Eclectic Shop Restores 'Old Charm' Of 1920's Ramsey Building

For two Franklin Lakes women, restoring the charm and elegance of the 1920’s Ramsey building housing their new shop is an integral part of bringing unique home goods, antiques and gifts to their customers.

Longtime friends Pamela Greenberg and Ivy Becker opened Olive 54 on the corner of West Main Street and North Central Ave. in Ramsey this May. The duo searched all over the county for a spot that would fit their quirky idea for a new shop.

“We literally walked up and down streets all over Bergen County trying to find the right place,” Greenberg said. “When we saw this location, we knew immediately this would be perfect for what we had in mind.”

The owners decided to restore the building, keeping the original hardwood flooring and stained glass windows from when it was built, in the 1920’s. The shop is even named for the address of the building, 54 W. Main Street, and the color of the original roofing that the owners left on the building, olive green.

The location has previously housed a nail salon, realty company and insurance firm. 

“We found this great building, and we really wanted to bring it back to life, and to restore its old charm” Greenberg said. “Everyone so far has been so excited about it. We get people stopping in all the time to find out what we are.”

That question does not have a straightforward answer to it. Two visits to Olive 54 are never the same, as the shop’s inventory of antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces is constantly changing.

Becker, who owns eclectic fashion shop Pop In Please in Franklin Lakes, and Greenberg hand-pick merchandise to sell at Olive 54. They pick up pieces from auctions, estate sales, and even international trips to shops in places like Italy and Istanbul.

Greenberg said the two have a “great eye” for unique pieces – she worked in the fashion industry in California and Becker was an accessories editor at Vogue. It was their common “passion for design” that sparked the friendship in the first place.

That passion, they said, is evident in the “inspiring” pieces customers can find in the store.

“There are conversation starters, beautiful fabrics, antiques, funny gifts and just all sorts of special things in here,” Greenberg said. “I think we’ve turned this space into something really different. You can come in to see how we mix modern pieces with antique ones, consult with us about design questions, and really just get help transforming a house full of pretty things into a home. That’s what we want to do, help people make their houses into their homes.”

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