Jun 4, 2009

Businesses weathering the stormBy Aileen WingbladHometownLife.com

Two downtown Milford business owners have buddied up to save their stores.

Aubergine Gallery has moved to the other side of Main Street and a few storefronts south to share at Adrianne’s Gifts.

Janine Rudzki, who owns the gallery, and Adrianne Walker, who recently marked her gift shop’s first anniversary in Milford, said they are hoping the new arrangement will help their businesses survive while the economy continues to sputter.

“It’s good we can get creative in this way,” Rudzki said. “It’s so hard on most shops in town, and we didn’t want to close. We figure we can help each other.”

The store is now known as Adrianne’s Gifts and Aubergine Gallery, utilizing the upstairs that until now Walker didn’t have open to customers. Merchandise from each business is mixed together throughout the store.

“We needed to find a creative situation, so we decided that we could support each other,” Walker said. “And since there are now two of us, we can cover more hours. We’ll be open seven days a week but don’t have to both be here, and can sell from both stores.”

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