Movement was founded a bit closer to home, in Philadelphia in 1832, via the Philadelphia Ladies’ Depository.

The concept was a simple one: to provide women with a place to sell either goods they no longer needed or their own handiwork—knitting, embroidery,

and the like—to earn money without working outside the home. It was socially frowned upon for “genteel” women to work at the time, and the Woman’s Exchange provided both a place for philanthropic women to help their less fortunate sisters, and for women who might be struggling the chance to earn money anonymously. The commissions charged were kept very low, so the sellers and consignors were able to realize a larger profit. In some cases, the philanthropic women who ran the exchanges were so devoted to the cause that they came to use the venues as tearooms and places to gather socially with their peers.

“We have 27 dedicated volunteers who do pretty much anything and everything.”

-Gayle Jeffries

Woman’s Exchange WC Board Secretary

Women helping women—already a commendable mission in its own right—is elevated even further by the

fact that Woman’s Exchange shops are nonprofits, funneling the money they collect right back into charitable donations within their respective communities. Last year, the West Chester Woman’s Exchange donated $38,000 to local organizations.

And did we mention that the whole thing is run solely by volunteers?

Here in West Chester, there are quite a few women running the show at the shop, according to Woman’s Exchange WC Board Secretary Gayle Jeffries. “We have 27 dedicated volunteers who do pretty much anything and everything,” she told us. “They staff the shop, handle the intake and pricing of the consignments, display the merchandise, decorate the windows, and handle the dayto-day business matters.”

We visited the shop on an early, overcast Saturday afternoon, where there were quite a few customers roaming around, no doubt tempted in by the eye-catching window displays.

A ceramic dachshund sat front and center in the right window, his deep

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copper color setting the tone for the fall-inspired décor assembled around him. The Little Teddy wagon behind him held a stuffed bear occupant, complete with an aviator hat and goggles; just past it a music stand stood next to a small antique wooden chest of drawers, a tasteful smattering of pumpkin and gourd ephemera also on display.

The theme was repeated in the other window, where a ladderback chair with a rush seat was positioned next to an intricately carved dark wood dry sink, all accented with matching pumpkin plates and a pitcher. The windows set a perfect West-Chester-in–the-fall scene.

There’s a sense of familiarity once inside the shop; ceramic figurines placed alongside Nutcracker Christmas décor can conjure memories of childhood books or visits to a grandmother’s house. That’s not to say the merchandise is fusty or boring; on the contrary.

We were drawn more than once to a spectacular purple purse by Judith Ripka ($20!). Two striking vintage silver-plate pheasants strut across a shelf underneath Frosty and Mrs. Snowman

figurines. Framed reproductions of landscape paintings line the top shelf under the intricate ceiling (could it be painted over pressed tin, we wondered?), casually juxtaposed alongside African masks.

“We have a very eclectic merchandise mix,” Gayle told us. “Since it is all either donated or consigned, you never know what you might discover.” Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for unpacking, tagging, and displaying any new merchandise received, and new items are out in the store and displayed in the windows when the shop reopens on Wednesday. This near-constant influx of items means that there are those customers who make Woman’s Exchange a regular stop.

“We have quite a few shoppers who are in to browse at least once a week,” Gayle said. “While we get many unique, unusual, and vintage items that are usually priced well below what similar items are shown for online, we don't have quite as much excitement as an Antiques Roadshow discovery! But every day a shopper will find the perfect gift or personal treasure at a very reasonable

“While we get many unique, unusual, and vintage items that are usually priced well below what similar items are shown for online, we don’t have quite as much excitement as an Antiques Roadshow discovery!”

-Gayle Jeffries price, with the added benefit of knowing any profit from the sale supports the community. And some consignors do include ‘backstory’ information on their items, which is always welcome.”

