Gifts and a Resort Feel at 'Everything Is Rosey'

Rosey Costello has gathered colorful gifts and clothing often inspired by resorts to filled up her store, Everything Is Rosey, at 1072 Post Rd.

The shop opened in its newest—and first permanent—location last fall, but it's only now having a "Double Header" ribbon cutting ceremony, along with its next-door neighbor, Wiggles & Giggles at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. You're invited.

Costello, who grew up on the Jersey Shore, said she always loved to shop for gifts, so if she was going to start her own business, this would be the type to open up.

"When we were growing up, my brothers and sister would always play school -- but I would always play store," she said. She had a 25-year career in marketing and advertising, but shopping was always a calling for her, and she prided herself in always getting friends and relatives great gifts. Now she shops for her store.

In 1996, she and her family moved to Darien, then she got into retail sales with a toe in the water by organizing trunk shows for a time. Later, she opened a pop-up store -- and then reopened it later in the pink house that used to stand at the corner of Day Street and the Post Road.

"Then they took the building down, so I thought that was a good time to get out," she deadpanned. She was grateful for the time she had there, she said. "It's given e the opportunity to test-drive a store."

After her son went to college last September, Costello signed a lease for her present location in October and opened Everything Is Rosey in November. Her landlord, David Genovese, has been very supportive in the process, she said.

Everything in the store is priced at $150 or less, and she tries to keep the prices under $100, Costello said. Some of the merchandise is one-of-a-kind, she said. "I work with a lot of people doing product development and design, so sometimes there's things you can't get elsewhere."

What struck me on entering the store was how colorful everything was. Costello says she likes a variety of bright colors: "If you want somethin in black and white, this isn't the place to find it," she said. "It's like the Crayolas exploded."