The Canteen: Fun, Family-Oriented, Reasonable Prices

Rayna Pine worked at the Garment Center for 20 years, then stayed at home with her two children for seven years, working part time wherever she could find a job. In August, she decided to combine her experience in fashion and trends with her love for being a mother.

Pine got together with her friend who is a seller in the sleep away supply business, and created , a family-friendly fashion, games and trends shop. The store opened Nov. 19 in Westwood.

"I have young kids and I was away from them for twenty years in the city, and I don’t want to look back on my life and say, well I made a lot of money. I want to look back on my life and say I was there for my children and I also contributed to the household," Pine said. "I needed to reinvent myself."

The Canteen is supposed to be a fun store for people to feel comfortable browsing in.

"I wanted people to come in and feel like they were in a place that they could feel comfortable shopping and get help, get value, get quality and get trends for reasonable prices," she said.

Pine isn't focusing solely on sleep away camp, but more on the value of family, mothers and daughters having fun while shopping together.

"I want moms feel comfortable sending their kids in with $5 and knowing that they’re not going to get junk," she said.

The Canteen's prices are lower than most other stores selling the same products, she said.

"Because of my background from the Garment Center I know what markups should be and the stores are kind of taking advantage of the customers and I don’t want to do that," Pine said. "I think people truly appreciate it and I’ve had huge support from the community."

Pine sells clothing, games for children of all ages, accessories, electronics, bags, stuffed animals, hats, stationary and more. The Canteen also has an air brusher come in each week to do specialized orders on sweatshirts, sweatpants, uggs, hats and other accessories.

The Canteen will also be home to birthday parties and theme nights starting in January. The first birthday party will be Jan. 7. It is a feather-themed party. On January 21, there is an airbrush party. The air brusher will teach children how to airbrush using less expensive equipment.

"I really hope to expand and become part of the community and be a place that people enjoy shopping," Pine said.