Jul 16, 2009

Manomet gift shop now openBy Kathryn KochWickedLocal.com

Plymouth, MA — Shoppers can find “a little bit of everything” at SuJo’s, the new gift shop at 629 State Road, because it’s the kind of place its owner likes to shop.

When Susan Presti shops, she knows what she likes, and she wants their customers to know they can find what they’re looking for at SuJo’s. She and her husband, Joe, opened their Manomet shop Friday. Susan said she wants shoppers to have a reason to return.

“My goal is to have repeat customers,” she said. “I want people to come in and keep coming back.”

Joe Presti and his parents, Giuseppe and Francesca Presti, have owned the property at 629 State Road for more than 30 years and moved to Plymouth 25 years ago. They had most recently rented the space to Quintal’s Market, but Joe’s parents’ retirement gave them the idea of opening a gift shop in the building.

The Prestis sold their family restaurant, Franco’s Pizzeria and Pub in Waltham, last fall. After 20 years in the restaurant business, Joe Presti said it’s going to take some time to adjust to the slower pace of running the shop, but they have in effect replaced one family business with another. Their 13-year-old daughter Maria, 11-year-old daughter Cinzia and 6-year-old son Giuseppe, will all work at the store.

“We’re a tight-knit family,” Joe Presti said. “We take care of each other and the property.”

The Prestis sell products from local companies like Willows Cranberries and Cape Cod Provisions and feature the work of local artists at SuJo’s, a combination of both their names. One artist’s hand-whittled wooden boots, paintings by Janet Cushing Howard and embroidered bathrobes from Marie Foley Creations in Manomet are featured.

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