Nook finds niche in Lewes
Riki Burton may have found the perfect name for her new 400-square-foot shop on Market Street in Lewes – Nook.
The home décor and gift shop may not have a lot of space, but it's filled with an eclectic selection of handmade items, each with its own story.
“The tagline for the story is 'Thoughtfully Procured,'” she said. “That's because I chose things that had more meaning behind them than just buying stuff.”
Burton has partnered with local artisans and crafters to offer everything from knit hats and sail cloth bags to a Santa Claus ornament hand painted onto an oyster shell.
Through a global handmade trade show in New York, Burton also made connections with artisans around the world, such as a Peruvian woman who makes ponchos. Burton put the woman's product in her store and they have already sold out. She said the proceeds help the woman support her family.
In fact, most of the products available at Nook have a charitable angle. Burton said it was important to her to buy products from people or companies who give back to the community, specifically to women, children and education.
So whether it's pillows, blankets, scarfs, aprons or handbags made of cork, she said, her store is full of products that are handmade from natural materials by community-minded companies.
“I tried very hard to purchase things from artisans who do small-batch items so the store will always be changing,” she said.
Nook also has a large selection of yarn.
This is Burton's first crack at retail. The mother of four children said she never had the time to chase her dream while raising her kids. But now that they are grown, she said, it's time. The thought had not occurred to her until she heard the Ginger Moon storefront would soon become available.
“[Ginger Moon] felt like this little tiny space,” she said. Once everything was moved out, Burton said, "It was bigger than I thought. But I think we've really used the space well.”
She and her husband are also the owners Burton Custom Home Builders in Nassau. They designed and renovated the space to fit Riki's needs.
Nook, 107 Market St., is open seven days a week. For more information, call 302-644-9665.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
