A familiar face
in civic circles opens a downtown gift store.
AUBURN – For years, Beckie Swanson Conrad nourished her community through countless hours as a volunteer, advocate and promoter of Lewiston-Auburn.
Now she’s feeding her own passion.
Conrad just opened Rsen, an eclectic gift shop that reflects both her Swedish heritage and the things she loves.
“This is an outlet for the creativity that I’ve suppressed all these years,” says Conrad with a smile.
Rsen (pronounced roo-SEEN) is a warm assortment of home and garden items. Handmade baskets nestle next to woven table linens anchored by wrought-iron candelabras and European milled soaps. Painting and pottery by local artist Jennifer Gammon are scattered throughout, and greeting cards, both whimsical and winsome, evoke smiles and laughter from customers perusing them.
“When my mother had her shop, she said people want to come in, feel welcome and have fun while they’re there,” said Conrad, whose mother had a gift shop outside Providence. “I always remembered that, and that’s what I’m trying to create here.”
The gift shop is clearly a journey back to her roots. Rsen is Conrad’s middle name, in honor of her Swedish grandmother. The walls of the shop are painted a warm yellow with stencils, and the pine floors are whitewashed in traditional Swedish decor. Pots of rosemary – the symbolic herb for remembrance – adorn the shelves of an antique hutch.
The shop is adjacent to Austin’s Fine Wines on Main Street, the store she and her husband, Audie, opened downtown back in 1987. In addition to helping launch that business, Conrad worked full time at Bates College before becoming executive director of LA Excels in 1998, a grassroots organization working to better the communities. She served on the boards of a variety of organizations, making her one of L-A’s most recognized people – easily evidenced by the number of passersby who wave to her though her shop’s window.
That she is willing to take a risk and open a retail shop in downtown Auburn is just a manifestation of her belief in the community.
“A lot of people have commented that I’ve talked the talk and now I’m walking the walk,” said Conrad. “But the support I’ve seen for Lewiston-Auburn’s redevelopment has been phenomenal. It’s very gratifying to be here.”
As if on cue, a woman buying novelty napkins for her daughter chimes in: “What a fun place to have downtown,” she said. “It’s delightful and what the area needs.”
Conrad plans to change the window display and the store’s inventory to reflect the seasons. Right now it has a harvest theme, with sheaves of wheat and folk art fruit displayed. As the holidays approach, she’ll highlight items from her Swedish traditions, then shift into a winter wonderland theme.
She’d like to have the shop reflect the community’s traditions as well, and is soliciting input from customers about what those traditions might be.
And while the shop might feel like one of those specialty boutiques in the Old Port, the prices certainly don’t. Twig baskets sell for $6 to $8, a vintage tea towel is $5 and a large Ironstone pitcher is just $15. Greeting cards run from 45 cents to $4.50. More expensive are some large pieces of furniture, antiques and original artwork, reflecting a range of prices that Conrad hopes will appeal to everyone.
“I hope people will find here something that’s a treat to have, yet practical,” she said.
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