We saw items on our visit priced anywhere from $3 to $100. For those who consign items with the Exchange, there is a 50/50 commission split. “Consignors can price their own items or have our pricing team do that, based on research, and their 15+ years of experience with what sells best at what price in the shop,” Gayle said. After a month, the price of the item is reduced by 10%, after two months by 20%, and after three by

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30%. Among our favorite higher-ticket items was a stunning model ship replica of the Titanic, and two beautiful paintings of the downtown West Chester of old; we were particularly taken by the Currier and Ives-like painting depicting a snow-driven scene of the West Chester Normal School—which is now, of course, West Chester University—complete with a horse and carriage in front of a massive gray stone building.

Oh, and if you’re really looking for rock-bottom pricing, there is an entire basement area of even more merchandise for you to browse as well. On the way down the stairs, a large cardboard replica of last year’s $38,000 charity donation check is proudly displayed.

On our visit, Joan, Grace, and Thelma were manning the operation, forming a small but mighty assembly line removing merchandise tags, which are then affixed on sheets of paper in a folder, tallied by hand, and rung up, while great care is taken to wrap and bag the often-fragile merchandise. All the women chat easily with the customers and field their various questions. “We are very fortunate to have quite a few volunteers with more than 15 years of service,” according to Gayle. “Since we all believe very strongly in the importance of our partnership with community non-profit organizations, as well as the ‘recycling’ opportunity we offer our consignors, we tend to have longevity with our volunteers. And because we are a relatively small group, we have a great deal of camaraderie–and lots of fun!”

Grace echoed that sentiment, telling us, “I have volunteered elsewhere, and never have I ever met such a wonderful group of people as the people here.”

Among those long-time volunteers is Gayle’s fellow board member and President of the Exchange, Shelley Coover, whose dedication is not only philanthropic but personal. "My first memory of the Woman's Exchange goes back over 50 years to a time when I helped my grandmother consign her hand-embroidered dresser scarves and crocheted doilies,” Shelley told us. “Those items can still be found at the shop today, along with other vintage and more modern-day treasures.”

Shelley was able to revisit those fond memories as an adult. “My next experience with this wonderful shop began about 20 years ago when I moved back to West Chester,” she said. “I became a weekly shopper, then a consigner, and most recently a volunteer. The great thing about the Woman's Exchange is that it benefits the community, the consignor, and the shopper. Unlike a traditional retail store, you just never know what unusual or one-of-a-kind item you

If you’re really looking for rock-bottom pricing, there is an entire basement area of even more merchandise for you to browse as well. might find. And because the merchandise comes from donations and consignments, there is new inventory on display every week! I also love the idea that it's a totally volunteer organization and that

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everything that I buy, donate, or consign helps to support my local community."

Last year, that support translated to a $38,000 donation from the Exchange to local charities, including Community Volunteers in Medicine; Denney Reyburn Resident Council; Fame Fire Company; Friends Association; Good Fellowship Ambulance Company; Goodwill Fire Company; Maternal & Child Health Consortium; Melton Center; Safe Harbor; West Chester Food Cupboard; and the West Chester Public Library. That’s quite the lineup.

“Our board reviews donations yearly,” Gayle told us. “Last year we were able to distribute $38,000 to these organizations, and we are on track to be as generous again this year, thanks to our customers, consignors, and donors, as well as our volunteers, who help to keep the cost of doing business as low as possible.”

On November 25th, the Exchange celebrated its 80th anniversary at the Church Street location, where they rent from the Free and Accepted Masons,

“My first memory of the Woman’s Exchange goes back over 50 years to a time when I helped my grandmother consign her hand-embroidered dresser scarves and crocheted doilies. Those items can still be found at the shop today, along with other vintage and more modern-day treasures.”

Given that the shop is run fully by volunteers, the hours are not excessive, but it is worth making the time to visit as you move down your holiday shopping list this year. The trickle-down effect cannot be beaten: buying a unique gift item at an excellent price, supporting the wonderful work of the volunteers who run this organization, and, by extension, supporting local charitable organizations. There’s no downside.

