LEWISTOWN - The little gift shop that sits quietly at the end of Mountainside Lane in Lewistown has been refurbished and expanded. Still a cozy establishment adorned with flags and signs, Simply Home Gift Shop now offers a furniture line, bringing something extra to both new and longstanding customers.
One must drive up a curvy dirt road to arrive at Simply Home, an eclectic store that sells a variety of country and primitive items. Its new furniture line, which became available last month, is the same line that was sold at The Olde Hatchery near Silgerville, Christine Watts, co-owner of the store, said. The Olde Hatchery, Watts said, is going out of business.
The furniture, made by the Amish community, includes end tables, television stands, entertainment centers, shelving units, hutches and other pieces, Watts said.
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Sentinel photo by MARJORIE STROMBERG
Simply Home Gift Shop, which sits at the end of Mountainside Lane in Lewistown, began offering a furniture line last month. Its outdoor porch currently is being renovated to showcase the furniture, and should be done by March. The store, located along state Route 103, was refurbished in August, co-owner Christine Watts said, and now offers personal items, as well as centerpiece help for brides.
"We have a whole catalogue of furniture that we can get from them," she said.
The furniture items, Watts said, are purchased from wholesalers in Lancaster.
Simply Home's side porch is under construction now, Watts said, and will eventually be used to display some of the furniture. Construction, which includes enclosing the porch to protect it from weather, is expected to be done around March, she said.
Watts, who owns the store with Julie Whitsel, Lisa Watts and Carrie Watts, said Simply Home originally opened in 1998 under the name of Mountainside Crafts. At that time she had owned the store with her mother-in-law, Gwen Watts, she said.
Then this past August, Watts, along with the other current owners, bought the inventory and renamed the shop, she said.
Part of the renovation project in August, Watts said, was changing the interior of the store.
"(We) just kind of wanted to start fresh," she said.
Although the shop still offers the same country and primitive items, it now sells "unique, personal items," Watts said, such as luggage tags, and other things to "buy just for yourself."
Simply Home, located along state Route 103, still sells home items, Watts said, but "we're incorporating different things into it."
Other new items available for sale include cards and keychains, Watts said, as well as jewelry from local crafters.
"We hope ... definitely by March ... to have that on display to sell," she said about the jewelry.
The store also sells a variety of other items from area merchants, such as chai drink mixes, and dog and cat collars, Watts said.
"We try to use our local vendors," she said.
Additionally, Simply Home now works with brides who need help with centerpieces, and other projects, for their weddings, Watts said.
Customers can purchase candles, vases and other items from the store, and Simply Home employees can either put the centerpieces together for them, or the brides can do it themselves, she said.
The store also is able to deliver the centerpieces right to the reception site, Watts said.
"We can work with the bride ... on her colors (and) her budget," she said.
Simply Home Gift Shop sells candles, flags, lamps, potpourri, home centerpieces, quilts and seasonal items, among other things. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information call 953-5550.
