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ENLARGE
Stuey Weills, owner of the Gray Goose in Nevada City, holds Reggie, a West Highland White Terrier and company CEO who has shown up for work daily for the last 12 years.
Stuey Weills’ Nevada City roots run deep. There are traces of them just across the street from her Broad Street business and others etched in stone at the grave sites of her great- grandparents, buried at the North Bloomfield cemetery.
“I have a very special relationship with this town,” said Weills. “Especially when I realize I can go to the cemetery and see my great-grandparents.”
The Gray Goose was originally located on Commercial Street, where Weills purchased the business some 20 years ago (she’d worked at the store prior to buying it).
Levity best describes The Gray Goose business philosophy. “We are introducing fun, new products all the time,” said Weills, “including a special section of the store for Mexican folk art, ranging from very moderately priced items to pieces created by some of the region’s best artists.”
And it may be the only place around where you can find squirrel underpants.
The shop at 230 Broad St. — with old wooden floors moved there years ago from a Rough and Ready barn — is owned by Weills’ longtime family friends Kay and Ken Baker. “My mother and Carl Baker were buddies,” she said. “When I look out my front window across the street at Harmony Books, I think of my grandmother, Elizabeth Davis, who was born in Relief Hill in 1886. She worked at Colley’s Ice Cream, Tomales and the Drug Store, where Harmony Books is today.”
The Gray Goose is well known for its wide variety of greeting cards. “Our greatest value is enjoyment,” said Weills. “We want our customers to have a fun experience, from the sublime to the ridiculous.”
There is, for example, an entire table dedicated to wind-up toys. “But I cringe when people call us a gift store,” said Weills. “We have a lot of beautiful Japanese items as well as a great collection of fabulous books and jewelry.”
Reggie, Weills’ West Highland White Terrier, is the store’s CEO. “He’s been dutifully showing up for work every day for the last 12 years,” said Weills. The shop is, of course, dog friendly and each canine customer gets a special treat just for stopping by.
In fact, an oil painting of Reggie, courtesy of local artist Kathryn Wronski, adorns one of the walls.
”My good friend and co-worker Jana is also a big part of the picture of our success,” said Weills. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
While the slow economy has affected shopping habits, Weills said The Gray Goose continues to do well because, as she says, “We are fortunate to have products that are still favorable, and everyone still has a birthday.”
And it doesn’t hurt to have a loyal following, both local and out-of-town, from Reno, Truckee, Roseville, Marysville and beyond.
”I’ve always had a hand in retail,” said Weills. “I’ve been doing this forever. I love it. I love selling and enjoy having my own shop where I can watch people enjoy our products.”
“I have a very special relationship with this town,” said Weills. “Especially when I realize I can go to the cemetery and see my great-grandparents.”
The Gray Goose was originally located on Commercial Street, where Weills purchased the business some 20 years ago (she’d worked at the store prior to buying it).
Levity best describes The Gray Goose business philosophy. “We are introducing fun, new products all the time,” said Weills, “including a special section of the store for Mexican folk art, ranging from very moderately priced items to pieces created by some of the region’s best artists.”
And it may be the only place around where you can find squirrel underpants.
The shop at 230 Broad St. — with old wooden floors moved there years ago from a Rough and Ready barn — is owned by Weills’ longtime family friends Kay and Ken Baker. “My mother and Carl Baker were buddies,” she said. “When I look out my front window across the street at Harmony Books, I think of my grandmother, Elizabeth Davis, who was born in Relief Hill in 1886. She worked at Colley’s Ice Cream, Tomales and the Drug Store, where Harmony Books is today.”
The Gray Goose is well known for its wide variety of greeting cards. “Our greatest value is enjoyment,” said Weills. “We want our customers to have a fun experience, from the sublime to the ridiculous.”
There is, for example, an entire table dedicated to wind-up toys. “But I cringe when people call us a gift store,” said Weills. “We have a lot of beautiful Japanese items as well as a great collection of fabulous books and jewelry.”
Reggie, Weills’ West Highland White Terrier, is the store’s CEO. “He’s been dutifully showing up for work every day for the last 12 years,” said Weills. The shop is, of course, dog friendly and each canine customer gets a special treat just for stopping by.
In fact, an oil painting of Reggie, courtesy of local artist Kathryn Wronski, adorns one of the walls.
”My good friend and co-worker Jana is also a big part of the picture of our success,” said Weills. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
While the slow economy has affected shopping habits, Weills said The Gray Goose continues to do well because, as she says, “We are fortunate to have products that are still favorable, and everyone still has a birthday.”
And it doesn’t hurt to have a loyal following, both local and out-of-town, from Reno, Truckee, Roseville, Marysville and beyond.
”I’ve always had a hand in retail,” said Weills. “I’ve been doing this forever. I love it. I love selling and enjoy having my own shop where I can watch people enjoy our products.”