-Shelley Coover

One last word of advice if you visit the Exchange: if you see something you like, buy it. Odds are it may not be there on a return visit. Oh, and if that purple purse is still there when you go, ask them to hold it for us, would you? We’re having non-buyer’s remorse.

Woman’s Exchange WC Board President

who own the building and run the lodge hall upstairs. According to the ladies we spoke with, they have never raised the rent on the Exchange—no doubt the best real estate deal in the borough.

Adds Gayle: “New consignors and shoppers are always welcome. If you've never visited the shop, it's well worth a trip to beautiful downtown West Chester, especially during the holidays, for items to decorate your home as well as for great gifts that you won't find anywhere else!”

Woman’s Exchange of West Chester is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-3pm at 10 S. Church Street. For information about how you can volunteer, consign, or donate, visit them online at wewc.org, call them at 610-696-3058, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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Design Dilemmas Andrea Mason of Andrea Mason Design is a professional interior designer who wants to help you upgrade your space

If the person you are shopping for is a lover of home decor, this is the gift guide for you. These local shops will have one-of-a-kind items that will make your recipient feel extra special.

Pine and Quill 23 N Walnut St. The owner, Dianna DiStefano, does an excellent job sourcing accessories that appeal to a range of people on your gift-giving list. A few of my favorites are her holiday puzzles for all ages and the beautiful gold-rimmed stemware for celebrating your festivities. There are also adorable mugs that you can pair with her hot chocolate sets.

The ideas do not stop there, with linens, cards, candles, picture frames; the list goes on. You will have to see for yourself.

The Green House 107 N. Church St. It’s a perfect place for friends and family who enjoy bringing the outdoors in. Owners Peter and Kellie sell easy-to-care-for plants and stunning pots. The colorful and textural cement pots are made by the owner himself. They also sell organically made clothing, the cutest baby toys, and an impressive display of beauty products, lotions, and beeswax candles—all made from non-toxic ingredients and essential oils. A nice perk is if you pick out your plant and pot, the owners will pot it for you—making your shopping experience that much easier!

Pomp 141 W. Gay St. This store is filled with gorgeously crafted wood accessories and furniture, most of which are made by the skilled owner Joe D’Ambro. You can also find home decor, including my favorites, which are the soft tea towels and bed linens, gorgeous stemware, and dishes. Joe’s focus on small-batch items from ethically sourced vendors means that a lot of thought goes into every item in the shop, making it a truly unique experience for your holiday shopping.

Old Mill Antiques and Interiors 20 Ellis Ln (and has been there for 70 years). Owner Joanne Jacob has a perfect mix of vintage finds and new accessories from local artists. It’s the perfect place to shop for someone who appreciates a timeless piece with a story.

Old Mill is filled with larger furniture pieces, but also unique vases, dishes, linens, candlesticks, and more. A few of my favorites from local artists are framed artwork, jewelry, and wreaths. It’s such a delight doing your holiday shopping here, you’ll be sure to find something unforgettable.

Melangell Antiques 1133 Pottstown Pike. Owner Laura DePrisco has transformed this 1908 hunting lodge into a lovely shopping experience. Filled with curated antiques, Laura also mixes it up with the talents of local artists. I love her snug plaid throw blankets and delightfully made animal wine aerator pourers. Boxwood wreaths are perfect for a tablescape or hanging on the wall or window. Take a tour of this charming house and you’re sure to find a treasure for someone on your list.

Visiting these local shops will not only make holiday gift buying an enjoyable experience but the thoughtfulness of your purchase will be conveyed to the receiver. Cheers to a wonderful season!

