Bruce Peninsula Gift and Home Decor Shop
The Seagull at Sauble Beach, Ontario, on Lake Huron
Sep 16, 2009
When one goes to Sauble Beach in the summertime it is usually to swim and lie in the sun, scarf down hamburgers and hot dogs, eat ice cream, drink soda pop and generally hang out. Then, when one least expects it, this beautiful and classy gift store comes into view. A staple of Sauble Beach since 1984, the store is a virtual cornucopia of beautiful household items, jewelry and exotica.
Beach Related Home Decor
The owner, Lynda Jackson, was a high school English and history teacher in Kemptville, near Ottawa, Ontario, and when she decided to leave teaching she and her husband Keith went into business together. At one time they also owned a bakery and a very successful restaurant in Sauble Beach as well as The Seagull. These days Lynda and her store manager Mernie Wallace (who, Lynda says, has a great eye for display), love to go to the yearly gift shows where they choose whatever strikes their fancy. Lynda says that they specialize in nothing specific but love everything they sell. They have a great assortment of beach-related home decor items.
Jewelry Store in Sauble Beach
Lynda's shop is reminiscent of the lovely gift stores in Connecticut that line Long Island Sound. The one big difference, however, is the price of the goods. The Seagull offers a large assortment of gifty things, including a lovely display of amber jewelry; adorable wrist watches in a bag ($11.95), which come in all colors and shapes; mood rings encrusted with tiny flowers ($5.99) and delicate bracelets in a turquoise shell-like stone that retail for $6.99.
The Seagull at Sauble Beach Books and Cards
In the household department The Seagull has everything from paintings of the sea and other items pertaining to maritime life, as well as gardening sets (apron, hat and gloves $16.99) and exotic vases and lamps made of folded paper, which gives an accordion-like appearance. Everyone who sees these paper vases is completely fascinated by them.
A special display of men's items rests next to a showcase of red kitchen apparel for the discriminating beach hostess.The upper floor contains books and stationery items. One great plus is that The Seagull is right next door to one of Sauble Beach's finest eating places, Amici's, where one can purchase the best grilled vegetable panini to be found anywhere.
Lynda loves the summer when the store is open, and in the winter each year she and her husband travel, in February and March, to visit their daughter who lives in Australia. Then they also take a two-week excursion to Mexico. After selling the restaurant and the bakery, Lynda and Keith now concentrate on The Seagull. Their hard work has certainly paid off and shows in this classy, beach-related gift shop.
Source
Personal visits to The Seagull and conversations with Lynda Jackson and Mernie Wallace, 2009
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