Fond farewell to a beloved Katonah shop

A visit to the Eclectic Collector was bound to yield an encounter with a pug patrolling the aisles.

By PAUL WIEMAN

Lately, I have been extending my walks into town, walking the loop around Katonah village, partly because the weather has been so nice, partly because I have the time, and partly because I like walking our village.

Whatever the reason, I noticed that the Eclectic Collector, a shop of long standing, had emptied many of its items for sale out onto the sidewalk, suggesting to anyone passing by that the shop was shutting its doors for the final time.

This scene played out over three or four days, and the items on the sidewalk became fewer and fewer, and a quick glance into the store showed less and less on its shelves.  

Sure to stop in

Even though I am not a shopper of any note, for some reason, I could not stop thinking about a Katonah shopping district losing the Eclectic Collector.

Perhaps it was the quiet owner, a woman who never pressed a sale on you, but rather let you wander her shop as if you were in a small museum, appreciating various arts and crafts that she collected.  

Perhaps it was her ever-present pug, curled up on its dog bed or wandering the tight aisles.  

Perhaps it was her collection of items, some combination of whimsical household items, house-warming gifts, cute artistic renderings, or legitimate art for the office or home.

Or perhaps it was how her windows always added to my walks in town. Winter season brought the delightful holiday ornaments displayed on the driftwood with a dozen branches, glass flowers or hummingbirds figured prominently. 

Whatever was in the window, my wife and I were sure to stop and look and point out some fun and diverting piece that brought a smile.  

I decided that I wanted to stop in and talk to the owner, now departing Katonah. I thought about what I wanted to say … I am not a reporter, and I did not want to ask her questions, not the normal stuff of how long she had been here, what she liked about the place, did she have a particular memory. Rather, I wanted to thank her for spending her time and energy and resources in making Katonah a more unique place, and I wanted to tell her I appreciated her steady presence.

So I stopped in, and I started a conversation, and in just a few minutes, I learned what I liked about the Eclectic Collector.

“I have been here 32 years,” she said, even though I didn’t ask. “What I have enjoyed most is connecting my artists to my customers.” 

Straighforward and honest

And there it was, in her simple, straightforward, honest sentiment. The store fostered connections between the artists she supported and the customers she appreciated. Quietly, without fanfare, a woman had spent a big portion of her life buying unique goods from artists and selling them to people who appreciated her tastes. She had done that for 32 years, and those of us who walk the streets of Katonah were allowed to participate in and enjoy that simple connection.

This is the very opposite of online shopping, of a midday truck delivery, or of finding some oversized item at the big box store.

I did not spend much money at the Eclectic Collector over the years. I recall a whimsical animal puppet collection that seemed the perfect gift for a nephew with a newborn. Three unmatched socks, colorful and cheerful, seemed the right gift for another relative’s baby. 

And, to be honest, my wife and I have received a number of presents that we are pretty sure came from the shelves of this store. Some ornaments, a candlestick, a unique dishtowel. Gifts from local friends who believe in supporting local shops.

The essence of Katonah

But the store has entered my consciousness not because I possess its items, but because it represents what I like about Katonah — unique shops, kindly shopkeepers, personal connections, consistency over time.  

I am sad to see the Eclectic Collector shut its doors but thankful that for 32 years it has been part of Katonah.

Paul Wieman is a retired educator. His column offers occasional observations about the Katonah neighborhood he has lived in for 35 years.