–amason@thewcpress.com

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INSPIRATION FOR SHOPPING LOCALLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON photos by ERIK WEBER

Pine + Quill 23 N Walnut St (302) 383-9759 pineandquillshop.com

@pineandquillshop

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All the Dogs 13 S Church St (484) 887-0282 allthedogslove.com

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Artistic Eyewear 127 N High St 610.738.7150 artisticeyewear.com

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136 W Gay St (610) 431-2212 facebook.com/ShopBlinkWC

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Bryn Mawr Running Co. 24 S High St (610) 696-0115 brynmawrrunningco.com

@runbmrc

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Carlino's Market 128 W Market St (610) 649-4046 carlinosmarket.com

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Colonial Village Meat Market 929 S High St #23 (610) 436-9514 colonialvillagewestchester.com colonialmarketwestchester@gmail.com

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323 E Gay St, Ste C2 (610) 696-8668 dischounds.com

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DARE Auto 301 S Bolmar St (610) 696-7153 dareauto.com

@dareautowc

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Gemelli Artisanal Gelato 12 W Market St (484) 557-8482 gemelligelato.com

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Giunta's Furniture 513 E Gay St (484) 887-8271 giuntasfurniture.com

@giuntasfurniturewestchester

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Goshen Beverage 102 Turner Ln 610.436.6555 goshenbeverage.com

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Floral Designs 36 S High St 610.431.9414 katimacfloraldesigns.com

@katimacfloraldesigns

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Salon & Day Spa 830 Paoli Pike 610.429.1808 ladifferencesalon.com

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Market Salon 132 W Market St (610) 601-9170 marketsalonwc.com

@marketsalonwc

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FREE MAILED SUBSCRIPTION OF The WC Press & Taste West Chester There's no catch, we swear.

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Mimi's Tea Cottage 30 S High St (484) 355-0970 mimisteacottage.com

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The Painted Plate

104 Market St (610) 738-0603 paintedplatepottery.com

@paintedplatewc

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Phineas Gage 29 S High St 484.266.7344 phineas-gage.com

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Renew Laser and Aesthic Medicine 704 W Nields St (610) 738-5738 renewlasermed.com

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The 5 Senses 133 Market St 610.719.0170 the5senses.com

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Turks Head Cafe 111 N Church St (610) 241-1666 turksheadcoffee.com

@turkshearoasters

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Visual Expansion Gallery

132 N High St 610.436.8697 visualexpansiongallery.com

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Yori's Church Street Bakery 15 N Church St 610.344.9674 yorisbakery.com

@yorisbakerywc

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Home

Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking on her blog at homebeccanomics.com

Beccanomics

This show-stopping salad recipe should arrive in time for holiday entertaining (take that, soggy green bean casserole). And I’d put these cookies in a “best chew” contest, so when you’re inevitably eating too many you can think back to this for your why. It’s the chew.

–bboyd@thewcpress.com Arugula Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash serves 6 1 Butternut squash, peeled, 1/2 c. crumbled goat cheese seeded & cut into 3/4" cubes Dressing 3 Tbsp. olive oil 3/4 c. apple cider 1 shallot, finely diced 1 Tbsp. maple syrup 1 tsp. kosher salt 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1/2 tsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/4 c. dried cherries 1/4 olive oil 8 c. arugula 1 tsp. salt 1/2 c. candied walnuts 1/2 tsp. black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Toss squash with oil and maple syrup and spread evenly across large sheet pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 25-35 minutes or until bottoms of cubes are golden brown. 2. Place cider/juice, shallot, and vinegar in small saucepan over medium-high until mixture boils. Reduce to simmer and cook until reduced to about 1/3 cup. 3. Add mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper. Whisk until emulsified. 4. Toss arugula with the desired amount of dressing in large bowl, and spread it on large rimmed serving dish. Top evenly with squash, cherries, walnuts and goat cheese. 5. Serve. store, covered, at room temperature.

