I am thrilled to start this new series by introducing Nice Things Hand Made, a boutique-gallery featuring handmade clothing, jewelry, house wares, accessories and art made by local artists. As someone said while I was in the store, “It’s like being in Etsy!”
As soon as you meet shop owner, Elissa Kara, you can feel her warm and fun spirit. Customers are greeted with the traditional, “How are yous doing?” A Philly gal through and through, Elissa grew up in the Society Hill neighborhood. Her family has deep roots in the city; her grandmother worked on Fabric Row for 40 years and her mother was a waitress on South Street. Elissa now lives in South Philadelphia, so it only made sense for her to open up shop on East Passyunk Avenue last February.
Elissa let me spend a couple of hours in the store with her. I got to hear stories, listen to her interact with customers, take pictures and drool over the inventory. She sells everything from infant clothing to Pee-wee Herman earrings and 75% of the merchandise is made by local artists who she found through referrals and Etsy.
An artist herself, Elissa majored in Painting at a small art school in Massachusetts. When she moved back to the area, she worked in the food service industry for many years with amazing women, including Judy Wicks at the White Dog Café. During the recession, like so many others, Elissa was affected by a buyout and lost her job. Around the same time, she lost her mom, who was - and continues to be - a huge inspiration for her. Elissa allowed herself time to reflect and her entrepreneurial spirit came alive. She decided to open Nice Things, an homage to her mother who once had a store in Atlantic City by the same name. As we talked, she explained that this is a place her mother would have liked to shop, reminiscing with me about growing up in the neighborhood that is now considered Society Hill, and how the Avenue reminds her of what it used to be like there. She explained, "it represents a part of my life that’s only a memory now.”
In addition to the Nice Things goods such as lip balm, candles, scarves, and prints, Elissa features artists on a monthly basis. She provides a forum where they can display and sell their work. In October she featured the Sea of Squid Show (pictured above) and in December she will feature hand made ornaments.
I should also mention that Elissa is skilled at crocheting, and makes hats, neck warmers and scarves. As we talked, she was picking out buttons to accessorize a few neck warmers she had just finished. A pregnant customer observed her work and placed an order for a custom baby hat on the spot. Elissa promised that it would be finished within 5 days, and being a lady who is due in 2 weeks, she was pretty thrilled.
You can catch Elissa at the store (hours and address listed above) or at the Can-Can Craft show on Sunday, November 14 at Broad and South Street at the Jamician Jerk Hut from 11 am – 5 pm. The CoHo crew will be doing a can food drive for Philabundance - two cans of food will get you a can of beer. Please stop by.
Elissa let me spend a couple of hours in the store with her. I got to hear stories, listen to her interact with customers, take pictures and drool over the inventory. She sells everything from infant clothing to Pee-wee Herman earrings and 75% of the merchandise is made by local artists who she found through referrals and Etsy.
An artist herself, Elissa majored in Painting at a small art school in Massachusetts. When she moved back to the area, she worked in the food service industry for many years with amazing women, including Judy Wicks at the White Dog Café. During the recession, like so many others, Elissa was affected by a buyout and lost her job. Around the same time, she lost her mom, who was - and continues to be - a huge inspiration for her. Elissa allowed herself time to reflect and her entrepreneurial spirit came alive. She decided to open Nice Things, an homage to her mother who once had a store in Atlantic City by the same name. As we talked, she explained that this is a place her mother would have liked to shop, reminiscing with me about growing up in the neighborhood that is now considered Society Hill, and how the Avenue reminds her of what it used to be like there. She explained, "it represents a part of my life that’s only a memory now.”
In addition to the Nice Things goods such as lip balm, candles, scarves, and prints, Elissa features artists on a monthly basis. She provides a forum where they can display and sell their work. In October she featured the Sea of Squid Show (pictured above) and in December she will feature hand made ornaments.
I should also mention that Elissa is skilled at crocheting, and makes hats, neck warmers and scarves. As we talked, she was picking out buttons to accessorize a few neck warmers she had just finished. A pregnant customer observed her work and placed an order for a custom baby hat on the spot. Elissa promised that it would be finished within 5 days, and being a lady who is due in 2 weeks, she was pretty thrilled.
You can catch Elissa at the store (hours and address listed above) or at the Can-Can Craft show on Sunday, November 14 at Broad and South Street at the Jamician Jerk Hut from 11 am – 5 pm. The CoHo crew will be doing a can food drive for Philabundance - two cans of food will get you a can of beer. Please stop by.
As for Nice Things Hand Made, this small spot on the Avenue puts smiles on people faces. There is definitely an element to the store that makes you want to be there. One customer told me that she “just likes coming into the store because it cheers me up.”
If you missed it here, last week I announced that I will be writing a new weekly series called “I Love This Town” about shops and restaurants in my neighborhood.
nice post. thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm lovin' your town too!
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