Come on down to the Airport Center today from 4-6 PM at 1286 Mt Baker Rd, Suite B108! Ava Berge and her business partner Gina Minoia will be there to welcome you to their new creative space that doubles as a shared workspace and a retail business with local, eclectic merchandise.
Ava’s mother, Christine Jennifer, explains how this all came about…
Years ago I visited Théoule-sur-Mer, a village in the south of France between the Esterel Mountains and the bay of Cannes. While I was there hanging around waiting for the post office to open after siesta, I came across a quaint store called Le Poisson a Plumes, run by a lovely woman and her adult daughter. The merchandise was very eclectic, some total cheapo tourist tchotchke and some remarkable, exquisite and unique. As I killed time and browsed the greeting cards and baskets of goodies out front, the daughter cruised over to me in her wheelchair, all smiles and friendly greetings. She spoke in a way that I was unable to understand, but I experienced her warm welcome and enthusiasm. I enjoyed her energy and her joyful company. I remember buying a gorgeous hand-dyed tablecloth I still love and some fun random this and thats I’ve long since forgotten. The mother wrapped up my purchase then expertly sketched an artistic swirly poisson with a plume on the elegant shiny white bag. We got to chatting, her in French, and me in something weird and French-like, and she explained that she and her husband had bought the petite store for her daughter – to give her meaningful employment, purpose, a chance to be creative, earn money and allow her access to the socializing she enjoyed so much. To be a part of her community.
At the time, my fiercely independent, extroverted daughter was only about 5 years old … but that experience got me thinking, so I kept the idea tucked away in the back of my mind. Ten years later, I had the opportunity to visit the shop once again. The mother & daughter duo was still at it, warm and friendly and full of life. I felt encouraged.
So here we are today on Orcas, our special home, inspired by a lotta love, our accepting and kind community, and a teenie tiny shop in a small village on the Côte d’Azur.
Voila! The Happy Cat!
It’s a beautiful story!
See you there today from 4-6 PM!
Did Ava Berge’s ancestors once write their last name Buerge? That would make us Swiss cousins.