Brown Sugar Cookies makes 24 1/4 tsp. baking powder 14 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1/4 c. sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 2 c. packed brown sugar 1 egg 2 c. plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 egg yolk 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 Tbsp. vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat 10 tbsp. of the butter in a 10-inch skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat until melted. Reduce heat and continue to cook, swirling pan constantly, until butter is dark golden brown and smells nutty. 2. Add butter to large heatproof mixing bowl (scrape bottom of pan) and add remaining four tablespoons butter. Stir until melted and set aside for about 15 minutes. 3. In a large flat pie plate, mix white sugar and 1/4 c. of brown sugar together. Set aside. 4. Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in small bowl. 5. Add remaining brown sugar, egg, yolk, and vanilla to cooled butter mixture and whisk until smooth. 6. Add flour mixture and fold until batter is cohesive. 7. Scoop batter into tablespoon-sized balls and roll in sugar mixture. Bake on lined baking sheets, spaced 2" apart and 1"from sides, for 12 minutes. Cookies should look a little wet in the cracks and be just golden brown. 8. Let cool enough to transfer and cool completely on wire rack.

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TWO NEW SHOPPING DESTINATIONS IN TOWN story by Kate Chadwick

The Green House brings handmade pots and adorable house plants to Church Street

A

creative life is an amplified life.

It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life,” writes Elizabeth Gilbert in her 2015 book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.

The maker scene is strong in West Chester, and in this edition of New in Town, we chat with the owners of two new businesses adding to the borough’s creative landscape. Their contributions of handmade clothing and custom-made planters aim to amplify both the person and the place.

Solome

117 W. Gay Street, Suite 206 Solome Katongole always loved to shop and dress up, and while working in retail during her formative years, she found herself drawn to garment construction. “I had always wanted to learn how to create and how to make clothes,” she recalls.

The Ugandan-born fashion designer grew up in Columbia, Maryland, earning a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and later a postgraduate degree in Fashion Design from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Los Angeles.

Her passion for fashion, infused with her Ugandan culture, influences many of her designs. “My goal is to design and create clothes that are sophisticated, elegant, comfortable, and at the same time make a statement,” she says.

She started out designing and creating women’s custom bridal and evening wear, along with contemporary African-inspired clothing. Later, she added children’s clothing, home goods, and menswear.

When it was time to take her business to the next level, she started with an online store. “You can widen your market by being able to reach beyond local customers,” she explains. “No overhead costs, the start-up costs are lower. There are more tools to attract and engage new customers.” But online stores still face challenges. “Maintaining a professional e-commerce space is not cheap. Building online customer trust is hard if you don’t have a big following

and a known track record. Customers’ attention span is very limited.” Offering perks such as free shipping might bring in sales, but they are costly.

Solome Katongole is a Ugandan-born fashion designer whose designs focus as much on elegance as comfort. She initially started her business in the e-commerce sphere, but has recently open a brick and mortar operation on Gay Street.

In the early years of her business, Solome designed and crafted 100% of her offerings. As she’s grown, she has scaled back to 80% of design and construction, with the remaining 20% of her designs produced elsewhere.

in addition to my products you will see other items from other talented creators carried in my studio/shop.”

In addition to ready-to-wear clothing, she offers jewelry. “I work with artisans from Kenya and Mozambique, and every piece is handmade,” she says. “I am collaborating with other creators, so

Solome loves being able to connect with customers in her store on Gay Street. “It’s more engaging because you can physically communicate to the customers,” she told us. “Product appeal

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can be improved because the customer can physically see, touch, and try things on.” She notes that the visual displays widen the shopper’s imagination, and the personalized shopping experience makes the customers prefer shopping in the store. Although as a staff of one, her outside obligations sometimes make it challenging to maintain store hours. The community, however, makes all the difference. “West Chester is a close-knit community, and very supportive,” she says. “I look forward to creating a great loyal customer base and also to collaborating with other businesses.”

Beyond designing, Solome enjoys spending time with her family and traveling, which further inspires her work.

“Besides creating memories, traveling enhances my creativity,” she says. “I was born in Uganda, and the cultural flair is part of my brand. In some pieces it’s louder and in others a bit silent. That way, there’s something for everyone.”

