COVINGTON, Ind. —
Debra Duncan loves to go to auctions.
Now she is taking that experience to give Covington its latest downtown business.
Duncan and Jim Deschene opened A Cheerful Nest on Oct. 2, the day of the Apple Fest, on the south side of the courthouse square. She is happy with the response in the first three weeks.
“I feel I have come full circle,” Duncan said. “I grew up going to auctions.”
While A Cheerful Nest features a few antiques, the main emphasis is on contemporary furniture and lots of accessories.
Located in the building that once housed the Cocoa Isle tanning salon, Duncan features some living room furniture in the large area at the front. The five former tanning bed areas give Duncan a chance to use a theme in each room, such as dining room or a bedroom.
The upstairs provides more furniture and accessories.
Items in the store are continuously changing as items are sold and new items are brought in.
Duncan also can work with Realtors in providing furniture for a house that is on the market and would be empty otherwise.
Duncan and Deschene are avid readers, and they are selling used books, with proceeds going to the children’s department at the Covington Public Library.
“I could see that there was a need for this type of store,” Duncan said, “We complement the antique stores.”
She said there is a good working relationship with the downtown businesses. It is not unusual to refer a customer to another business.
Duncan has been surprised at the audience she serves, which includes many older people.
“I thought it would be more younger people just starting out,” she said. “I could see this was a need, not with antiques.”
Duncan searches for auctions within a 100-mile radius, although she does buy some items from individuals.
Harry Hoagland, who has operated antique stores in Covington, praised Duncan’s business.
“This is another thing that Deb Duncan has done for Covington,” he said. “It keeps another business on the square. I think she is having great fun.”
Duncan said she may see more local and area customers than the antique stores, but she said she sold several books to a Minnesota customer on the way to Florida for the winter.
“They will have a lot of reading,” she said.
The store’s name came from the fact that Duncan and Deschene are avid bird watchers.
“We always pick up birds’ nests that fall from trees,” Duncan said. “We like watching the birds.”
A dose of colorful paint has given the store a bright spring-like look.
“This (business) is something different,” Duncan said. “I have a lot of flexibility.”
FAST FACTS
A Cheerful Nest is located on the south side of the courthouse square in Covington, Ind. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT Tuesday through Saturday. For information, call (765) 793-3939 or (765) 299-3235.
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