BY LINDA McGURK
COVINGTON, Ind. — When it comes to Covington Ind.’s, vibrant downtown community, change is the only constant. And there’s been a lot of that in the past six months.
While health issues and the declining economy have forced some shops to close temporarily or permanently, the empty store spaces are quickly filling up with new or expanding businesses.
A yoga and Thai massage studio has already been added to the mix, a new furniture repair shop is in the works and a children’s dance studio will open before the end of the summer.
“There have been a lot of changes, but I think for the most part it will be for the best,” said Debra Duncan, owner of Fourth Street Gallery in Covington.
The retail shuffle started at the beginning of February with the closure of Gray Bear Antiques and Olde Ivory Antique Mall on the south side of the square. Duncan and her partner Jim Deschene, who ran those businesses in partnership with Jeremy and Tara Rieman, said they “decided to take the business in a different direction.”
The closure of the antique mall opened up two large studios above Taylored by Grace and Cocoa Isle. In the west room, Rachel Burge now runs her Peaceful Spirit Yoga and Thai Massage business, which offers yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and massages by appointment.
In the east room, Adryanne Noble plans to open Dance Xplosion, a dance studio offering a wide range of dance classes for children ages 18 months and up.
“She has a real passion for dancing,” Duncan said about Noble. “She’s also worked a lot with children and she’s quite good at it.”
“What I like about the businesses that are going in above Taylored by Grace and Cocoa Isle is that they’re promoting a good, healthy lifestyle,” Duncan said. “(Dance Xplosion) is getting kids to exercise, and yoga and massage improves your quality of life. And the more readily available these services are, the more likely people are to use them.”
The closure of Gray Bear Antiques on the street level also opened up an opportunity for Cathy Coffman to expand her gift shop Taylored by Grace to almost twice its old size. Coffman said she plans to expand her home décor lines and partner with Harry Hoagland, who’s decided to close his store Back Home Again Antiques and Collectibles due to health issues, to bring in some primitive-style antiques.
“Ever since Gray Bear closed I’ve had people come in on a regular basis and ask for the antique mall. Antiques are why people come to Covington,” Coffman said. “I think antiques will be a really good fit with the shabby chic style of my store. I’ll be really picky and only sell quality stuff.”
For now, Coffman is busy rearranging the store and filling the new space with inventory, but she’s also mulling some ideas for the long-term.
“It’s been a longtime dream of mine to have a little tearoom. It’s not going to be a restaurant, just a place where people could sit down and have some tea and dessert,” Coffman said. “I have people come in and begging me to do it, so I know it would be supported.”
A few doors down from Coffman, in the back of Hoagland’s old store, Doug Hunter is opening a woodworking shop. Having learned the trade from his grandfather, Hunter has repaired furniture for the House With the Lions Antiques for years and is now plans to offer his services to other antique stores as well as the general public.
“I imagine that as people are starting to find out about me it’ll take on a life of its own,” Hunter said. “My main goal is to have an outlet for people where they can bring their things and have them fixed relatively cheaply.” Since Hunter is a project manager at River Group Architecture, his shop, tentatively named “Grandpa’s Wood Shop,” will initially be open by appointment only.
Meanwhile, on the north side of the square, The Cottage Café and Gift Shop reopened with a brand new menu and a slightly new look on July 7. The shop at 411 Washington St. had been closed for some time while the owner, Leila Bird, was dealing with some family health issues.
Reba Osborn, former owner of “Amaesing Gifts,” and Cindy Walters, who specializes in custom-made jewelry, have partnered with Bird to help keep the shop open with regular hours.
“It’s been a problem in the past that nobody was here on a consistent basis and we’re committed to that this time,” Osborn said. She now occupies the back of the shop, where she offers alteration services and dry cleaning drop-off.
Some prime retail space still is available on the south side of the courthouse square, including the former office of Langley Communications, which had to close due to the slumping economy at the end of last month, and part of Hoagland’s Back Home Again Antiques.
