Family Traditions

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: July - 2022

History and tradition are alive and well three generations after the opening of the genteel family store Wits End. So begins the story of Dan Young, descendant of a retail dynasty that had its start in 1940 when Young’s grand-mother opened Wit’s End on Main Street selling needlepoint. (The store has since transitioned to the sale of high-style women’s clothing). Grandma clearly passed along to her grandson the retail gene. Eighty years later, Young followed in Grandma’s footsteps, opening Main Street Gifts with his wife Suzanne – a woman of equal retail prowess, Suzanne is the owner and operator of the wildly successful Highlands Kitchen Carryaway and Catering. At Main Street Gifts, business has been booming from the start. Enthusiastic shoppers seek out the charming shop with its eclectic mix of home decor, picnicking gear, Highlands themed items, and men’s gifts. There is a well edited selection of décor for the home – boldly colored silk flowers, pretty pillows, fine wind chimes made by Corinthian Bells, and pots and figurines for the garden.The custom-made display cases are stocked with gifts for the man in your life – flasks, wallets, key chain, bar ware, and belts. And the shelves overflow with a complete line of gear for a picnic or an outdoor concert – baskets and blankets and coolers.Recently, the Youngs added a collection of nature-themed home accessories designed by artist Sally Eckman Roberts – fanciful items displaying butterflies and botanicals. On Friday, July 8, and Saturday July, 9 Roberts will be at Main Street Gifts showcasing the full line of her products. Charming painted pillows, rugs, prints, pouches, tea towels, and tableware are merely the start of the offerings from this gifted Florida-based designer. Known for painting images depicting nature in a traditional manner with a contemporary feel, Roberts uses watercolor and pencil to create designs revealing the symbiosis of art and nature. After getting her start at The Saturday Evening Post, Roberts went on to work in corporate America and as creative director at a design firm before starting her own line. Her designs are eagerly sought after and have been licensed by some of the country’s biggest home accessories manu-facturers, and her prints of blooms, blossoming greenery, Oceana, and nature have been featured in catalogs and stores throughout the nation. As Dan noted, “Roberts’ exuberant designs with their artful use of color are the perfect accessories, certain to add an elegant touch to a Highlands’ home.”

by Marlene Osteen