This was written by Riverside resident Toria Burrell and sent to the Riverside Exchange Yahoo! Group.
I was just in "Coveny Lane" today - (the wonderful little gift shop that's been with us for years, on Burlington Road), buying a gift for my son's teacher who is leaving.
As usual, I got chatting to the lady (I've forgotten her name), and asked her how business was doing with all the construction going on.
She told me it is terrible right now. People are just not going to her store - she usually has a surge in customers around this time of year for Mother's Day, but it just isn't happening right now. She said that since the construction began on Burlington Road, she's hardly had ANY customers at all!
Also, she said that the "new" Village Board, that got voted in on a platform of being "pro-business", have not been listening to her, or the other businesses in Riverside. They all want a parking lot built to encourage and enable customers to come, but the Village Board have voted against it.
She is very worried about the summer, her slowest time of the year - she is genuinely afraid her business will not make it.
People in Riverside say they want to keep the businesses that we have, and encourage more businesses? Well, we've got to support them!
Next time you are thinking of buying a gift - Mother's Day, Graduation, End of Year "Thank Yous" for teachers, birthdays, anything - please think of Coveny Lane. (I have no connection here, I'm simply writing this out of my own desire to see it continue).
I've been buying gifts and cards there for years, and I love the place. The gifts are unique, (many imports from Ireland and other European countries), very cute and good quality, and the service is excellent. The lady gift-wraps things for you, and helps with recommendations.
Here are just a few of the things I love about "Coveny Lane" that you should check out there (if you haven't already):
Greetings Cards - Mother's Day, Graduation, Birthday, Anniversary, Sympathy, Thank You, Wedding, Baby, Congratulations, etc...
Soaps + Lotions - Beautiful, unique hand-made soaps from France and Italy, plus hand + body lotions
Jewelry - Beautiful, unique earrings, necklaces, watches, bracelets, wedding bands.
Purses - Beautiful, unique leather purses - MARK DOWN SALE going on right now!
Incense - A new line of Japanese incense is just in - cute little hand painted china dishes with matching incense boxes
Candles
Ornaments - vases, home decor
Teas - Unique, herbal teas from Europe
Linens - kitchen towels, table cloths, etc
Woolens - Scarves, wraps, throws, etc
CDs - Irish, Folk, Classical, New Age music
Please see her website for more details:
http://www.covenylane.com/And don't forget all the other businesses on Burlington Road too - Aunt Diana's, Vacha florist, Grumpy's, Choo Choos, etc, and I just saw the new little take-out restaurant is open now too - just along from Aunt Diana's, near the corner (forgotten the name!) The one that used to be "Heavenly Hot Dogs", then "Buddy Dogs"... I shall try it out soon!
They need you now, especially during the construction, which is supposedly going on until May 31st.
Thanks!
--Toria.