The Green House 107 N. Church Street

It’s safe to say that houseplants are really having a moment, and Peter Giuffre and Kellie Ink have managed to take two things they were already doing and meld them into a third, very cool thing.

The result is The Green House, where the pair sell houseplants and accouterments, along with organic home, body, and clothing products, and home décor.

Pete, who works full-time at local tech start-up LifeBrand, started a pottery business in the summer of 2021 called Pot+Plant. “I thought it would be fun to make my own concrete planter, so one weekend I looked up online how to do it and it just grew from there.” Within a year, Pete had an e-commerce site, sold wholesale to nurseries and gift shops in the Chester County and Philadelphia regions, and was selling his wares at local markets.

“

I WAS BORN IN UGANDA, AND THE CULTURAL FLAIR IS PART OF MY BRAND. IN SOME PIECES IT’S LOUDER AND IN OTHERS A BIT SILENT. THAT WAY, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

Solome Katongole

”

Meanwhile, Kellie has another full-time, remote job as Operations Manager at an organic skincare company, The Golden Secrets. “She’s very passionate about holistic health and only uses organic, non-toxic products on herself and in her home—which has rubbed off onto me as well, as we’ve been in a relationship for over three years now,” Pete said. “In starting the store, we wanted to combine our two passions, which are plants and nontoxic living—hence, The Green House.”

[Editor’s note: we’re big fans of a good play on words.] The brick-and-mortar location came about in May of this year, with the grand opening this past July.

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Kellie Ink & Peter Giuffre in their shop on Church Street That may seem like a lot of juggling— and it is—but they make it work. “Kellie runs the store during the weekdays. LifeBrand is about half a block from The Green House, so I work the store on the weekends, can pop over on weekdays after work, and then make the pots at night after that.” That’s right—he makes those pots.

“IN STARTING THE STORE, WE WANTED TO COMBINE OUR TWO

PASSIONS, WHICH ARE PLANTS AND NON-TOXIC LIVING—HENCE, THE GREEN HOUSE.

”

Peter Giuffre

“A lot of the pieces you see on our shelves I make by hand,” Pete told us.

“Usually, I spend four to five hours a night, six days a week, trying to keep up with inventory. The only difference in degrees of difficulty comes from how many colors I want to do in a pot. If I’m pouring something with four different colors, I’m doing four times the amount of work for a piece and have to pour really carefully to get the crisp lines I want my pots to have.”

there are wooden pieces as well. “A lot of people who come in have a houseplant collection, which usually means they like to propagate cuttings of their favorite plants to grow new plants or fill in their existing plants up top,” he explains. “They like the fact that they don’t have to use a plain glass jar and instead can have a stylish piece of home decor that can also function as a vessel to root their propagations.” They also partner with local artists for woodworking and ceramic pieces.

Handmade propagation stations top the list of their best-selling items. Pete crafts most of them from cement, but

Their favorite thing about working in retail is developing relationships with the people who come into the store. “We’ve

loved getting to meet so many different people over the past few months and learn about them and their house plant collections,” says Pete. “We have a fairly small store, so it’s natural for us to have conversations with people as they look around. We love when customers come back, and we know them by their names and can ask them how this or that is going and continue that rapport.”

The Green House’s local roots run deep: Pete grew up in West Chester and went to Rustin High School, while Kellie’s from Elverson. “I’ve personally wanted to have a home base to sell my products for a while, so when I saw this commercial space open up half a block away from the LifeBrand office, I knew it was perfect timing,” says Pete. “West Chester’s a great small town, and I am so happy to now be a part of the small business community in downtown West Chester after growing up here.”

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you know you wanna scan it... go ahead, its safe...

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Tell Me

Something Good

Danielle Davies spotlights citizens for doing something swell. This month, meet Colleen Connor What she does: As a breast cancer survivor, Colleen is a three-year volunteer and fierce advocate of Unite for HER, an organization that offers integrative and support therapies to help empower and restore breast and ovarian cancer patients. “All you want to do when you’re going through breast cancer or any cancer is to be able to tolerate the therapy and have the opportunity to beat it,” says Colleen. “I felt like Unite for HER did so much for me personally to help me get back to my treatment plan when we would need to stop it because the side effects and symptoms were so severe” They taught Colleen about acupuncture, food as medicine, and how to best support herself.

