The energy and effort put into the rebirth of downtown has inspired two friends to open up a store on Eighth Avenue and Willamette Street, Heritage Dry Goods and Plume Red.
“I love these kinds of stores. They are unique and very Eugene,” Gena Adair, a fan of the two shops, said.
PH (Plume Red and Heritage Dry Goods) is a culmination of a bright open space beautifully crafted goods and an assortment of things to catch the eye. This amusing store is owned and operated by two friends, Nicole Desch and Cindy Matherly.
The two met each other about four years ago because their children attended the same daycare. After talking they realized they both had the idea of opening up a store, so decided to do it together. Desch owns Heritage Dry Goods and Matherly owns Plume Red.
Desch and Matherly have been working for about two years figuring out the logistics of opening up the store. They signed their lease for their downtown location last April and opened their doors to the public in August.
Plume Red supplies the store with items that have a European flare, while Heritage Dry Goods focuses on American-made products. What are technically two different stores work cohesively to create a fascinating place to shop.
“It’s just an inviting store to be in. They have done a nice job,” Adair said.
Portuguese toothpaste and Lithuanian linens are among the many unique items the store carries. There are so many different products that the store has the ability to appeal to a wide audience. The owners are constantly seeking out new products to bring in and so the items in the store are constantly changing.
Molly Adair came in seeking out a safety razor. “The shaving stuff has been a huge area that has really increased in interest,” Desch said.
Since opening, the store has been extremely successful. The success of the store comes from a lot of time commitment, especially when the owners are also the only employees.
Both owners are mothers to young boys and are constantly juggling work life and family life. “We are trying to keep everyone somewhat sane,” Matherly said. Even when they are not in the store they are actively scouting out new vendors, new products and working to build relationships with other business in the area.
The owners are continuously working to change the perception of downtown Eugene. “One of the biggest challenges has been trying to shift people’s ideas of what downtown is,” Desch said.
The owners have thoroughly enjoyed watching and participating in the rebirth of downtown. “We are excited to be apart of it,” Matherly said. “And I think other people see that.”
The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.