Home
News
ENLARGE
Maiden Lane owners Stu and Bo Wolfson brought a piece of San Francisco elegance with them when they moved to Nevada City in 1989. Their store, on Broad Street, is named after the quaint alley in the heart of San Francisco, near Union Square.
The couple, married for 38 years, loves working as a team, and each brings more than 37 years of retail experience to their store. Stu had a large company in San Francisco and manufactured clothing in Hong Kong. Bo was a fine jewelry buyer for both I. Magnin and Shreve and Company.
The Wolfsons had owned property in Nevada County for many years and always knew they wanted to retire here. In 1989, after they lost their home in the San Francisco earthquake, they decided it was time. They made the move, and Maiden Lane was born.
The store carries quality women's clothing, handbags and a large selection of gift items, including gourmet foods from all over the world. For example, they feature pasta that is handmade by a mother and daughter in Rome. And a large selection of tabletop books on travel, architecture, cooking. Or dishes from Portugal that are beautiful and practical - you can put them in the oven or freezer - like Pyrex.
The couple, married for 38 years, loves working as a team, and each brings more than 37 years of retail experience to their store. Stu had a large company in San Francisco and manufactured clothing in Hong Kong. Bo was a fine jewelry buyer for both I. Magnin and Shreve and Company.
The Wolfsons had owned property in Nevada County for many years and always knew they wanted to retire here. In 1989, after they lost their home in the San Francisco earthquake, they decided it was time. They made the move, and Maiden Lane was born.
The store carries quality women's clothing, handbags and a large selection of gift items, including gourmet foods from all over the world. For example, they feature pasta that is handmade by a mother and daughter in Rome. And a large selection of tabletop books on travel, architecture, cooking. Or dishes from Portugal that are beautiful and practical - you can put them in the oven or freezer - like Pyrex.
"We wouldn't put anything in our store that we wouldn't use ourselves," Stu said. "We try to find the best quality, something that will last a lifetime and to offer it at affordable prices. When we go to the markets, we go with our customers in mind.
"Bo and I and the staff have the knowledge of what to do with the gourmet food items and gifts. We invite people to walk in and just stand here and look around. It's like an upscale general store
"With clothing, we try to keep it current and up to date so you can shop for what's new and fresh," said Bo. "We like good-quality items that work with what people already have. We can outfit an entire ensemble or we can finish out a look for someone.
"I've always been a mountain person. This area has so much to offer. You go on vacation and it is a great place to come home to. It's so well located. We take the train to San Francisco to go to the markets. It's a great time for Stu and I to work and spend time together."
Maiden Lane's quality of merchandise and customer service has attracted a lot of return customers from Reno, Chico, the Bay Area and even Newport Beach. Their philosophy: Buy really good quality basics - pants, skirts, jackets, in a classic color.
"Be trendy with less expensive items, like tops and accessories. With the quality basics, it all looks expensive," Bo said.
For one woman who was traveling, Bo helped her create many different outfits and even wrote it all down for her.
"I'm happy to do those things," she said. "All the merchants up here work really hard to have great merchandise and good customer service. People need to understand that their tax dollars come from what they spend in Nevada County. It is important for locals to try to shop locally."
"We always have a sale rack in the back. And fun socks - the best selection of socks in town," Stu said.
Stu has been very involved in the community. He worked with Tina Basich, a pioneer in women's snowboarding and owner of My Favorite Things, to put on a benefit for Nevada Union and Bear River snowboarding teams. They imported snow, built a rail jam structure, and had snowboard teams and pro riders perform. That event and a benefit movie showing at Nevada Theater netted $5,000 for the two teams.
He also encouraged local artists Steve Solinsky and John Mowen to open the Mowen-Solinsky Gallery on Broad Street, where, along with artists from all over the world, they display and sell their creations.
Stu was instrumental in starting the Business Improvement District last August, whose purpose is to have shop owners, the Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and the City Council all working together for the good of the community. "We're making progress," he said. "It is a wonderful community."
"I love being in my store, working with people," Bo said. "We want every customer to have a really good experience," Bo said.
"Bo and I and the staff have the knowledge of what to do with the gourmet food items and gifts. We invite people to walk in and just stand here and look around. It's like an upscale general store
"With clothing, we try to keep it current and up to date so you can shop for what's new and fresh," said Bo. "We like good-quality items that work with what people already have. We can outfit an entire ensemble or we can finish out a look for someone.
"I've always been a mountain person. This area has so much to offer. You go on vacation and it is a great place to come home to. It's so well located. We take the train to San Francisco to go to the markets. It's a great time for Stu and I to work and spend time together."
Maiden Lane's quality of merchandise and customer service has attracted a lot of return customers from Reno, Chico, the Bay Area and even Newport Beach. Their philosophy: Buy really good quality basics - pants, skirts, jackets, in a classic color.
"Be trendy with less expensive items, like tops and accessories. With the quality basics, it all looks expensive," Bo said.
For one woman who was traveling, Bo helped her create many different outfits and even wrote it all down for her.
"I'm happy to do those things," she said. "All the merchants up here work really hard to have great merchandise and good customer service. People need to understand that their tax dollars come from what they spend in Nevada County. It is important for locals to try to shop locally."
"We always have a sale rack in the back. And fun socks - the best selection of socks in town," Stu said.
Stu has been very involved in the community. He worked with Tina Basich, a pioneer in women's snowboarding and owner of My Favorite Things, to put on a benefit for Nevada Union and Bear River snowboarding teams. They imported snow, built a rail jam structure, and had snowboard teams and pro riders perform. That event and a benefit movie showing at Nevada Theater netted $5,000 for the two teams.
He also encouraged local artists Steve Solinsky and John Mowen to open the Mowen-Solinsky Gallery on Broad Street, where, along with artists from all over the world, they display and sell their creations.
Stu was instrumental in starting the Business Improvement District last August, whose purpose is to have shop owners, the Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and the City Council all working together for the good of the community. "We're making progress," he said. "It is a wonderful community."
"I love being in my store, working with people," Bo said. "We want every customer to have a really good experience," Bo said.
Maiden Lane
<B>Owners:</B> Stu and Bo Wolfson
307 Broad Street Nevada City 265-9520 <A HREF="mailto:maidenlane-nc@hotmail.com">maidenlane-nc@hotmail.com</A> Open seven days a week, 10:30-5 <B>Besides quality women's clothing, Maiden Lane features: </B> Brighton handbags, belts, luggage, sunglasses Jewelry, including local designer, Extasia, who they've showcased for eighteen years Pearls from Spain Japanese teapots Imported gourmet food items: Italian hand made pasta, risotto, olive oils, vinegars, garlic aioli and tapenade Australia licorice English clotted cream European hot chocolate French Farm mustards, truffle creams, jams and jellies <B>Made in the U.S.A merchandise:</B> Granite Bay farms Stonewall Kitchen, Vermont, jellies, jams and sauces, marinades Fine Candy, Southern California They are happy to create a gourmet gift basket for you, with a week's notice. <B>- Diane Covington</B> |