Why she’s on this page: Even though Colleen has been chronically ill with pulmonary arterial hypertension since 2007, she’s still committed to giving back. “The more funding we have, the more patients we can serve,” she says. “So even if I’m exhausted, I do whatever I need to get through it because I think of all the women who are where I was, who need this more than I did. Having a part in helping them means so much to me.”

What we admire about her: Chronic illness makes everyday life significantly more difficult for Colleen, who relies on considerable lifelong treatments and medication. But she doesn’t let that stop her. She is also on the Board of Trustees of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, where she’s Chair of the Development Committee and a member of both the Governance and Strategic Planning Committees. “I have my hands in several things but the reason I support both Unite for HER and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association is because they’ve truly helped me survive.

I’m continually advocating for myself and others to be able to live the most full and meaningful life I can have.”

What Colleen does for Unite for HER: Colleen’s efforts support expansion. COVID marked a turning point in the organization when it pivoted from a purely local to a national entity. Colleen supports the staff in establishing national partnerships and securing funding to support underserved patients, contacting pharmaceutical companies, and explaining that Unite for HER works to enable patients to tolerate treatments or look for other financial support for programs. “The more introductions I can make and share information about what it does, the more grants we might secure. When more people attend our events, that translates into Unite for HER being able to offer this critical, life-changing program for people who are going through breast cancer.”

What she likes about West Chester: “Honestly, I’m a sick person, so I’m not out in town a lot. But I’ve started attending Unite for HER events. Seeing the town of West Chester coming out to support their fundraising efforts—everyone from residents to businesses sponsoring and promoting the four events they have each year—and how many people come out for the 5K walk wearing their bright Unite for HER shirts, it’s emotional. When you see that overwhelming support, you know that as a patient, the community is behind you.” –Danielle@thewcpress.com

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Spot the five differences hidden within this AI-generated still life (and not just the things that are weird because it’s AI), then email your answers to contests@thewcpress.com, and you’ve got a chance to win a Saloon 151 Gift Card.

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Holiday Hits List

DJ Romeo curates a list of the best new tracks to set the mood for the holiday season The following is a list of songs that you can put on at any party this holiday season. You’ll be singing along, and partying down. And, you can now stream the list in its entirey at: www.thewcpress.com/playlist @DJRomeo24 | www.DJRomeo.fm

Pentatonix – Please Santa Please OneRepublic – Dear Santa Cher – DJ Play A Christmas Song Elvis Presley, Kane Brown – Blue Christmas Mary J. Blige – Silent Night Mark Temonti – The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year ASTN – Last Christmas RuPaul – Baby Doll Brandy – Shine Out Your Light Ally Brooke – Under The Tree Michael Bolton, Mickey Guyton – Christmas Isn’t Christmas Adam Blackstone, Keke Palmer – Christmas Kisses Maddie & Tae – White Christmas Blessing Offor – Wonderful Christmastime Forest Blakk – Wake Up! (It’s Christmas Time) Seth MacFarlane, Liz Gillies – That Holiday Feeling Olivia King – 12 Days of Christmas Johnny Mathis – Merry Christmas, Baby LONIS, Nick Connors – Here For The Holiday Jon Pardi, Pillbox Patti – I’ve Beeb Bad, Santa Cher, Tyga – Drop Top Sleigh Ride (with Tyga) DITA – Little Drummer Boy Justine Blazer – Happy Little Holiday Samara Joy – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Mary J. Blige – Winter Wonderland Taylor Hicks – Jingle Bells Gavin DeGraw – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree Jessie James Decker – Sleigh Ride Dami Im – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Jason Derulo – Closer to Christmas

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