At home once again, Alexander-Persse opens The French Nest in downtown Salisbury – Salisbury Article

SALISBURY — Seated at a classic eating table, surrounded by lamps, bookcases and decorations, Wendy Alexander-Persse is at dwelling in her new shop in downtown Salisbury.

Named The French Nest, the vintage decor retailer is situated at 119 S. Most important St. and gives anything from household furniture to handmade candles and linen aprons.

In addition to becoming stuffed with goods Alexander-Persse handpicked herself — and she only picks factors likes — the retail outlet is snug to her due to the fact it is wherever she released her first foray into Salisbury commerce 11 several years back.

“I like this space and how ideal to be back again where I commenced in 2010,” Alexander-Persse mentioned. “I seemed at a couple other places, but this block is my beloved.”

Called Grayshores Trading, the store may perhaps have been the 1st shop Alexander-Persse opened in Salisbury, but she was previously a seasoned little small business owner at the time.

A native of New York, Alexander-Persse moved to Salisbury in 1986 and stayed for about seven years just before going down the jap seaboard to Brunswick, Georgia. There, she owned and operated two outlets. Immediately after providing the second small business, Alexander-Persse worked at a classic keep in Brunswick, the place she realized numerous vital tricks of the trade.

“I experienced labored for a woman my final two years in Brunswick who has the most effective retail outlet I’ve at any time been in. I got to work for her for two and a 50 percent decades,” Alexander-Persse explained. “I discovered a ton. She was very generous with her suppliers and sharing info.”

When Alexander-Persse moved again to Salisbury to escape the relentless southeastern Ga warmth, she set her company acumen and knowledge of vintage items to use and opened Grayshores Investing. She launched one more undertaking, known as Zinc, near the practice station a several a long time later and then procured the Literary Bookpost in 2016.

She planned to consider a crack from currently being a modest business enterprise operator just after advertising the bookstore, which she renamed South Main Ebook Firm, in 2019. Her concentrate throughout the earlier year has mainly been on becoming a parent to her toddler daughter, Harriet.

Alexander-Persse’s wife, Lauren, explained the previous year has been a whirlwind, but that she’s excited to guidance Alexander-Persse’s most latest store.

Alexander-Persse did deal with to remain out of small business, but only for so extensive. The draw of connecting with buyers as soon as all over again proved much too sturdy.

“After I offered the bookstore, I seriously missed the buyers,” Alexander-Persse stated.

What sealed her selection to reenter downtown commerce was an impromptu pay a visit to to the vacant storefront at 119 S. Major St. in November. Even though she was not all set to start a company at the time, observing the renovated house bought the wheels turning in her head. She started accumulating vintage products and signed a lease in January.

“I seriously sort of commenced a business enterprise ahead of I even signed the lease,” Alexander-Persse reported.

The French Nest identify was coined by Lauren and is a nod to Alexander-Persse’s affinity for Paris and European-impressed decor.

Alexander-Persse’s business return to downtown has been effectively obtained, she explained. Most of the faces she’s observed have been acquainted, primarily people who have visited The French Nest on weekdays. She’s even had consumers wander in, not figuring out it’s her shop, and exclaim how identical it feels and appears to be like to Grayshores Buying and selling.

Functioning on the 100 block of South Primary Road at the time once again, Alexander-Persse is working together with longtime good friends. 

“I appreciate the community down listed here,” Alexander-Persse explained. “Cheryl (Goins) at Pottery 101 and Bob (Lambrecht) at Critters are some of my greatest good friends. I just take pleasure in it. I couldn’t envision currently being out absent from downtown and on my personal somewhere.”

Along with furniture and decor Alexander-Persse procured from her reliable pickers and distributors, The French Nest attributes solutions created regionally by her pals, like soap crafted by Teri Fox and linen aprons produced by Cindy Morgan.

“I was capable to get in touch with a couple of buddies that I understood experienced certain skills and say ‘Can you produce this for the shop?’” Alexander-Persse explained.

The subtle, yet striking mural on one particular of the store’s partitions was painted by an additional mate, Cara Reische, who also designed the shop’s symbol.

The store’s candles, Alexander-Persse mentioned, have been flying off the shelf. So far too have several of the shop’s other choices. 

“I’ve experienced to make a few shopping excursions currently, so which is great,” Alexander-Persse stated.

Alexander-Persse isn’t seeking to get loaded off of her most recent endeavor. She gave up that quest very long back.

“In my 20s I felt panicked to make income, make ‘my mark’ in a huge way,” Alexander-Persse mentioned. “Then I came to understand it is seriously about producing your corner of the planet lovely, make it operate for yourself and exhibit some kindness to the rest of the world.”

The French Nest is open Tuesday by Friday from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.