Feb 5, 2009

In Litchfield, It’s Better to ShareBy Daniela ForteZWire.com

The Renaissance center in the Tollgate Hill business district of Litchfield has had several incarnations over the years. Two of the five current businesses subscribing to a strength-in-numbers school of merchandising are Scarborough Faire Home Interiors, a home antiques and consignment gallery, and All About Accessories, a unique gift shop.

Jan Oelschlegel-Kissko, the owner of Scarborough Faire, and Cheryl Mendez, the owner of All About Accessories, both promise something different yet reasonably-priced for customers. But more than that philosophy is in alignment, as the two businesses have been sharing the same area of the building since the beginning of January.

“Cheryl and I have a really good relationship. I said, ‘Well, let’s give it a whirl and see,'” said Ms. Oelschlegel-Kissko, a Torrington resident.

The other businesses in the building are Thairapy hair salon, Litchfield Hills Photography and Litchfield Music & Piano Andante.

“We are just a family of different retail businesses and services, and they are all small businesses,” said Ms. Oelschlegel-Kissko of the all-female store owners in the building. “We are like a support network to one another also.”

Before moving to the front of the building, Scarborough Faire was located on one side of the Renaissance building. Ms. Oelschlegel-Kissko traded spaces with Susan Wakeen, owner of the Litchfield Doll Shop, which closed in January. Ms. Wakeen has only a sculpting studio now.

“When you have a freestanding [business], you have to be able to pay the rent every month. With the economy [the way it is], you are not sure who is going to walk through that door or whether you’re going to make rent or not,” said Ms. Oelschlegel-Kissko, who has an educational background in fine arts. “This is one way we can keep our operating costs down-by basically sharing space.”

Ms. Mendez has been in the Renaissance of Litchfield building for almost two years. She originally had a store in Torrington called The Little Shop on the Corner for four years before moving to the Litchfield location under the name All About Accessories.

“I try to get very unique things that you can’t find elsewhere in this area, but I really try to keep reasonable price points,” said Ms. Mendez, a Litchfield resident. “I think in this economy people will always need to buy gifts, that is never going to go away. What has changed is that people are coming in [knowing] what the maximum they want to spend is.”

According to the shop’s Web site, www.allaboutaccessorieslitchfield. com, it tries to offer distinctive one-of-a-kind home décor and gift items for customers.

“The word is getting out that you can get something that I think [is] beautiful, good quality, very unique while keeping within a budget,” said Ms. Mendez.

All About Accessories has jewelry, Pashmina shawls, silk velvet Peacock shawls, clothing, a large selection of handbags and scarves. Ms. Mendez also carries air-purifying salt lamps, among many other unusual gift items.

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