New Shop, Tea & Tchotchkes, To Open In Greenport

GREENPORT, NY — Imagine a store where items inspire and bring smiles to the faces of clientele.

That's the dream that Southampton's Brittany Calvert, 28, has for her new store, Tea & Tchotchkes, set to open at 120 Front Street in Greenport on April 7.

Preparing the shop for its big opening day has been a labor of love for Calvert and her husband Ken Deeg; she's a creative soul, a painter, who's worked with her husband to design the space.

Each of the items offered, she said, are meant to make customers smile.

"Basically, we're a lifestyle store," she said. "We're going to have a little bit of everything," including men, women's and children's clothing, pillows, books, plants and cut flowers.

Calvert said she also plans to offer loose tea from a co-op in Florida, with samples of hot tea in winter and cold in summer for her clientele. In addition, she said she's tried to stock the store with items made mostly in the United States by local artisans, with local art in the store, too. Items from other countries support free trade and international artisans, she said.

For Calvert, the shop symbolizes a dream come true.

"I've wanted to do this my entire life," she said.

Calvert, who grew up in Southampton, said she's been managing and running retail businesses for years, but it has "forever been a dream" to open her own shop. "I've always wanted to have my own place," she said.

She and her husband worked hand in hand to renovate the store.

And the space is reflective of the loving care Calvert has taken in creating the shop.

"I just wanted to offer people unique gifts that you don't see every day. Things that will inspire you and hopefully, bring joy into your life," Calvert said.

After opening day, the shop will be open Thursday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; after Memorial Day weekend, those hours will change to seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Greenport was the perfect choice for the South Fork native, Calvert said.

"I love Greenport," she said, adding that she managed Calypso on Front Street last summer. Of the North Fork, she said, "I honestly feel it’s like the last bit of what the Hamptons used to be. It's got that that cozy, local feel; it's just so nice. There a nice family vibe, with a lot of young families now."

Calvert, who has no children yet, said, smiling, "This is my new baby. It’s really like birthing a baby. I’ve never really experienced that but it feels like very evolutionary in a sense the whole space needed to be renovated. We just built this dream space for ourselves. It's been an amazing experience so far and hopefully, everyone will enjoy it as much as I do."

With opening day just a few days away, Calvert said she hopes to share the feelings her new business has inspired. "I feel really passionate about helping people find something, about making sure they leave with a smile even if they don't buy something. I want them to just come in and say, 'hi,' have a sample of tea and talk. And I want to offer people things they don't see every day, that they can bring to their friends' houses, who will say, 'Oh, my gosh, this is cool.' I want them to find the cool thing that will make people happy at the end of the day."

To reach Tea & Tchotkes, call 631-333-2575.

Photos courtesy of Brittany Calvert.